Seeing our gardens

Well Gene, seems that even the muscles that control things like how quickly
our pupils dilate etc slow down a bit.  For example, going from bright light
(sun) to dim (shade) takes that microsecond longer.  Think for example of
entering an apartment unit from a brightly lit hallway and stepping into a dim
vestibule - difficult adjustment for eyes our age.  Especially if the rest of
the apt., for example is usually brighter - there are windows there. We become
so used to it we stop paying attention except for the odd expletive (or in my
case many of them).  We unconsciously tend to to prefer sharper contrasts -
because they are easier to see. A sharp delineation is easier to see rather
than a gradual shading. Same holds true with colour saturation. Stronger
colours become clearer, soft or subtle colours tend to "grey out" for us.
Simply - we see them better! And making stronger "bones" in our gardens gives
us stronger "frames" to enjoy - we can move from spot to spot with less
"bleeding" of the visual.



Also I think that simply being the human animal with a bit more experience
allows us to broaden our tastes and preferences - thus I refuse to ever wear
black, and I will use a red purse - so in our gardens, that neat hit of red
amoung the fine foliage can be truly pleasing. Or the different textures
amoungst all the greens can be a wow.  However for the aging eye -keep it
simple -too much confuses the eye.



On on top of that - Did you know that most of the North American population
begins to form cataracts in their 40's? Sure surprised me.  So as well as the
aging eye, many people are seeing less clearly without noticing the changes -
they may not realize for 20 years that they have changed vision. So now we
have slower reaction time (muscle) along with a a haze/screen (cataract) to
contend with. And thank goodness there is surgery - Now that cataract surgery
is so easy, and can be done so much sooner, even though the muscles continue
to act their age, we can see the gardens and life so much more clearly.



Quality of light also makes a difference, but as gardeners we all are aware of
it, even if we aren't aware of being aware. Eyes react differently according
to time of day, cloud cover, etc.



Anyway - you did ask -  And yes - life is so much clearer after surgery -
having second eye done this winter -can't wait!



Lil T.

Georgetown ON

Zone 5
> From: genebush@netsurfusa.net
> To: perennials@hort.net
> CC: woodyplants@hort.net
> Subject: RE: Gardens & Weather
> Date: Wed, 9 Sep 2009 07:43:49 -0500
>
> Hello Lil,
> Would you care to go into the subject in more depth? Fascinated by
> the topic of color perception and how it changes with "maturity".
Especially
> in how that would tie in with gardening.
> Hope that I have not put you on the spot, but since you tackled that on for
> a whole semester.....
>
> Gene E. Bush
> Munchkin Nursery & Gardens,LLC
> www.munchkinnursery.com
> Garden Writer - Photographer - Lecturer
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-perennials@hort.net [o*@hort.net] On
Behalf
> Of lil tovey
> Sent: Tuesday, September 08, 2009 9:27 PM
> To: Perennials @ hortnet
> Cc: woodyplants@hort.net
> Subject: RE: Gardens & Weather
>
> Well Gene, I hate to have to tell you this, but the ability of the aging
> (O.K. strike aging - lets call it maturing!) eye to differentiate subtle
> colours diminishes as time goes on. We need sharper contrasts, colours
> become
> bolder. Spent a whole semester learning about light and the eye's reaction
> to
> colour, shadow, etc. in college.
>
>
>
> Lil T.
>
> Georgetown ON
>
> Zone 5
>
>
> > From: genebush@netsurfusa.net
> > To: perennials@hort.net
> > CC: woodyplants@hort.net
> > Subject: RE: Gardens & Weather
> > Date: Mon, 7 Sep 2009 09:01:18 -0500
> >
> > Well,
> > I suppose one should be careful what they complain about /wish for.
> > It started raining just after I sent the last message. Darn nice rain
> > yesterday morning. Cleared up and then began again last evening. Still at
> it
> > this morning. My garden has now been watered. Thoroughly. In fact, rain
is
> a
> > strong probability every day this week. May catch up on my paper work
yet.
> > I have been working on clearing out a small area or two in my garden
> > where I have a bit too much of any one plant....something took over an
> area.
> > At first it looked good, now it is just too much. I look at it as
exercise
> > and an opportunity to purchase more plants. Perhaps put a bit more punch
> > into the garden in color choices. In my addled old age I am appreciating
> > stronger color more.
> > Is the desire for stronger colors in the garden come with age...or
> > just me wandering around in my garden?
> >
> > Gene E. Bush
> > Munchkin Nursery & Gardens,LLC
> > www.munchkinnursery.com
> > Garden Writer - Photographer - Lecturer
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: owner-perennials@hort.net [o*@hort.net] On
> Behalf
> > Of
> >
> > We had a 'misting' yesterday. Our prediction today is for a 70% chance
> > of thunderstorms, but the sky is blue and the sun is shining. I don't
> > think it's going to happen.
> >
> > Chris
> >
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