FW: philosophical question

Title: FW: philosophical question

----------
From: CooperTaggart <coopertaggart@earthlink.net>
Date: Tue, 31 Oct 2000 09:47:42 -0800
To: <medit-plants@ucdavis.edu>
Subject: FW: philosophical question

Hi all------I sent this to Steve a while back but didn't have my new e-mail working with the list, so couldn't forward it. Meanwhile, I've greatly enjoyed the letters this topic brought up, and hope it isn't too late to add my voice---
LC



Dear Steve,

I am passionately interested in both design and horticulture. I think it would be great to also have some discussion about the wonderful application of historically mediterranean  garden forms: the walled garden,  water features in dry gardens, the use of gravel, tile and other hard surfaces, as well as continuing discussion on plants. It's too bad that sometimes these things seem polar. After all, plants are architecture too, as well as having the ability to conjure great esthetic and historical and physical associations. Just think of the evocative power of smell and sound in a garden---these effects carry beyond the plant itself, giving our gardens layers  or resonance and meaning and enjoyment.

My own garden struggles between these loves (of structure and plants) at times. but I'm learning to be firm with myself as time goes on. Like many California gardens, my garden must have structure as outdoor living space as well (dining room living room etc). With that in mind I would be very interested in hearing more discussion of gardens as outdoor living spaces. Maybe we can share new materials and design interests as they relate. Along those lines, one of my favorite new materials has been brought forward by my friends Stephen Jerrom and Andy Cao, who have a "glass garden" here in Los Angeles. They use tumbled recycled glass in a variety of ways, including as a sort of jewel-like gravel (no sharper than regular gravel). They've also made some beautiful walls with the material, pressing it into stucco and concrete. These sparkle around their collection of aloes and agaves. I'd be really interested in hearing about other new (or old) materials and ways of working with them.....

In my own garden we are currently turning an area into a small outdoor amphitheater, with retaining steps as seats and a gravel circle at the bottom for our artist friends to do poetry readings, art performances, concerts, and screen films and video art pieces. We envision it as for invited audiences of no more than forty. The garden surrounding the gravel circle and planned circular steps/seats is white and silver (with some "black here and there for contrast), which shows up well at night. We're running some electricity to the garden for sound, projection and light. We're hoping for a kind of outdoor salon. I've got my sights set on Spring for completion and our first event.

As for the collecting thing,
I think it has to do partly with the pleasure of close examination. Collecting one species ( or one color) and seeing the fine differences and gaining more knowledge in a specific way.  I think that this kind of close examination is also a bit like collecting art----one develops a curatorial eye. I don't think that this is opposed to good garden design, and in fact can enhance it,  but one needs to pull away and see the big picture too. For that reason--------thanks for adding your letter----------I look forward to the addition of design issues too. But I'll still be into the horticultist end too! let's mix it up.

Best Wishes,
Laura



Other Mailing lists | Author Index | Date Index | Subject Index | Thread Index