What better way to celebrate its end than to look at pictures of a Japanese garden in Georgia that felt seasonless to me when I visited it in December, a time that is considered "down time" in many gardens.
The 40-acre Japanese garden is one of 16 meticulously designed and tended spaces at Gibbs Gardens, set amid a natural wonderland of 300 acres in Ball Ground, Georgia, about an hour's drive from Atlanta.
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| Ronni (left), Leslie |
During our walkabout, I made a few happy snaps, which offer a small sample of what we saw. No images, however, can show what such art can make you feel.
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| Sculpted pine on shore of lake. Mesmerizing. |
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| View from across the lake, including stones carefully chosen and placed. |
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| Water-loving bald cypress, with knees aplenty – a natural wonder. |
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| Lichen, moss on tree creates aged, timeless beauty. |
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| Leaves on the ground, beautiful as copper coins, signal season's passing. |
I needed that during this winter. As spring begins, I still need it. The picture below, taken today in my front garden in Connecticut, shows why.
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When we are snowed in it is good that we can look back on a lovely garden tour. I can imagine the quiet sublime feeling as you take in the Japanese asthetic of this garden. We had a light blanket of snow on the ground this morning but luckily it has warmed up enough that it is now gone. Crocus are popping up in the grass. Hang in there Lee, soon this will be in your garden. Love the little bridge in your garden.
ReplyDeleteHey, thanks, Lisa. Spring is here, spring is here. I'm better already. Cheers.
DeleteThis lovely seasonless Japanese garden sings your song!
ReplyDeleteBe patient, as March muddles along and spring arrives in our state, slowly. It's coming.
Eeever so slowly, but day by day, Laurrie, day by day.
DeleteBefore I can visit Gibbs, I'm going to have to wait till my Zoe Bear is no longer, but it will be one of the first places I go.
ReplyDeleteMim, I can't wait to see the photos you come back with.
DeleteLee, With all her ailments and advancing age (she's now 14), she's still a scrappy, spunky little dog, so it should be a while before I make it to Gibbs, but I'll get there!
DeleteThe sculpted pine is a work of art. Japanese gardens are fascinating in the way very little goes untouched by the gardener yet it appears natural.
ReplyDeleteIt is a challenging time of year even here in south Texas. We have a light freeze predicted over the weekend so it too soon to do much in the garden.
To be sure, making it look like nature did it is the key. Quite an art. And a skill.
DeleteI saw Texas weather on TV and thought it must have been a mistake. Here's hoping your lovely garden comes through fine.
Lee, I don't live so very far from Gibbs Gardens and have had so many friends who have visited it and told me that I have to see it and told me how very beautiful it is.
ReplyDeleteFinally I have plans to see and enjoy it in three weeks. The Mothers of Lovett School have a fund raiser that is sponsoring a bus trip to the Garden. They also invited my Garden Club_______Northwood Garden Club , to join them. I jumped at the chance. No way was I going to miss this opportunity.
You have spoken to my Garden Club two or three times and are held in high esteem with the members
You also spoke to the American Rose Society National Convention which was held in Atlanta.
The best speaker we have ever had.
I do love the pops of color in your garden . The Red Door , the purple bench and the red bridge. Vintage Lee. A lot of your photos remind me of very beautiful and warm Folk Art.
Anna, your kind words almost make me blush. Almost. Thank you. And please give my best to your delightful club members.
DeleteYou're fortunate to live near gardens so fine. With your artistic eye, I look forward to hearing about your visit.
Lee, I see spring beginning with the lunar calender, but I do feel a seasonal lift on the first of March ... the end of winter is near. February has always been my least favorite month of the calender year so this February we traveled to warmer climes in the south. I thought of you during our travels ... captured digital images of bamboo groves in FL.
ReplyDeleteI completely understand how southern gardens speak to us northerners during this time. This has been the easiest February for me in memory because I was in the south for most of the month. Now, I'm ready for our northern spring to unfold without experiencing my normal February melancholy.
While your garden may look uninviting to you, it is lovely in the eyes of a non-resident beholder. Just keep chanting 'spring starts this month,' and before you know it spring will be here.
Ahhh, Joene, your thoughtful note brings me warmth, even if the weather does not. February this year has been the cruelest month. You did yourself a good turn to spend it in the South.
DeleteI hope you put some of those bamboo images on joenesgarden.com.
For many months now I've been hearing about the new Gibbs garden north of Atlanta. Your great photos bringing it to life and certainly put it on my 'list'. Oh, how soon can it be.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely the pine is mesmerizing. The bald cypress with the 'little' knees, the view across the lake, all of it is so beautifully captured I felt as I was already there.
Thank you for the tour!
Also, I have to say how beautiful your snow covered garden with its bridge is gorgeous in its own way. In every magazine piece I've seen of it the bridge is a grand focal point.
Yes, this Winter has been a dilly. May it soon end.
Soooo, I wish you Happy Spring!!
Hey, Barbara,
DeleteThat bridge does get around. Speaking of which, if you get around to visiting Gibbs, I know you'll enjoy it.
And a Happy Spring back on you.
So glad you got to see Gibbs Gardens...only about 15 minutes from my home in Jasper, GA. The gardens just opened back up yesterday, Mar. 1...the jonquils are blooming...millons and millons of them, yes millons! I have a season pass so will be going quite often...Mr. Gibbs encourages the "locals" to use it for their walking regime. To see the blooming calendar go to www.gibbsgardens.com Ya'll come back and see us sometime!
ReplyDeleteHello, Anon, I've seen pictures of those jonquils and can't wait to see them up on their feet. Hard to even imagine millions and millions of them.
DeleteYour proximity to Gibbs sure makes you well-located.
Enjoy.
I think I may have heard of Gibbs Garden on Victory Garden. It sounds incredible.
ReplyDeleteI hadn't seen that view of your front garden before. Lovely.
Yes, Gibbs *is* incredible, in its scale and variety. Glad you like my front. I look forward to seeing it snow-free. Any week now.
DeleteBreathtaking and astonishingly beautiful. Nothing moves me more than a Japanese garden any time of year. Thank you for sharing. Loved your photos, particularly the dried, copper coin leaves that would have gone unnoticed by the average observer. You have the eye.
ReplyDeleteIndeed, we all long for spring during this harsh Connecticut winter. However, your lovely garden is enhanced by the winter white. It serves as a blank canvas for highlighting the colors, forms and textures of your garden.
To spring and all that it brings.
Carol, I've seen photo art created by your artist's eye, and I'll bet *you* would have noticed those leaves. Isn't it satisfying when you see something like that, shoot it and have it look like you hoped it might.
DeleteTo spring. Cheers!
I have endured the winter, much as you have I suppose. I shoveled less, walked on my treadmill indoors rather than outside. This is all a mistake, but age has something to do with it I think.
ReplyDeleteYour photos strike a chord with me. My mother was absorbed by everything Japanese. She even read Japanese poetry. When a college graduate, she had a coat just like Leslie's. My father being French, wore a beret like hers as well.
Spring is on its way though!
I'm happy to recall such interesting memories for you. Your parents sound like people I would have enjoyed. On aging: It brings changes we probably can't even imagine.
DeleteI've been lamenting that are no signs of Spring to be seen. Thanks for reminding me the that the glass is half full. I hope that the snow starts to melt soon.
ReplyDeleteI will make a note to visit Gibbs Gardens if I'm down that way. Thanks for the peaceful interlude before my work week begins.
Hey, Theta. We take peace wherever we can find it. And that garden will help you find it. All best.
DeleteThere are signs of spring in my garden but we are finally getting snow this week and I'm thrilled! Bring it on!! It's the perfect end to an overly brown/grey winter.
ReplyDeleteI get your thrill at snow's covering the dullness of winter. My thrill is gone, and I just wish nature had distributed the white stuff differently, giving you more of what I got. Ah, well, I hope you get a ton of snow. And enjoyment.
DeleteLOVE that bald cypress and its knees. What an extraordinary tree. There are actually a couple of mature specimens growing here in RI, in coastal settings where the winters are milder.
ReplyDeleteThat's always been one of my favorite trees. There's something primeval about those knees. I'm glad you get to enjoy bald cypress in Rhode Island. I grow one in my garden, but I keep it short, and it's kneeless so far. I'll check out the coastal Connecticut areas.
DeleteThe photos from Gibbs Gardens were lovely. Sorta reminded me of Meadowlark Botanical Gardens. I know you are longing for spring along with a lot of other gardeners, including me. As all the meteorologists do, I count March 1 as spring also. You are right. We need that psychologically.
ReplyDeleteHey, thanks on photos, Lana. You and I are early spring celebrants. Now, if the weather can just catch up with us.
DeleteYou beautiful photos and words remind me how in-tune gardeners are with the nuances of nature, how we hitch our cars to, and hang on for, her yearly roller coaster ride. Your last photo brings to mind the saying "so close and yet so far."
ReplyDeleteThank you, Rosemary. That roller coaster's been a wild ride. Surely, it's got to slow down soon.
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