Studiology

Happy Thanksgiving

The day to reflect on the things we are grateful for has arrived and I can think of many. Of course my darling granddaughter is high on the list, she is growing into a loving little girl. Given a choice, she will choose swinging as a favorite thing to do, just over seeing cows, horses or any other kind of animal. As she swings her constant request is to go higher, giggling and squealing higher, higher! 

After swinging it's time to visit the local farm animals or our chickens, which are each getting named by Felicity. I've spent a lot of time lately, thinking how happy I am that my children have grown up to be animal lovers, particularly dog lovers. We always had a dog around, my children were born into a house full of various pets.  Because Felicity has 2 dogs, she knows how to be gentle and cautious around them and is  genuinely in love with all animals. I'm certain she will grow up to be a dog lover.

Both of her dogs are huskies, and rescue dogs.

My son's Dalmation is another rescue. Mack the tireless, exuberant, 3 year old. A tennis ball gets his total, undivided attention - he even prefers to play ball over eating dinner.

My Duke is the 5th dog in my adult life. I tend to think he is the luckiest one, I have had more time to spend with him, more than the 4 that preceded him. Duke also received the most training, which has really paid off. Most of the time.

So in this world of stress and uncertainty, I'm glad I have my dearest family and my sweet animal companions. May you all have a safe holiday and enjoy your families and loving pets. 

Show Time

Hours and days have passed as I prepare for the big show. Officially hanging December 2nd, first viewing will be Wednesday, December 4th  (Lorton is open Wednesdays to Sundays). The reception is Saturday, December 14th, from 6 to 9 when Leesa and myself will be there to chat it up.

 

I have, with great deliberation, decided to make my show mostly small works. It's the standard December thing, you know, small items make great gifts. Since I have the bigger space as a featured artist, it's been a long process. I began in March of this year, which was a good thing - there will be over 30 pieces. The show title is "Solitude", so there's lots of single item works, in keeping with  the isolation theme. A mix of flowers, frozen and not, as well as a couple of shrines. It's my first foray into the really mixed media 3D world and it's been a joy and a challenge to go so far out of my comfort zone. Everything is photography based, but this show has no glass, as in - not a single  framed piece uses glass. It's more the touchy, feely kind of show, in fact 2 pieces have spinning centers.  

So come and touch, spin or chat up the art, see you on the 14th in building W16, the same building as the cafe.

The Willow Leaf Spicebush

Little did I know that there are more than 80 species of lindera or spicebush. Many are superior ornamental shrubs, yet largely unavailable. Of the 80, only 3 are native to North America, Lindera benzoin being the best known, a lovely, deciduous shrub and a favored food source for the spicebush swallowtail. Others are primarily native to Eastern Asia and Japan, all shrubs, some reaching 20 feet and  quite a number of them are evergreen or at least very persistent when it comes to foliage. 

My favorite (only because it's one I've been able to find), is the willow leaf spicebush or Lindera glauca var. salicifolia. In this case the foliage is actually winter brown, summer green and fall spectacular. Providing a long season of interest - October to March, the fall color is outstanding and the winter leaves persist and turn tan, even rustling as winter winds blow.

 

I have 3 in my high shade garden, where they will eventually reach 15 feet with an equal spread. From 2 different sources, one in Pennsylvania, the other Connecticut. The Horticultural Society of Pennsylvania has chosen Lindera glauca var. salicifolia as a  Gold Medal winner, given to plants that exemplify outstanding merit.

 

Few shrubs have such an unusual season of interest, which has attracted the attention of the cut flower industry. One can hope that demand might push growers to produce more. It seems that propagation is a bit of a challenge, both from cuttings and seed. The slender leaves (salicifolia refers to - like a salix or willow) of winter are a beautiful khaki brown and hold up well as a cut stem. I know that they surpass any other shrub for brilliant color in October and November, challenged only by the fall color on maple trees, with shades of orange and red. As the leaves slowly turn and gain their winter color, I'm grateful for a shrub that is so hardy, so beautiful and (maybe best of all) deer resistant. 

An update to this post from so many years ago, today is October 16, 2023. I found that as Lindera glauca var salicifolia aged and as it began to form a small tree, the fall foliage stopped turning this bright orange. I began cutting the trunks down to a couple of feet in spring, as a rejuvenation cut. It was not effective, apparently the change in fall color is best on young plants, younger than 10 years of age. There was concern about invasiveness, over time (I owned them for about 12 years) I found 3 seedlings, so there is that potential. I no longer live in the same house, leaving the linderas for someone else. This is information that might sway your desire to own one, I was certainly smitten with them for quite a few years.

Nature Visions 2013

The folks at Nature Visions are doing a bang up job. So far there have been 2 days of lectures with Bryan Peterson being the main attraction, and if you don't know Mr. Peterson, well you are missing out. He is humorous, a story teller, a bit twisted and really easy to listen to. I have spent 9 hours at his 2 lectures and could do another 9. I feel privileged to be at the same venue as a presenter.

Tomorrow promises to be another great day with Julieanne Kost, a woman after my own heart. I believe there's more inspiration coming my way. Which is all good, I will pass a little of this along in my beginners class on using your DSLR camera at The Center for the Arts, November 23rd.  

My lecture today touched on freezing flowers with a little "how to", followed with transferring your photographs to various surfaces. It was an enthusiastic group, with lots of questions and kind words. I do believe some folks will be busy trying new things with their photography.

 And speaking of new, I have spent 2 months doing lectures, I think more than I have ever done in a 2 month period. So as these finally come to an end, it's time for the big show at Lorton, and I can't wait for folks to see some of my new things. Part of the reason I've been quiet about the show, you know, the surprise when you get there - big smile. 

I am showing with Leesa Woodard again, our work compliments each others. The show will hang from December 2nd to January 5th. Come on December 14th, if you want to meet us and hear about the processes. 

The Perennials of November

This is a month that perennial gardeners may choose to ignore. The bulk of our perennials have finished flowering and going dormant, but I can think of a few exceptions and I suggest you take note. There are still two Korean mums in flower, and I don't mean in a tatty, finished sense, but in a joyous "I've just arrived" sense. They are Chrysanthemum 'Mrs. Robinson' and 'Mrs. Clarkson', the former a bronze-red pompon, the latter a wonderful yellow pompon with guard petals surrounding the center. These plants are the center of activity in my garden as swarms of insects gather nectar. These two particular chrysanthemums produced their first flowers Halloween week. During the same week I saw the first flowers on a wonderful aster named "Fannys", clearly surpassing an old time favorite Aster 'Raydon's Favorite'. The daisy flowers are a pale lavender-blue and arrive on 3 to 4 foot stems. All three of these lovely perennials become dense mounds of foliage and it is not unusual to find plants that have reached 4 to 5 feet in diameter. All the better, I say, since most perennials have been cut  back and cleaned up.

And finally I must add Ajania pacifica, formerly Chrysanthemum pacificum. Grown more for foliage than flowers, this spreading, groundcovering plant rarely exceeds 18 inches in height. At this time of year, small button-like flowers are produced, clusters of yellow over gray foliage with a fine silver edge. A beautiful plant without flowers, the little burst of yellow in November only adds to its charm. I would venture to say that folks growing this plant may rate it among their top five favorites.

Otherwise we rely on a few foliage perennials for November and we are grateful for dianthus, iberis, euphorbia and lavender. I prefer the French varieties of lavender for their superior foliage. The result of hybridizing Lavandula latifolia with spike lavender (sometimes referred to as lavandin), the newer crosses yield an oil that is harsher more camphourous than standard lavender oil. These hybrids will grow into large clumps, often spreading to 5 feet. My favorites for foliage are L. 'Grosso', 'Graves' and 'Fred Boutin', all looking very fresh for the month of November. 

So there you have a few good reasons to enjoy late fall. The gardener may choose to ignore the January garden, but not the November garden, it can be lovely.