“Wheels, Wheels, and More Wheels”
Damien Barn, Unionville, WA
The line of wheels seem to go on forever. What is the history behind each one? How many years ago were they in use? What type of vehicle were they used on, and what were they used for? Were they part of an implement or a mechanism of transport? So many questions I have? It would a wonderful experience to walk along the fence with an “old timer” and hear him talk about where the wheels came from.
“World Trade Center and 9/11 Memorial”
New York City
Now, on this Memorial Day more than ever, we all need to step back and remember what our Nation has gone through to establish and maintain our Democracy. We need to honor all who have given their lives to maintain our freedom. We need to thank those who have rebuilt our country and our sense of democratic freedom after attacks have been made.
Right now, the world is under attack by an autocrat in Russia who has ruthlessly invaded the Ukraine and who threatens to use nuclear weapons if anyone tries to stop him. Here at home, we are threatened by an autocrat who has denied the legitimacy of our election process (without any proof) and who has instigated an attack on our Capitol. On a personal basis, we are being held up by a gun lobby who will not back off supporting selling military grade weapons designed for the mass killing of people.
It is the time for us to stand up and bring back sanity and compassion to our Nation and World.
“Selah-Naches Irrigation Flume”
Heatherwood View
After 129 years of use, the last section of our historic irrigation flume is being replaced by a modern pipeline. Today, this section was demolished. It was so sad to see it come down. To pay it a little tribute, I post-processed the image to give a little historic antique look. Memories!!!
“Selah Ridge and 1890’s Flume”
Heatherwood Winter
Our historic irrigation flume is no more. It saddens my heart. This week a construction crew started tearing down the flume to convert our irrigation source to a buried pipeline. One of the first things that attracted me to this location was the surrounding ridge and the historic irrigation flume background. Over the six years that I have lived here, there is hardly a day that goes by that I do not gaze upon the hill and flume. I start each day in my office, writing in my journal. I always turn to look out my window over the Heatherwood landscape and up to the flume and ridge. From our living room we look out over the patio again to the ridge and the flume above.
As we designed and developed our Heatherwood landscape, we created multiple view windows that framed the flume and ridge. Several of our garden “sitting rooms” faced the hills and flume. It was a wonderful “borrowed” background for Heatherwood.
Now the above portion of the flume is gone. We were lucky enough to talk the contractor into salvaging a small portion of the flume and bringing it down to our property. We will carefully place it and build a special garden around it. It will be a little remembrance of the area’s history and the special image of the wonderful background that use to be.
“Two Towers With a Squiggle”
New York City
I just do not get it. Why the squiggle in these two towers in Manhattan? Was it just to make the symmetric buildings look different? I wonder just how much it cost to add such a non-value architectural element. The squiggle catches my eye, but that is all it does for me.
Maybe I am just not sophisticated enough to appreciate it.
“Bryant Park Skyscraper”
New York City
This image is an “eye-teaser.” Does the center portion of the image extend outward or recede inward? Whichever you choose, close your eyes, squint, and choose again. This is another skyscraper around Bryant Park that intrigues me. I spent several minutes staring upward to determine the correct answer. But does the real answer matter, or is it just a matter of perspective?
“Bryant Park Skyscrapers”
New York City
These two adjacent buildings with their lines, curves, and reflections have always made me stop and look up. I make it a point on almost every trip to New York to take a walk in Bryant Park. Skyscrapers tower around the park. I look up and get dizzy as I try to make out the lines of the buildings and the relationships of the reflections.
“Nature Meets Architecture”
The Highline, New York City
This is another interesting building next to the Highline. I get excited when I see beautiful gardens and cool architecture. The Highline is a great place to visit where gardens and architecture meet.
One of the reasons I visited the Highline was to get ideas for our garden. At Heatherwood, we are trying to create a naturalistic combination of perennials and tree groves. The Highline planting designs by Piet Oudolf exemplify the look and feelings that we are targeting.
“Highline Neighbor”
Highline Walk, New York City
This building adjacent to New York City’s Highline intrigues me. I first saw a photograph of it in a book on the Highline. As I walked along the Highline this fall, the building’s fluid lines and reflections were like a magnet to my eyes. I spent several moments walking back and forth viewing different perspectives. I easily could have spent an hour. Time was short and I had a lot of area to cover. I will be back!
The building located on 520 West 28th Street is designed by Zaha Hadid. It houses 39 condominium residences. Its fluid curves is a major contrast to the other surrounding buildings. A courtyard garden extends to from the building to the Highline boundary.
“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.