“Chief Joseph – The Star”
Heatherwood Japanese Garden
The “Chief Joseph” lodgepole pine is the star of our winter landscape. It turns from its summer bright green to this brilliant yellow in the winter. This specimen is a great candidate for the centerpiece of any winter garden.
“Yellow & Red Twig Dogwoods & Grasses”
Heatherwood Late Fall
In addition to color contrasts, structure, form, and texture are important elements to create interest in a winter garden. In the above image, the red and yellow color of the dogwood shrubs provide initial interest. In addition, the hard line texture of the dogwoods contrast with the softer grass stems. The upright forms of the grasses and dogwoods complement each other and tie this vignette together. I am starting to visualize the beginnings of the new Yakima Arboretum Winter Garden already.
“Winter Garden Color”
Heatherwood Rock Garden
We received a little dusting of snow last night, so I thought I would venture out and try to take some images that would show examples of what could be done to create winter color in the garden. In our Heatherwood rock garden, we have yellows, oranges, reds, greens, blues, and browns. Ground covers, perennials, deciduous shrubs, and evergreen shrubs provide the varying color contrasts.
We are in the process of designing a small “Winter Garden” section for the Yakima Area Arboretum. We hope to create an example that can be shared with the area community.
“New York Abstract”
New York City
Riding a New York tour bus, I looked up at this building with multiple angles and reflections … I got dizzy! I immediately pictured what I saw as a modern abstract painting. New York City building architecture fascinates me. There is just so much to see. I could spend a whole trip just walking the streets looking up at all the different buildings. I can’t wait to go back.
“Ornamental Grass Abstract”
Heatherwood Late Fall
How many ways can I look at something? They are infinite. This image is a 9-layer multiple-exposure, vertical pan of a clump of ornamental grasses in our garden. I enjoy looking at the world around us from multiple, sometimes abstract, perspectives. It helps me develop a balanced view of life that I would have never considered if I would have approached it from only one conventional angle. It also helps me come up with some creative images.
“Lavender and Grasses”
Heatherwood Japanese Garden
We have designed the stream and waterfall section of our Heatherwood Japanese garden in five distinct layers. Starting at the bottom of the hillside looking up at the bluff above, the foreground layer transitions from a sitting area with a bed of spring Siberian iris covered with kinnikinnick. This layer flows into the pond and two waterfalls which comprises the second layer. The third layer is the wandering stream and Kotoji Japanese lantern. The fourth layer is a buffer of lavender and grasses shown in the image above. This buffer layer separates the Japanese garden from the final background layer of the sagebrush covered bluff above.
We frequently sit and relax gazing up through the pond, stream, and hillside on sunny afternoons throughout the year. It is a nice place to catch the late afternoon sun even in late fall.
“Japanese Maple and Yukimi”
Heatherwood Japanese Garden
Winter is coming. We have just a week more until the first day of winter arrives. I’ve delayed getting the pond ready for its winter hibernation. The waterfalls need to be turned off and the pond aerators need to be put in place for the fish. The pond filters need to be cleaned out. Ice will form around the edges of the pond. The sound of the falling water will be silenced until we start the pond up again next spring. We will miss the energy that the stream and waterfalls bring to Heatherwood’s Japanese garden
“Sunset”
Heatherwood Late Fall
Looking southwest from our house, we often get beautiful sunsets that backlight a clump of trees on the hill above. This hill shields a view of Mt. Adams in the distance. However, this scene isn’t bad at all.
“Late Fall Softness”
Heatherwood Meadow
At this time of the year, there is a warm softness through our Heatherwood meadow. The warm colors blend together into soft yellow-brown hues. The spent flowers and grasses merge together into a homogenous mass to the eye. The autumn plumes of the ornamental grasses are soft to touch. Gentle breezes blur the grasses and flowers together on a warm sunny late fall afternoon.
“The Vessel”
New York City Hudson Yards
This interesting piece of architecture captured my imagination when I started my walk along New York’s Highline. I had no idea of the background of this amazing structure, so a little homework was needed. The active sculpture is 16 stories high comprised of 154 staircases, 80 landings, and 2500 steps. The path to the top is a little over a mile. The creator, Thomas Heatherwick, said that his intent was to create a focal point where people can enjoy new perspectives of the city and one another from different heights, angles and vantage points.
At its opening dedication in 2109, the Vessel was deemed to be safe, able to carry 1,000 people at a time. However, since its opening four people have committed suicide. In August of this year, the 4th suicide occurred. The Vessel is now indefinitely closed.