What made this display so interesting and different was the fact that there wasn’t a flower to be found and this was the Philadelphia FLOWER Show:
Maybe because I saw it near the end of my visit, it was a chance to rest the eyes a bit. But every time I walked away, I eventually made my way back. There were at least three different Carex cultivars used and home boy is a sucker for any Carex.
After a little research, I found this description of the “Garden of the Gods”:
A fantasy rock garden inspired by the wind-carved stone formations and lunar-like landscape of Garden of the Gods, an unexpected high-desert area on the island of Lanai. Legend says ancient Hawaiian gods created the garden by dropping boulders from the sky.
I also found this on the designer’s web site, Handmade Gardens:
Michael Petrie is known in horticultural circles for his wildly beautiful and unconventional exhibits for the Philadelphia Flower Show, many of which have won “Best in Show”.
I couldn’t agree more with that statement as I totally dug what the display was going for.
Before I get to some additional photos, here is a link to the video for the “making of” The Garden of the Gods.
OK, photo time:
What do you think? You with me on this one?
John
I am definitely with you on this one. It has an amazing sense of both lushness and austerity, both at once.
I’m loving this…a combination of Japanese Garden perfection with southwest high desert! Fantastic…I want it on my patio! OK it would be very tiny but I think it could be doable…a stone wash, the grasses in varying height containers, the lava look bigger stones! I could totally do this in one end of my patio! And best yet there’s a place that sells rock and stone right down the road plus Earthscapes~The Garden Room for fantastic grasses and plants (might have to thrown in a little Florida Tropical! YES!
nice reporting, thank you, er Mahalo
Aloha from Waikiki
Comfort Spiral
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This design resonates with me because it demonstrates a real understanding of natural patterns even while being stylized for the flower show. There is a rhythm here that I recognize and feel with my spirit. It also demonstrates a use of plants that is “do-able” as a low maintenance substitute for the traditional suburban landscape or perennial border. We don’t need to have a lot of splashy color or a full time gardener to have a beautiful landscape!
A peaceful garden for sure although I’ve no idea which plant it is that homeboy likes?!
Amazing how opposites can be placed together to form something harmonious. Beautiful.
Wonderful share <|;-)
Thank you so much for sharing this amazing garden with us.Last autumn I decided to add different grasses to my garden and seeing this certainly strenghtens my decision.I’ve already done something,I sowed stipa ‘Ponytail’ last week and they have germinated,I’m so happy:)
LOL We got lost 20 years ago looking for the Garden of the Gods. This blog brought me a chuckle. Thanks for sharing it. Truly there is no comparison. This garden is lush and beautiful while the beauty in the real Garden is in the sparseness, vista and solitude. Peace.