Exquisite Rush of Cascading Water - Ira Keller Fountain, Multnomah Falls

Ira Keller Fountain - Portland, Oregon

Water is precious. As thoughtful citizens of the world, we're engaged in a dialogue about conservation and climate change. Gardeners especially must reassess aspects of water usage.

Ira's Fountain

Dedicated by Portland to Ira C. Keller  - "Strength and Beauty Come From Us - Not From Tyranny"

Columbia River Gorge

Yet the compelling lure of rushing water has a profound effect on our sensibilities. 

In nature, we gasp at the beauty of a waterfall.

Multnomah Falls, Oregon

In Portland - a city of fountains - the Ira Keller fountain reprises, in all its contemporary angularity, the wondrous power of the natural world, encountered an hour or so outside the urban environment.

I wrote about the Keller Park fountain in the book, 1001 Gardens You Must See Before You Die.

Landscape architect Lawrence Halprin designed the spectacular setting: Associate Angela Danadjieva, designer of the interactive water feature, achieved her goal of providing access to water so that people might revel in its sensory pleasures.

Once again I seem to be posing the question:  

What is a Garden?

A note: While photographing the fountain, I spoke with a gardener from Portland Parks, and learned about the city's newest fountain; under construction near Burnside at Waterfront Park.   More to follow....

A Question of Style: Do You Have A Preference?

A Question of Style

Do you have a preference?

Naturalistic

Contemporary

Traditional

or....?

So many gardens.... so little time

A fitting summary of my personal approach, when I plan a garden sojourn. Mapping out a journey generally results in an itinerary that takes in gardens of every persuasion.

Lately I find the modern language of visionary, iconoclastic designers most challenging and engaging. They draw me into their process, one of reinterpreting the elements of a garden. 

Often raising the question: What is a Garden? The designer's reinvention of how such elements come together stirs me to learn this new language.

And so, I enjoy expansive spaces defined by sleek, clean lines. I also revel in an exuberantly planted cottage garden, or a serene Japanese landscape. I soak up the manicured formality of atmospheric historic settings, and seek out over-the-top urban retreats: those densely-planted, art-laden gardens created by zealous collectors.

The English garden tradition knocks my socks off. I've been totally enchanted by the intimate confines of a B&B garden, and the renowned landscapes of National Trust properties.

In all my travels, one garden stands out as having left me fairly cold. I hesitate to name it, because if statistics are correct, it may well be the most visited garden in the world. That says something about my taste in gardens, even as I've been describing my bent as being of a catholic character.

I love the idea of exchanging viewpoints, so I'm dedicating this post to Esther Montgomery. See Esther's comment on the previous post, and visit her on:

http://esthersboringgardenblog.blogspot.com/

Esther, I believe you might well be unimpressed with the modern aspects of the Alchemist's botanical garden. And the black and red gardens you might dislike, too, although they were newly installed when I photographed them.

But I have a hunch!

If you walked through the white garden in the early morning or at dusk, when no one else is around and the roses are blooming (iceberg roses bloom for months on end in Provence), I really think you'd find the unfolding panorama along the winding paths to your liking.

Waddesdon Manor - 2001

Click on the link to see an earlier post: A Garden Without Plants - A Dialogue

http://bayareatendrils.blogspot.com/search/label/Islamic%20Gardens

Garden Play - Topher Delaney, Designer

Garden Play by Topher Delaney  -  Seam Studio: Land Projects

Environmental artist; garden builder; sculptor: It's not easy to fit Topher Delaney (and the work produced by Seam Studio) into a given category.

Nor is.... Garden Play, Delaney's installation, pictured here as the final post - for the time being, featuring garden installations at Cornerstone Sonoma.

Having been called beautiful and witty, Delaney's design poses questions about the nature (pun intended) of a garden.

Shade fabric, used on either side, closes off the space, while Bar Code 39 - illustrated along the back wall and made of recycled plastic lumber, indicates the symbolism/significance = to garden play.

Have gardens become commodities? How do you define a garden?

Delaney planted eight birch trees: their white trunks and gestural branches repeating the white of the fabric enclosure on 2 sides. The ground plane, too, composed of crushed oyster shells, represents another bright white element. All these facets continually shift in tone; as rain falls in a cascade, clouds pass overhead, or the oftentimes brilliant rays of the sun burn down. Shadows from the trees and the oversize balls bring another lively aspect to the surroundings.

Take in the space from a seat on one of the woven spheres. Or, perhaps you're more inclined to toss them about.

Spare... minimal? Yes. Playful and provocative? Most definitely.

Garden Play is one of numerous child-friendly environments at Cornerstone. A place where you're likely to see kids interacting with the adults in-tow; enjoying opportunities to experience early-on the challenging notions associated with the art of gardens.

As founder and president Chris Hougie directed the designers at the outset, "... invent, inform, and create beautiful and compelling gardens that engage and inspire the viewer intellectually, emotionally, and aesthetically."

Link to: Cornerstone Sonoma on Alice's Garden Travel Buzz

A Garden Without Plants - A Dialogue - the Art of Gardens

Photo: lostlandscape

I have a stacks of research material, photos, et. al, for upcoming posts, along with the demands of the garden at this time of year, and attempting to stay on top of myraid details life seems to be throwing my way this week.

Still, I'm compelled to mention a dialogue that I find mesmerizing. It's taking place on a blog I follow for its keen photographic vision, insightful aesthetic viewpoint, and appreciation for bold, beautiful plants:  Lost in the Landscape.

http://www.soenyun.com/Blog/

The April 24, '09 post,  landscaping without plants features the central plaza of the Salk Institute, designed by Louis Kahn.

To my eye, the photos by lostlandscape impart a distinctive connection with Islamic garden design. Yet in the lead photo - a singular view of Kahn's plaza - no greenery appears. 

Despite the starkness, I agree with James Golden's comment,  "I'd call it a garden even with no plants."

For Country Mouse, it's more "... like a place where nuclear fuel might be produced. By robots."

(That produced a hearty chuckle, but I'm uncertain if the spirit of fun was intentional.)

Read the entire post.  

Click on the panoramic view.  

Perhaps you'll feel compelled to join in the dialogue.