Posts Tagged ‘Public Gardens’

Chihuly in Nashville – Learn More About the Artist

Friday, June 11th, 2010

There’s lots of buzz in the air about the Chihuly Exhibit in Nashville, Tn. The work of this exciting, world renowned artists can be seen at the Frist Center and at Cheekwood Botanical Gardens. Get a combo ticket here and save money

More than 10,000 people have visited Cheekwood’s outdoor exhibits in the past two weeks and there’s a good reason for that.

As you can see from the picture to the right, compliments from the Chihuly website , you can see how dazzling these sculptures are.

Through the idea of team work in glass blowing, Chihuly and his team of master glass blowers have explored such themes as Baskets, Cylinders, Seaforms, Fire and many more. Read more about how this incredible team uses their passion and gifts to create some of the most magnificent works in the world in the book from our Amazon affiliate entitled Team Chihuly

Chihuly’s works are becoming more and more autobiographical. For instance, the Basket series reminds him of woven Northwest Coast Indian baskets he saw in 1977. And his designs of abstract flower forms comes from his memories of his mothers garden in Tocoma and his other series’ Niijima Floats, Seaforms, and even the Chandaliers remind him of his childhood.

As a gardener, I’m especially interested in the beautiful book Chihuly Gardens & Glass.  As one editorial reviewer notes…’The brilliance of color and form of the glass, and the plants it is set among, creates a new reality within the conservatory.”  This book makes a wonderful tabletop book and gift for any art or flower lover.

The more you know about this great abstract glass blower, the more you will appreciate the gorgeous displays at Cheekwood Museum and Botanical Garden and at the Frist Center. I found a whole page at Amazon dedicated to Chihuly and his works. Below is the link from Amazon where you may purchase these books and DVD’s before you go.

Visit the Dale Chihuly Page at Amazon.com

If you go, let us know how you like it and of course let us know how you like the books!

Learn more about the gardens at Cheekwood on our website and see videos from a recent visit. The video’s aren’t of Chihuly (apparently you have to pay big bucks to do that!) but I think you will enjoy them just the same!

National Garden at the U.S. Botanic Garden

Monday, October 19th, 2009

We just returned from a visit to Washington D.C. where we had the opportunity to visit the U.S. Botanic Garden.

I must say it was worth the walk through constant cold drizzling rain to see this gem of a garden just blocks away from the Capital Grounds

Two years in the making, with an estimated cost of $11.5 million, featured elements include: The First Ladies Water Garden, Margaret-Hagedorn Rose Garden, Regional Garden,  Butterfly Garden, Lawn Terrace, and the State Flowers exhibit.

At these gardens you can even learn how to grow roses organically. For more information on growing roses organically visit our website at  www.MidSouthGardeningAdvice.com.

The gardens are easy to enjoy for any age group. Flat walkways with each exhibit right next to each other makes it easy to make a quick “run through” if you’re short on time. Be sure to pick up an information sheet for each garden located in strategically placed mailboxes. You can even sign up guided tours at their main website at http://www.usbg.gov/. They also have Junior Botanists backpack kits for ages 9 and up, as well as a Family Guide to the Conservatory.

The admission is free and the gates are open from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily including week-ends and holidays. Parking is very limited so be sure and take the metro.

You can buy a book with wonderful pictures about the garden or download the same book for free in a pdf file at the following website.

http://bookstore.gpo.gov/collections/holiday-gifts.jsp