It is all happening on our block: we have installed
Susie Davis's Iris; the timber driveway extension is completed; the pumpkins have gone rampant; and the Frangipani are just delicious.
When we visited Susie in Arizona late last year we took the opportunity to buy 3 of her Iris to create an Iris installation on our block. We are pleased that they not only made it home; but are now installed on the gravel terrace next to the bell deck. And of course they will get better with age as they rust further in the open. Susie is an extraordinary handheld plasma cutter and welder metal artist. The Iris are about 90cm high.
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| ©2014 Barry Smith - Iris by Susie Davis (Arizona) |
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| ©2014 Barry Smith - Iris by Susie Davis (Arizona) |
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| ©2014 Barry Smith - Iris by Susie , with Flags for Peace and Peace Bell |
Over the last few months of 2013 I worked with a builder to design and construct a timber extension to our driveway. The existing driveway was too tight and the drop off edge was too steep. The timber extension needed to follow the curve of the existing driveway. We achieved this by creating the deck with two long sides following the curve; and three triangle surfaces to get the gradation. I love that it is like a big sculpture with the different angles of the surfaces of the triangles; and the decisions we made to run the timbers to emphasise the individual triangles worked - which also helped with the engineering of the work.
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| ©2014 Barry Smith - Driveway extension |
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| ©2014 Barry Smith - Driveway extension |
We planted four pumpkin seedlings this year in our pumpkin patch. All four took off and are producing good sized pumpkins; including three that decided that they'd like to be hanging pumpkins. The vines are gradually taking over the gravel terraces outside the studio-gallery and covering some of my sculptural pieces; but that is only temporary.
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| ©2014 Barry Smith - Hanging pumpkin of 601mvr |
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| ©2014 Barry Smith - Pumpkin takeover at 601mvr |
And the Frangipanis remind us with their aroma that this has been a good dry growing season. We love these original white-yellow highly perfumed blossoms.
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| ©2014 Barry Smith - Simplicity of Frangipani |
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| ©2014 Barry Smith - Frangipani with battle |
And as you can see from the photo above the bugs must like the aroma as well as there is a beetle hanging out in the blossom.
Though "the block" (1.25 acres) and all the fruit, coffee and veggies and weeds take quite a bit of effort to maintain - the rewards are worth it. We are very fortunate.
barry, your home sits so beautifully on the hill--
ReplyDeleteYour spot on the mountain is gorgeous and inspiring. The scent of Frangipanis wafting through the air seems to me, to be a perfect element of the wonder of this place. Thank you for sharing the beauty.
ReplyDeleteHi V and AA - thanks for checking out the goings on that are our block. V - you are correct we are fortunate to sit ion the side of a hill with great vistas. AA - each day is an inspiration; and Frangipanis and so many more blossoms add to the wafting beauty. Go well. B
ReplyDeleteb...a glimpse of your paradise...gorgeous images of life flourishing about and the iris sculptures are finely crafted...blooms that will long remain through the seasons...thank you for sharing...much love light and blessings~
ReplyDeleteI keep coming back to this post. That view, the art, the frangipani (which looks suspiciously like what I know as gardenia...is it?) the yard, etc...it all pleases the senses of this snowbound (not really, but I've had enough for this year), cold-bound southern girl.
ReplyDeleteOh, the iris! Perfectly matched with the rusty unfurling fern fronds. Just beautiful!
ReplyDeleteall i want to say is ... B, you live in paradise.
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