Archive for the ‘Gardens’ Category

Book–Hope for Growth

Thursday, April 6th, 2023

Bound with a knitted I-cord and a large pine scale.
Hope Growth

Hope Growth

Bound Book from Above
Hope Growth

Cover is a recycled packing envelope.
Hope Growth

Hope Growth

Hope Growth

Code is Hope for Growth
Hope Growth

Each page with bound pine seeds has a piece of tissue for a bit of protection.
Hope Growth

The majority of the stitchwork is done in red fiber.
Hope Growth

Code is Hope
Hope Growth

Hope Growth

Hope Growth

Code is Hope in tree code based on Morse code.

Hope Growth

Hope Growth

Hope in Masonic cipher
Hope Growth

Hope Growth

Hope Line code based on Morse code.
Hope Growth

Hope Growth

For Growth in Tree code.
Hope Growth

Matchbook packet for notes on work.
Hope Growth

Pine Cone from One of the Trees in My Garden

Hope Growth

Hope Growth

Hope Growth

Hope Growth

Materials–Paper, fiber, pine bits.
Scale–Bound 5.5″ x 4.75″ x 1.25″


A Few Things Found in My Gardens

Sunday, February 19th, 2023

New Growth

New Growth on the Original Trapped Cactus Cuttings

Alstroemeria

First Alstroemeria Flower of 2023

Muscari

First Time Noticed Muscari Asterisks

Muscari

Passion Vine

Last Season Passion Vine Tendril

Volunteer

Volunteer in Orchard

Rose Bush Leaf

Rose Bush is in Need of Attention


Forest/Axe Work in Progress

Monday, February 13th, 2023

I recently ran across a quote that definitely seems relavent today.

The quote is–The forest was shrinking but the trees kept voting for the axe. For the axe was clever and convinced the trees that because its handle was wood it was one of them.

I first thought about making a wallpiece using code with oak leaves and twigs. Just the code portion would have been 45″ x 16″, the addition of a border and frame would have made it more of a commitment of materials and time. Instead, I decided to use a book format.

The layout for the code in book format resulted in 21 pages. Each page is a folded sheet of drawing paper with a core support of a paper-covered piece of cardstock. Felt that the addition of twigs needed some extra support.

The first sentence I used tree wrap for the code with a green paper covered piece of cardstock. The second sentence I used roofing felt for the code and brown packing paper covered cardstock.

Forest Axe Pages

We have Coastal Live Oaks in our garden, but I dislike their leaves. They not only prick your skin, they embed and attach to it. I chose to use oak leaves that I purchased from Natures Pressed, an Etsy shop. I used the leaves in several projects; still have a good number left.

Currently the pages are roughly 7″ x 5″ and vary in thickness depending on whether there are twigs attached.

I unfolded the pages and applied CMC. The pages were left to dry overnight.


First Sentence

Forest Axe Page 1

The Forest

Forest Axe Page 2

Was

Forest Axe Page 3

Shrinking

Forest Axe Page 4

But

Forest Axe Page 5

The Trees

Forest Axe Page 6

Kept

Forest Axe Page 7

Voting

Forest Axe Page 8

For The Axe

Forest Axe Page 9

.


Second Sentence

Forest Axe Page 10

For The Axe

Forest Axe Page 11

Was Clever

Forest Axe Page 12

And

Forest Axe Page 13

Convinced

Forest Axe Page 14

The Trees

Forest Axe Page 15

That

Forest Axe Page 16

Because

Forest Axe Page 17

Its Handle

Forest Axe Page 18

Was Wood

Forest Axe Page 19

It Was One

Forest Axe Page 20

Of Them

Forest Axe Page 21

.

Today I used double sided tape, a mix of CMC and PVA to attached the paper covered cardstock inside the pages. The damp of the glue was not a good choice. The last nine pages I switched to using UHU glue. I wrapped each page in wax paper, placed in stacks of three, and placed inside a padded packing envelope. Then weighted with a heavy book.

I am leaning toward an accordion binding with each fold have three pages.


Pages Weighted
Pages Weighted

Forest Axe Brown Pages

Forest Axe Green Pages

Forest Axe Pages


Oxalis

Monday, February 13th, 2023

Oxalis is considered an invasive plant by the California Invasive Plant Council.

A portion of our garden is covered with the plants. Not planned, just happened.

Oxalis

I cut a few to dry and use in a piece. The flowers are lovely with a sweet, subtle fragrance.

I had a few buds left. Popped them in a small vase of water. Three days later they opened and are still opening during the day and closing at night.

Oxalis

The plants also have interesting foliage.

Oxalis

If the flowers are dried in my microwave flower press they become a golden color. When dried in my flower press between layers of blotter paper and cardboard they retain most of their yellow color.

The leaf is nearly dry; the flower completely dry.

Drying Oxalis


Weeds or Volunteer Plants

Wednesday, October 19th, 2022

Living on the California Central Coast, during years of drought. “Weeds” can be a nice surprise.

It is odd that they don’t seem to want to grow in the designated gardens. They often grow between pavers, areas that aren’t watered.

Weed Yellow Flowers

Weed Yellow Flowers

Weed Seed Pods


Evening Primrose

Friday, June 3rd, 2022

Unfurling Evening Primrose

Evening Primrose

Evening Primrose and Companions…

Evening Primrose and Geranium
…a geranium and an ant.


The Many Forms of Trapped Cactus

Monday, May 23rd, 2022

Trapped Cactus Original Cutting
Interesting that the flower bud is located on a leaf that I thought was dying.
Trapped Cactus Cutting

Cutting Taken From Original Trapped Cactus Cutting in Its Normal Setting

Trapped Cactus Cutting

Trapped Cactus Cutting

Trapped Cactus Cutting

Trapped Cactus Cutting

Trapped Cactus Cutting

Trapped Cactus Cutting

Trapped Cactus Parent May 11 2022
It is still growing in between a fence and a privacy fence.
Trapped Cactus Parent

Even in lousy conditions, the Trapped Cactus blooms!
Trapped Cactus Parent


Another Nearly Completed Piece–A Gift From My Mother

Sunday, May 15th, 2022

This morning I applied liquid starch to the vessel. It is not yet dry.

Today is the anniversary of my mother’s death. The plant that she gave me is still doing well. It is a joy when a plant gift thrives.

Mother’s Gift

Mother’s Gift

Mother’s Gift

Code-a gift from my mother

Materials–knitted linen, dried succulent flowers, wood, metal, beads, starch.

The succulent was a gift from my mother. The metal plate was amongst my father’s things in his workshop.

Dimensions–13.5cm x 16.5cm x 8cm

The plant is the Red Velvet Echeveria.

2020 July

Succulent

2022 May
Succulent
Succulent


A Few Interesting Leaves

Wednesday, May 11th, 2022

Salvia Leaf Damage

Salvia Leaf Damage

Hairy Leaf

Neighbor’s Succulent
Succulent Pattern


Ice Plant and Nigella

Tuesday, May 10th, 2022

Ice Plant

Ice Plant Yellow and Pink

The buds and early flowers are yellow.
Ice Plant Pink

With age the flowers change to pink.
Ice Plant Pink

Nigella

Nigella

Nigella