Studiology

The Hokey Pokey

I have some news to share, information that has been waiting for a long time, waiting for things to fall into place before the big reveal. In April I purchased a house in the Charlottsville, Virginia area, specifically Scottsville. A downsizing of property but an upgrade on a house. There will be photographs, stages of interior and exterior improvements, with nothing moving fast, but a steady uphill climb. 

This small house in Aldie has been my home for 44 years, which gives a person plenty of time to clutter up their space. Of my 400 garden books, I might be down to 200. There have been months of self-denial about most personal items, but that will have to change.

A big part of this equation was the connection (acting manager) at the art gallery in Occoquan, but the good news is simply a reduction in my space and a step down from management. There are numerous art galleries in Charlottsville, so the process has begun to jury into one of these.

The property is wide open for garden plans and time has been spent botanizing the area to see what grows naturally.  The pH is 5 to 6.5 and we have been taking dump truck loads of compost to help build vegetable gardens. And a hint to those of you that need compost - now is the time to let me know, we have lots!

I cry and laugh at the sign above the door to the equipment shed which simply reads "Rock Hell". Part of me is fine with the concept of acid loving natives that require very little top soil, but I'm sure the reality will be another story. The good news, there are naturally occurring natives like kalmia (mountain laurel), Rhexia virginica (Virginia Meadow Beauty), and Ilex verticillata (winterberry holly). In addition, the local bird calls have been amazing and the stars at night are mind blowing. 

It's a step back to how things used to be in this part of Loudoun County. We used to live in the "Boonies", and so it is again in this southern end of Charlottsville. 

In preparation for the move, I am also finishing up some medical stuff; there isn't an option to keep my current insurance. Three days ago I had cataract surgery and can now see for miles and miles. The experience was amazing, maybe more like a miracle actually!

The grandkids will be an hour away, close enough to visit during school activities. I will also be closer to some friends and a sister, which is all good for growing old.

My hopes are to post lots of photographs as I enter a phase with lots of challenges. Down the road a mile are 2 gardeners. I suspect they might be close to my age, (some may say old lady) and it's funny how a garden can date you, but I have every intention of knocking on their doors and introducing myself. If they are cantankerous women of the same age (ish), we will be the best of friends. 

Top Five

In a recent Fox 5, zip trip to Occoquan, five "must stops" were highlighted, places that warrant a visit to the little town of Occoquan which sits next to the Occoquan river. Some crazy, peculiar luck found me watching the segment live on TV, only to find out that our little gallery, Art A La Carte, was in the top five and the only shop featured, as the others were restaurants and a regional park. A complete surprise which has put me on cloud 9 ever since. And as luck would have it, we had already planned a big reception to celebrate 12 years in business and to honor the town's name - Occoquan, which means "end of water". To team up with events already planned, the town of Occoquan is holding a weeklong series of celebrations and we are holding an artist's reception on Saturday, August 14th (from 2-4), the same day as the towns "Duck Splash" where hundreds of rubber ducks are dropped from the bridge, all numbered, to race down the river and see who the winners are for cash prizes.  

Our event is called "The Water Show" and our artists have been creating water themed art to honor the towns meaning and come together with a single purpose. There will be wine tastings and small bites for the reception, as well as many forms of watery art. I have completed 3, working on a larger 4th, along with our 25 artists, so we can be fully stocked with new work for the month of August. There will be daily Facebook and Instagram postings to highlight each day, so consider following us on this amazing celebration and endorsement of our little art gallery that has earned the title of a "must stop"!

Here are my 3 finished pieces, with a few extra photographs of progress and/or details. 

And just a reminder, we are open 7 days a week from 11-5 with a different artist every day. Swim, paddle, or float on over.

 

Merry, Merry

I want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and warm wishes for good things. The challenges seem to keep on coming but I certainly have much to be grateful for. With a hectic schedule that is now in the rearview mirror, there will be lots of time for artwork, walks with Birdie, and cleaning the house (a continual struggle). The art gallery has had a stupendous month and our new artists are selling like crazy. On my end I eeked out some light bulb ornaments and another Krampus. Sales have been so good that my space looks very vacant, and no complaints here. 

The last Krampus is named Phil, and I continue to make them creepy but paint is applied in soft pastel colors. The Ying and Yang of Krampus!

Making arrangements at Merrifield Garden Center was also good and my return to the fold with my favorite working buddies was a blast. We cranked out work with a creative flair, and I wish I had some documented outtakes of our antics. Humor is always a good thing. Keep your spirits high, cheers to 2021, and our days will begin to get longer - a good thing.

Happy Halloween!

The kitchen smells like pumpkin innards! My usual, last minute carving, which I love to do. Simple, not too complicated, all fingers are intact. Happy Halloween folks!

Stuff Going On

Listed below is my late summer and fall schedule with lectures and featured artist show in Occoquan. These are open to the public, all lectures at Merrifield Gardens are free.

Friday, August 18

Something new for me, a podcast! I was interviewed by Jennifer Ebling of the "Still Growing Podcast" and it airs Friday and will be available anytime you want to listen. It's a repeat of my lecture for the Garden Bloggers "Fling" about plant exploration. I love Jennifer's podcasts and listen to them as I work, it's a perfect match, listening to people talk about gardening as you garden. Jennifer is thorough, detailed, and delivers an incredible amount of information. Click the link above to access the podcast. Below is a photograph of Ernest Henry Wilson in China, an individual that I will cover in the podcast.

September 9, Saturday at Merrifield Gardens, the Gainesville location at 10:00 AM

This lecture and demonstration is on fall containers. There will be new plants to discuss and some exciting ways to put your fall containers together or just add to what you already have. This lecture is free and open to the public.

September 16, Saturday at Merrifield, the Merrifield location at Gallows Road at 10:00 AM

This lecture is about bulbs, how they grow, how to plant them and some new innovative ideas for mixing and planting. It's free with no registration required.

September 26, Tuesday in Richmond, VA for the Garden Club of Virginia

This event is sold out, but I mention it because I feel like it will be one of my best on a topic that required a lot of homework. The title for this lecture is "The Uncommon Cut Flower". My homework has included creating an arrangement or 2 a week since March 1st! I have scoured the hills for unlikely candidates and grown some very odd plants to include in this presentation. If you are able to garner a ticket, be it the black flower market, or some other way, it will be worth it! You can click on the link above if you want to check it out.

September 24, Sunday at Merrifield, at the Fair Oaks location at 1:00 PM, free but registration is required and may be limited

One of my favorite topics - Photography! This will be a 101 on flower or plant photography. Mostly geared for an SLR camera but certainly suitable for smart phone application.  

October 1, Sunday - featured artist show opens at Art A La Carte Gallery in Occoquan

I have titled this show "Travelers", with a tag of "Winged, Wheeled, and Ridden". New assemblage pieces will be hung on this day, the beginning of a month long show. The gallery is open from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM everyday. Below are a few altered Pez dispensers, and there will be plenty more!

October 21, Saturday at 10:00 AM at the Gainesville location, free and no registration required

The topic is bulbs, a repeat of the lecture given at the Gallows Road location. Learn how to pair them and some new ideas on planting for longevity.

October 28, Saturday from 1:00 to 5:00 PM at Art A La Carte Gallery

I will be at the gallery for my featured artist show. There will be wine tasting and discussions of the how and why of  my most recent work. Click on the gallery link above to see more.

 

Occoquan Art and Craft Festival

Tomorrow and Sunday is the huge, giganormous  "Occoquan Art and Craft Festival". Vendors come from all over to sell their wares. Art of every sort is sold, the streets are closed so visitors must come into town via shuttle buses. Use this link to find out where you can park to catch a shuttle. I will be working at the gallery and am so excited to be a part of this extraordinary day. The weather should be perfect!

Even though my studio is under construction and most of my collection is still in boxes, I managed to build one piece. His name is "Frenchie" and he is a French Bulldog, in a French military uniform - no less. His accomplishments have been many, attained over time and with great tenacity. No youngster this metaled hound with a pedigree, he holds his head high. 

I named him "Frenchie", singing the words to Frank Zappa's "Dirty Love" almost the entire time I was building him - "The Poodle Bites - come on Frenchie". He seems a bit reserved for a Zappa song. Oh but things were very different then.

Toupee Optional

Familiar with the Tyrannosaurus rex? A large dinosaur, now extinct. 

The theme, as I've worked in the studio, has been dinosaurs. January has been slipping away as I've made small assemblage pieces. Sometimes they are driving cars (or trucks). 

A modified Hudson (convertible), ferries this little, flared neck lizard around. His tail also flapping in the breeze. He's the happy one.

The Tyrannosaurus rex was considered the meanest flesh eater of them all. Tyrannosaurus meaning - tyrant lizard, the rex translates to king. Not such a nice guy, which makes for an odd Pez (candy) dispenser.

Small arms, small hands, to drive a car meant modification.

As I'm finishing up, mulling over life in general, the current president, denials of climate change, my pieces of art started making sense. Subliminal messages became apparent. If there was ever a mascot for "The Trump Resistance", a Tyrannosaurus rex fits. Tiny hands, small brain, the ultimate victim of climate change.

And on that note, optional toupees are included, double sided tape holds them on.

Art A La Carte Gallery in Occoquan, Virginia. 

 

December 31, 2016

The music is on, playing all day. Listening to David Bowie, Leon Russell, Prince, Sharon Jones, just to name a few. Reflecting on 2016, a wonderful year for me. It's hard to express how grateful I am for the beautiful people in my life. There are also the beautiful places. This farm is an oasis, about to be surrounded by 6,000 new homes. I can walk for hours without seeing anyone or them seeing me. Today I took the long walk, the reboot walk. The quite walk to discover who lives there. Lately we have been inundated with coyotes, they hide well. 

And then there is the studio space. I have grown in this place and learned that I can create art that people want. In that space I am at peace.

If 2017 goes anything like 2016, I will be satisfied. May all of you keep your health, have a positive outlook, and do the things that you have wanted to do. 

I leave you with Durga from the Rubin Museum, she is the Hindu Goddess of Motherhood. Good over evil is her battle. She is the Invincible One that preserves moral order. She destroys selfishness, jealousy, prejudice, hatred, and ego. It's what 2017 needs.

Happy Halloween

I worked today, cutting back perennials to put gardens to bed. It was pleasant, especially with my music set to Pandora and Halloween music. Bebop swing tunes from the 60's played, songs that I used to sing on a school bus with everyone else. In the late 60's I was living in Okinawa and our bus ride was an hour long. What a thought, an entire bus load of school children singing along to someone's radio! "Monster Mash", "Little Red Riding Hood" by Sam the Sham and the Pharoahs, "I Put a Spell on You", by Jay Hawkins, and "Wild Thing" by The Troggs. 

So in the spirit of Halloween and gardening. I bring you some photographs that blend the two. Click on one of the links above for background sound. 

Lectures and Events for Fall, Winter, and Spring

Listed below are the various classes I will be teaching. All of these are open to the public, check the links if you are interested. 

Saturday, September 17th

Merrifield Gardens, at the Fair Oaks location: 10:00 AM

"Pollination"

Come and spend an hour with me as I show the various ways that flowers are pollinated. I will talk about how an insect sees the flowers as well as the different rewards that draw different pollinators. There is no registration required and it's free!

Saturday, October 1 at Art A La Carte Gallery in Occoquan. Artist's reception from 1 to 5 PM. The address is 310 Mill Street, in Occoquan, across from "The Bottle Stop Wine Bar", on the main street. There will be light snacks and wine for the reception.  

My show officially opens for the month and the reception will be held on the first Saturday, Oct. 1. This years' show title is "Cautionary Tales" and here's  "The Frog Prince". He rotates. Each piece contains various items that have been recycled. 

Saturday, October 29 at Merrifield Gardens, the Gainesville location, 10 AM

"Bulbs"

I plan on broadening your use of bulbs, covering all of the seasons. Planning for spring with daffodils is one thing, but you can include so many others to make summer and fall lots of fun. Everything from gladiolus (and which ones have been hardy for me), to lycoris and hardy cyclamen. No registration required and free!

Saturday, January 14th and 21st, at the Center for the Arts in Manassas, VA - 9:30 to 12:30

Beginner's Guide to Using your Nikon digital SLR

A timely class if you received a new DSLR for Christmas. I will be teaching the basics which include controls on the outside of your camera, menu items and ways to organize your photographs. There will be a small class on creative techniques as well. Bring your camera, any lenses you have, the manual, and a notebook. 

Sunday, February 19 at Green Spring Gardens in Alexandria. 1:30

This is going to be a very fun little winter lecture with 3 speakers and we all have only 1 topic to talk about, our 10 favorite plants. I have already spent a month making lists. Whew, the pressure! More information will be available as we get closer to the date. The other 2 presenters are Keith Tomlinson and Judy Zatsick.

Saturday, March 4 at Green Spring Gardens - 10:30 to 11:30

"Landscape Rejuvenation"

Using Bonnie Appleton's book  - "Landscape Rejuvenation" as the core, I will discuss when its time to think about reviewing your plantings, particularly foundation plants. I will also cover the use of focal plants, those that create a sense of permanence or mass.