They make me look bad....

but at least I'm taking away some good ideas for when I rip out my front yard. This trip to the Meijer Gardens was to see the Monet Gardens and the Degas Sculpture exhibit. I wasn't allowed to take pictures of the Degas, but suffice to say it was brilliant. The complete 73 works in bronze, lucky me.
But this post is really about the gardens and how they made me aware of contrasts both in design and how I thought I felt about certain plants. I need to play in the dirt more.



Now here's a contrast of textures and colors that I wouldn't have mixed.

The composition of this picture is deliberate and I knew exactly what I was trying to accomplish. I did it! The light from behind simply glows.

I laughed out loud when I saw this and wondered about someone's sense of humor. It's in the children's garden, for heaven sake! And why is this red flower 'flipping me off'?

Did I really say I didn't want a waterfall in my garden? Perhaps because I've always thought you look at the waterfall, but now I would certainly have a waterfall if I could look through it.

I don't know what this is but I will have one. I will!

Now, I've also never been a fan of grasses, but I sure like this combination of browns and yellows.

I loved this for the color contrast and the softness of the bloom compared to how spikey it looks.

So cute, but he is my nemesis after paddling the Pigeon River this summer.

How do I make my kitchen reflect this color combination of blues, reds and greens? Tell me, I really want to know.....

I did not know that bamboo peeled like this.

Light and airy vs. coarse and prickley.