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Lens-Artists Challenge #311 – What’s in a Garden?

/ Leya / 200 kommentarer

“What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell just as sweet.”

– William Shakespeare

The quote is used to state that the names of things do not affect what they really are. There are so many ways to look at a garden, so, my idea is to see what You have found, what You see – at home or anywhere in the world. Everything from your window sill to a big park – to me they are all gardens. And what we have in them, is all up to us! I guess something that brings you harmony, makes you smile, makes your world a bit easier to live in. So – What’s in a Garden? Feel free to use any meaning of the word – or create your own!

You who follow me surely know, and will not be surprised, that I am a romantic and thus English gardens have got all the ingredients I dream of. Everything from lush flowers, plants, trees and hedges, to walled gardens, ponds, statues, old stones and ruins.

Much gardening to do in these, but tiny gardens like the next three ones are easily managed and still bringing much joy!

A canal boat and an atrium found in England, and a Hobbit house with a tiny garden found in New Zealand.

Fruit and insects are essential to a sustainable garden.

As I visited Japan earlier this year, I know they have many kinds of gardens. Some of them are minimalist dry gardens – Zen gardens (with open areas of gravel and stones) -, others are walking gardens, flower gardens, bamboo gardens, bonsai gardens…All of them meticulously well kept. Their aesthetics are comprised of a set of ancient ideals (wabi sabi is one of them) and considered as an integral part of daily life.

Three of the essential elements used to create a Japanese garden, (and many of our western gardens too) are stone, which form the structure of the landscape; water, representing life-giving force; and plants, which provide the color and changes throughout the seasons. You also often find bridges, water falls and stepping stones.

We are looking forward to seeing what You have found, and don’t forget to tag your post Lens-Artists when you link to my original post.

Thank you to Patti for her wisely Zigzaging us through last week, and next week again, Sofia will be our host. Please visit her inspirational site for more!

Thursday Thoughts – The End of Summer

/ Leya / 21 kommentarer

Summer is moving towards its end, and the evenings are soft with bloom in the fading light. Shorter days are coming, and I walk in my garden to meet my friend, the hedgehog. He walks around, poking the ground, making little grunting sounds. If I talk to him, he stops and listens, turning his little nose towards me. No camera – then he wouldn’t listen. To think that already 30 million years ago he was here. A sweet character. Hopefully he will survive and outlive mankind.

A short shower, and I know some delicate worms will be good food for my friend.

Rounding the glass house, I caught the last sunrays in a Cosmos chocamocha – which sent us a fiery…

…goodnight.

Lens-Artists Challenge #310 – Zigzag

/ Leya / 55 kommentarer

We are back again – and a big thank you to all our guest hosts! Patti is hosting this week, and the topic is Zigzag. Let’s start with my favourite – Danish architecture – and more.

If you go looking for it, natural zigzag can also be interesting…

Beautiful European adder met on the path some years ago while hiking. I have never seen it rise like this one did – and we backed off…

Winter snow bending the straws in elegant zigzag.

In a Narnia Park, we found the broken stone table from the story of Narnia and Aslan by C.S.Lewis.

The sand dunes of the Sahara desert made me think of a soft zigzag pattern.

A walk in Porto is a great joy!

These are all from Tblisi, Georgia – a lot of zigzaging there. Buildings, construction sites and staircases. And fountains!

Have fun with the challenge and we are so looking forward to seeing your choices. Be sure your post includes the “Lens-Artists” tag and a link to Patti’s challenge post.

Next week, I, Ann-Christine, will take the lead for LAC #311, so be sure to visit next Saturday. Until then, stay safe, be curious, and be inspired!

Thursday Thoughts – Standen House

/ Leya / 22 kommentarer

Standen is an Arts and Crafts house located in West Sussex, England. The Arts and Crafts movement was an international trend in the decorative and fine arts that developed earliest in the British Isles and the movement flourished in Europe and North America between about 1880 and 1920.

The movement was a reaction against the perceived impoverishment of the decorative arts and the conditions in which they were produced. Between 1891 and 1894 architect Philip Webb, who was a friend of William Morris, designed the house, which is constructed in the Wealden vernacular style with sandstone quarried from the estate and locally made bricks and tiles. From the start the house had electric power, and it still has its original electric light fittings.

In 1972 Standen House passed by bequest to the National Trust.

The interior is decorated with Morris carpets, fabrics and wallpapers, with furnishings also by Morris, and of course, the garden is in total harmony with the beauty of the house.

Time well spent going there – peaceful and quiet. Beauty. I think I could live at Standen…but I don’t play pool.

Lens-Artists Challenge #309 – Balconies

/ Leya / 33 kommentarer

PR of Flights of the Soul is our next lovely guest host, and she is inviting us to find Balconies – please visit her beautiful site for interesting facts and more inspiration!

PR talks about the many ways of using a balcony, and – some cities seem to have no balconies at all, while others have them in every building. In many countries I have seen a dog sitting or walking on the balcony of a house. Hopefully the door in is not closed!

So, we are looking for balconies… A good advise is going to Georgia (not in the US…) and Old Town Tblisi. In the header though, is a Bhutanese balcony for monks only.

For well kept, beautiful architecture and balconies, an impressive place to visit is Prague. This balcony is surely not intended only for a quiet, nice cup of coffee.

The second gallery is from around Europe – we do have some interesting balconies too!

These are from Denmark, Madrid, Barcelona, Bulgaria and Sweden. The ants at Wanås Castle is a work by Colombian Rafael Gómezbarros. And, of course you will recognise Gaudi’s spectacular architecture. PR, the last one is for you – an inside view of the largest balcony of Casa Battló.

Do you have a balcony of your own or are you thinking of some that impressed you? Do remember to use the Lens-Artists tag, and connect to PR’s original post.

Last week, we saw great responses to the challenge Perfect Pairs – a joy! Next week the Lens-Artists team will be back, with Patti starting off the challenge on her Pilotfish blog. Until then- stay nice, enjoy your vacation if you have one, travels if you do and above all – Life. A big Thank You to PR and all guest hosts!

Thursday Thoughts – Romantic Scotney Castle

/ Leya / 28 kommentarer

A week in England now and then, is a thing for everyone, according to me. The beauty of the English countryside, with its lush gardens and many castles make for a relaxing holiday and reloaded batteries.

Please come along and enjoy some of my memories!

Scotney old castle was built in the 14th century, and from the opener you can see it seems taken right out of a fairy tale. The new house, in the above image, was built when the old castle became too run down. The last owners, the Hussey family, bequethed the property to the National Trust in 1970. Today there was exhibitions inside, and the surroundings lovely kept.

The collections in the new house are largely from the 19th and 20th century. Of course a bit of English humour is a must…

The old castle, the quarry and the walled garden made this visit a joy, despite the rain. In fact, this was our first day in England, and this was the only rain we got for a week! Incredible. On one of our travels to Good Ol’ England we had rain for three weeks, and I caught the worst cold ever from it. (Fortunately only when we came back home again!)

Lastly, if you scroll back to the beautiful lady in the painting, she is sitting on the balcony, overlooking this dreamy place – Scotney Castle.

Lens-Artists Challenge #308 – Perfect Pairs

/ Leya / 38 kommentarer

This week Elizabeth of Albatz Travels is our guest host – and she has got an exciting task for us! Please visit her site for excellent guiding to diptychs:

A diptych is two images placed in proximity to one another, forming a pair. To make a successful pairing there should be several things in common, and something very different, contrasting.

How about using mirrors?

My natural(!) choice is flowers and trees. And flowers from English gardens this time.

And throughout the paths of flowery fireworks, there were Castles interspersed…

So, we will move over to totally manmade art, where wonderful wallpapers in the castles created indoor gardens as well, and a different dimension through mirrors.

Artworks are interesting, for pairings too. In Japan our visit to the teamLabs exhibition with mirroring ”eggs” was fascinating.

And finally, people. The Golden Week in Japan gives you endless opportunities to enjoy beautiful people and clothes. This lovely young couple is not the same as the couple in the carriage – but their outfits go so well together. In my eyes, they make the perfect pair – and pairs.

Thank you, Elizabeth for a great learning challenge!

Last week, Leanne lead us through wonderful and different “Tourist Attractions”, capturing the essence of a place.  Next week, PR will explore “Balconies,” so be sure to visit Flights of the Soul next Saturday.