Photo a Day Finale

In early June, the “Naked Vision” workshop I had been taking with Colleen Henderson came to an end – over seventy days of daily photography (posting to a private, group Facebook page). In prior posts, I shared first some garden images, then other shots, from that project.

After the workshop ended, I kept shooting daily for another two months before deciding to take a break. The process has changed how I look at the world around me, and has made me a closer observer of what I’ve come to call “quiet spaces.” Here’s a selection of images from those last two months.

Fourth of July weekend fair

Bicycle wheel abstract, edited selectively in Photoshop

At the Alexandria dock

Stairway abstract

Who knew that something so industrial could be so visually arresting?

Reflections in the scrim pool in the Kogod Courtyard, National Portrait Gallery

One of the “quiet spaces” images that appeal so to me.

A “dreamy” oakleaf hydrangea flower from the summer.

The ‘family silver,’ posed on my dining room table.

NoMa Metro escalators

Dahlia stem with textures added

Kitchen wall in morning light

Swimmers at the US Naval Academy

Gallery opening scene

Racing the rain.

Capitol Hill painter at work.

Garden Shoots will be on vacation until after the winter holidays.

Autumn Vistas at Dumbarton Oaks

One of the most amazing gardens in the Washington DC area is tucked away at the top of Georgetown. I’m speaking, of course, of Dumbarton Oaks, designed over a period of thirty years (more or less) by Beatrix Farrand. Farrand, the first woman landscape architect in the United States, worked with Mildred and Robert Woods Bliss to create an expanse of garden “rooms,” and designed every aspect of the landscape, from the plantings down to the finials and stone benches you find throughout. (For those of you who follow such things, National Geographic just ranked Dumbarton Oaks as one of the top ten gardens in the world.)

On the first of November, I went to visit the gardens. The last time I saw them, several years ago, I had been disappointed in the herbaceous borders. But this time the whole place looked spectacular; and there was a new “performance art” installation in the form of sound pipes in the Lovers Lane Pool, by Hugh Livingston. The Dumbarton Oaks website describes them as “an imaginary chorus on a watery stage.”

“Pool of Bamboo Counterpoint,” by Hugh Livingston, at Dumbarton Oaks.

Livingston’s sound “piece” follows on other temporary art installations that have graced other parts of the garden in past years, including Patrick Dougherty’s “Easy Rider” installation in the Ellipse, which I wrote about in an earlier post.

After investigating the pool installation, I spent several hours in the rest of the garden – the weakening fall sun was low enough that photography was less challenging than I’d anticipated. Hope you enjoy the show.

Dumbarton Oaks is located at 31st and R Streets NW in Washington DC. From now until March 15, 2015, the gardens are open only in the afternoons from 2 – 5 pm and admission is free.

 

Bench, steps and landing overlooking the Fountain Terrace

The containers on the Arbor Terrace looked wonderful.

The Herbaceous Border in late afternoon sun.

Asters and chrysanthemums in the Herbacous Border, with Amsonia foliage coloring a bright yellow.

Another view of the Herbaceous Borders

Light on salvia in the Cutting Garden.

Shadows on the gravel walk in the Ellipse. Hornbeam trees encircle the space.

The Beech Terrace. Need I say more?

A Farrand-designed iron gate frames a view into the Urn Terrace and fall foliage beyond.

October at Longwood – Part 2 – the Meadow Garden

When my friend Sarah and I planned our trip to Longwood earlier this month, one of the destinations I had in mind within the gates was its new Meadow Garden. Opened in June of this year, the 86-acre expanse was designed by Jonathan Alderson Landscape Architects and boasts three miles of walking trails and boardwalks that take visitors from the edge of Hourglass Lake up to the Webb Farmhouse and Galleries. We covered a lot of territory (and continued to struggle with the strong sun, photographically) and marveled at how beautiful and wild the garden is. Some friends who had visited in September had been able to see goldenrod in flower, at the end of the summer season, and we were a bit early for strong fall color in the trees. But these images should give you a good idea of how magnificent the space is.

Steps leading down to the entrance to the Meadow.

At the edge of Hourglass Lake, the trees were starting to color.

Birdhouses everywhere – and in the distance a maple starting to color.

To our right as we walked, a bridge over a small stream

One of the paths through the meadow, leading up to the Webb Farmhouse.

At the top of the hill we reached the Webb Farmhouse and Galleries, where wall hangings explained the many ecosystems found in the Meadow Garden. (iPhone photo)

A view from the Webb Farmhouse across the Meadow to working buildings. (iPhone photo)

For more information on the Meadow, visit Longwood’s website and this excellent article published by the American Society of Landscape Architects earlier this year when the Meadow Garden opened.