Photo/Illustration: Courtesy of Michaele Anderson
We’re going to spend today and tomorrow in Michaele Anderson’s (meander1!!) garden in Friendsville, Tennessee! We’ve featured Michaele’s garden four times already (HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE), but there is always something completely new in her posts. Today’s are a sure TREAT!
Michaele says, “Many of you will understand my extra thrill at the blooming of this clematis because I have been waiting 7 years to finally have a flower making it up into the horse sculpture. In 2005, I planted it with “the great vision” (trust me, ha, the great vision was breathtaking). I actually had beginner’s luck and the vine made it all the way up to the horse’s head and there were charming and delightful coquettish flowers showing everywhere. Then 6 years of flower famine …turns out this clematis, which is ‘Dr. Ruppel’, belongs to pruning group #2 and I had been doing things wrong. It was thanks to reading a Fine Gardening cyber article that the light bulb went off and I didn’t cut the vine to the ground early this spring. Now I am on my way to recapturing the “grand vision”. Other pictures show the statue in other times of the year.”
First of all, Michaele, that statue is GORGEOUS! The patina, how the light plys with it, how it looks with the backdrop you’ve chosen…it’s all just so cool. And the clematis planted to grow up and adorn the horse’s next? Pure genius. Please send another photo when it climbs even higher!
**Tomorrow we’ll see a few more photos from Michaele’s garden–but I thought this little tableau deserved a day of its own.**
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Comments
glad to see these photos here this morning. Michaele has so many great things in her garden and this is not her only vision that has been realized /with every turn of the head another view is seen and appreciated . despite my being a green and growing guy i think my favorite pic is the horse in the snow. now what's for Day 2?
Michaele, that horse is the most beautiful sculpture I have seen. What a find! And the clematis growing up it will be wonderful! You brightened my day!
Oh, My! That is one FABULOUS sculpture! The winter shot is especially spectacular! Please tell us more about it.
Love your plantings/gardens. Wish I could visit in person- the photos are always a special treat! Looking forward to tomorrow.....
I absolutely love it! The horse sculpture is incredible and I love the background. Talk about winter interest! I do hope that you will send pictures when the clematis grows further.
It's a work of art, both literally and figuratively. I knew you were a great gardener from your insightful daily comments, but this shows that you are an artist, too. Choosing the sculpture, its setting, and its clematis companion are proof of your artistic talent.
not only is the garden incredible BUT she also makes "bird mansions" and her husband is pretty handy as well building gazebos, garden structures AND they are just so darn nice as well! we really kind of need a video feature of Meander Acres
Hi Michaele, Your majestic horse sculpture is divine!
Wonderful surroundings for its placement.. as its patina
color picks up so perfectly. And will the clematis, once
growing through and blooming shall create a gorgeous
complimentary MASTERPIECE!!
Do I spot wisteria growing over the wall in photo #3?
Nice touch!!
WOW! What a beautiful garden, phenomenal horse sculpture.... what's not to love?
That is great vision!
that is a great vision realized . sadly, my visions usually turn out to be mirages or hallucinations. things rarely perform up to my dreams.
Thank you all for your generously expressed enthusiasm for the sculpture.
bee1nine, good eye...that is a wisteria growing in the background although it is covering a pergola...can't remember if there is a picture where the pergola shows better in tomorrow's offerings.
tntreeman, thanks for the plug about my "bird mansions"...I should hire you as my overall marketer and pr person...I like myself better just reading your comments. The name "Meander Acres" definitely has flair. Once upon a time, we called our farm Willowing Oak because we had a glorious willow and oak tree on either side of our driveway at the entrance. Then the willow went to tree heaven and our little entry sign doesn't really make sense anymore.
For those who might be interested in a little background on the sculpture:
It is titled Springtime Flight. It was created in the late 1990's by a horse trainer we had a close relationship with who is also a very talented artist. However, I don't believe he currently does art work. He was aware of my love for gardening and nature so if you look at it closely, you can see the inclusion of flower shapes and the sun and moon. Also raising out of the base of the tail are the upper torsos of a naked man and woman...we always have to add that we didn't pose for that part! Shortly before it was ready to be put in place, a beloved Arabian mare of ours passed away waay too young and so the artist dedicated it to her. She was a very sweet but lively horse and this statue captured her spirit beautifully. The statue itself measures 55 inches and is a unique open "filigree" of bronze. My husband, Darwin and the artist were the ones who mounted it on the large rock and we had our fingers crossed that it would stay in place...so far so good.
Wow!! And Wow again, Michaele for the background story
pertaining to your sculpture. All the more PRICELESS!!
Thanks for sharing!
Michaele, How divine! I have horse enthusiast who MUST see this. The winter scene is stunning. I think I'll be getting up earlier tomorrow morning before heading out to tend the gardens...
And here I was excited to finally plant a clematis to crawl about my Dogwood ... beautiful! When will you be offering tours of your garden? Sign me up!
Beautiful sculpture! It looks quite large (?)
Michelle - I'm having issues that started when the popups started - everytime I click on a picture it pops me back up to the top of the page.
This is the first garden in a while that jump starts my creativity. I am going to sit on the patio in the sun today and come up with some new ideas. Love all the spaces in your garden. I went back in time and looked at your older contributions. Thanks!
This is the first garden in a while that jump starts my creativity. I am going to sit on the patio in the sun today and come up with some new ideas. Love all the spaces in your garden. I went back in time and looked at your older contributions. Thanks!
Oops sorry for the double post
Michaele, thank you for sharing more photos of your amazing gardens, they are as beautiful as their designer. Your horse sculpture is magnificent, and the story of your beloved mare makes it even more special. To be able to see her every time you gaze into your gardens must be such a gift.
thevioletfern, I hope you have your flower reward from your newly planted clematis scampering through your dogwood on a more consistent basis then I did from this combination. I didn't think the pruning group mattered and I lazily wanted to consider them all in group 3 since, for me, that's always been the easy one...just cut it all back in the late winter/early spring and be done with it. What color clematis did you select for your garden vision? I also planted one at the base of a dogwood last year but it's buds haven't opened yet. Ha, now I forget what color it is so I'm in for a surprise sometime soon.
greenthumblonde, this gpod daily dose of garden pictures has definitely had a positive effect on me. One reason I went clematis crazy last spring was because of several posters' pictures. I almost literally salivated (I didn't quite embarrass myself by drooling over my keyboard but it came close) over some pictures of such glorious blooms that I felt taken over by a fever. The only thing that could calm me down was to buy some additional clematis of my own and try that technique of planting them in surprising places.
Oh, my... what a magnificent sculpture... did Pegasus issue a daughter? Meander, I love the scene of your horse soaring through the wintry storm. Your friend is a fantastic artist! Thank you, Michaele.
Meander1 you crack me up. Are you sure you and your husband didn't pose for the naked parts? Beautiful statue, beautiful story,and lovely gardens as always. I am looking forward to tomorrow. I hope we have some great phloxoholic pics.
Hi, all, just in case a few people check back in, I'll babble on a bit.
terieL, hope the picture brings a smile to your friend's face. I didn't start riding until I was in my forties and it was such a feeling of accomplishment to develop a partnership with such a large animal. I never got to ride the horse to whom the statue was dedicated because she was my husband's special girl (and she was a bit too lively under saddle for my skill level) but she was a gentle love to brush and groom.
Sheila_Schultz, thank you for your kind words and understanding how special it is to gaze upon this sculpture every day.
tractor1, you have no idea how perceptive you were to tease about it being Pegasus' daughter. This mare had amazing physical talent and when she went into her cantor, it truly was she was taking flight (ha, like I admitted, I wasn't good enough to ride her and stay on). By the way, what is the stunning flower showing in your picture?
cwheat000, I think I might have indulged my phlox addiction in at least one picture that will show tomorrow. Boohoo, the glorious creeping phlox show is now over here where I live...I always miss it so much when it's gone.
Hmm, forgive me if this ends up a repetition but it seems like something I wrote just got gobbled up by cyber-space so I'll start over.
terieRL, I hope the picture of the sculpture brings a smile to your friend's face. I didn't start riding until I was in my forties and it was such a feeling of accomplishment to develop a relationship with an animal so large. I never got to ride the horse to whom this sculpture was dedicated because she was my husband's special girl (and my skill level wasn't up to her level of liveliness). However, she was a sweetie to brush and groom.
Shiela_Schultz, thank you for understanding how much I enjoy having this lovely sculpture as part of my view every day.
tractor1, you have no idea how perceptive you were in making the tease about it being Pegasus' daughter. This mare was very athletic and when went into her cantor, it was like she was taking flight (ha, like a said above, I wasn't a good enough rider to ever brave giving her a try). By the way, what is that stunning flower in your picture?
cwheat000, hmmm, I might have indulged my phlox addiction in one of the pictures that will show tomorrow. The colorful creeping phlox show is pretty much over now in my area and I really miss it.
Mander1, I can't stop looking at these pictures! Beautiful. Thank you Michelle for giving them a day of their own.
Thank you for the sculpture "background". How very special. I just love it! Looking forward to tomorrows posts!
What a breath-taking sculpture your horse is, Michaele...and the setting... and the story. All very moving! The snow scene is stunning! I look forward to seeing much more of your gorgeous garden.
One of my clematis, Huldine, took 9 years...and many threats, before it bloomed! Now it drapes itself gloriously over a crabapple that hangs above the path for all to see who pass below...as if it had always been there! I believe clematis are here to teach us PATIENCE!
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