Monday, March 23, 2009

POVERTY CYCLE

Touring the old gardens of Charleston, SC over 2 decades ago I realized why they were fabulously incredible. They had endured the POVERTY CYCLE. More than endure. The POVERTY CYCLE is the largest element of their success. Monet's famous landscape was due to the POVERTY CYCLE. Sissinghurst, Vita Sackville-West & Harold Nicolson's garden, again, the POVERTY CYCLE. Using gravel instead of stone? The POVERTY CYCLE. Beauty & function with the sound of 'crunch'.
Old stone terraces with pretty perennials between the cracks? The POVERTY CYCLE. During WWI the estate gardens of Europe lacked labor. No one to repoint the mortar of once pristine stone terraces. We've not gone back. The POVERTY CYCLE led to a prettier, easier, cheaper beauty.

Field gathering furniture & focal points for the landscape the French, centuries ago, painted them all a single color, to unify. Again, the POVERTY CYCLE.


Above, free stones, free chair, plants on sale. The POVERTY CYCLE proving, thru difficulty, you can landscape beautifully.

Wanting a gate & settling for an old fence section wired to galvanized nails. The gate doesn't move. It's a faux gate. The POVERTY CYCLE.
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The best landscape design ideas have come from the POVERTY CYCLE.
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A combination of : intellect, intuitiveness, creativity, art, heart, eccentricity, boldness, integrity and the realization, It is a privilege to garden during our short time on this planet.
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Too often landscapes on make-over TV shows, and big landscapes at large flower shows lack POVERTY CYCLE elements. And that is why TV garden shows and large flower shows are losing numbers.
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Those landscapes dazzle while they condescend & patronize.
How? The creators see an opportunity to do marketing not create a relevant landscape for their audience.
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Yes, with some of my landscape design projects, not many, I've had to 'down' sell clients to stone in dirt, vs. mortar, or gravel instead of stone, injecting the richness of the POVERTY CYCLE.
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XO Tara

7 comments:

  1. Truly Nostalgic!!! I loved it all, especially that wooden chair there.
    Turf Brisbane

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  2. POVERTY CYCLE-it's true. Humble gardens are more appealing. They have soul. Thanks for this post.

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  3. Wow Tara that is fascinating, I better post this on my F & T next!
    So interesting!
    x
    Maria

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  4. I never thought about it, but it's so true! Very interesting! xo

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  5. What a wonderful article! Thanks to Maria for the link! I find these things...the gravel paths, the plants in between the stones, furniture the color of hydrangeas, what soul! I love a garden with a story! Thanks!

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  6. So true...these gardens invite, welcome, and ask one to sit down and contemplate nature. Thanks for the beautiful respite...it soothed my spirit and left me wanting more!

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  7. Poverty Cycle. It's the most rewarding way to garden. I just have to smile Tara. I've been struggling this weekend with a really heavy old potting bench that's starting to lean since the feet are beginning to rot. I just keep slapping another layer of paint on it every couple of years and it hangs in there. I guess I'll have my son replace the rotted pieces of wood because this old bench and I go way back.
    We are very much within the poverty cycle and wouldn't have it any other way.
    Thank you Tara for writing this post and this blog! I want to read more!
    XO Lisa

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