Summer Color from Rich’s Workshop

Cloudy July Skies

 

The day began with the promise of an early morning storm; no rain, but a cool breeze and an overcast sky made it so wonderful to be outside this July morning. There were clouds in the sky, heavy clumps of gray at varying levels and in shades from light to dark. We have only a few days of cloudy skies in Arizona, so when they occur, we talk about it, noticing, watching, and photographing them. The forecast promised rain, but it missed us. We stay dry. Here the water supply worries are real.

When the temperature hits 110 for many days in a row in the bright Arizona sun, it seems the garden loses all its color. Even the greens seem to fade to shades of gray. But on an overcast morning, the color comes through. This time of year. I have only a few blooming flowers, some white Pentas, Arabian Jasmine, Dynamite Yucca, and Sunflowers in various shades. The hot sun pushes many plants into survival mode. I am here in my garden, gratefully surrounded by plants. 

Our original mural, painted in 1984

Last summer we had our house painted, and it looked so clean and fresh when finished. But we had to paint over two existing murals we had enjoyed for years. So, over the past few months we’ve created new bits of color with the help of muralist Joan Bourque and her sister, Diane. 

Rich met Joanne years ago when he participated in an arts grant project at the high school where he taught honors geometry classes. She was an artist in residence teaching students how to apply the geometric concepts of perspective and forms to murals they painted on the school hallways. The project sparked the students’ interest in math and art, but it also sparked Rich’s creativity to work in steel and wood. As we traveled to gardens around the world, he saw sculptures everywhere. He brought those ideas home.

As the summer heat washes away the green, Rich comes to the rescue, ensuring we have colors all year long. Over the years, he has envisioned and created bits of colorful fun for our garden. Here are a few of his creations.

Geometry

This sculpture is titled Geometry, which adds a line from one to 8, beginning with a single line then a triangle, square, pentagon, hexagon, septagon, and octagon. Powder coated in shiny red, it is one of my favorite pieces.

He also created a graduated set of three octahedrons. They look like this and are defined like this, “A three-dimensional shape having eight plane faces,(sides) each made from an equilateral triangle. Aren’t they great?

The whimsical creature here he named “Pad-E-O” with the duck webbed feet, wings, and shiny eyes. He is ready for a walk across the lawn. Creating the proper bend for the legs was challenging. Rich studied a bird book for ideas. Several years ago, he made a horse seat for the patio, using a discarded pine tree log and adding steel legs. 

“Ocotillo”

He built an abstracted variation of an ocotillo from scraps of steel, “growing” from a pine wood base. He hand-colored each of the blooms. This one blooms all year round.

 

Spirit Sticks

We have some “spirit sticks.” He designed these using steel from his scrap pile and some colored glass provided by a friend, plus a little additional steel that he purchased. Placed along our east wall they capture the late afternoon sun and shine brightly.

He built the arbors now covered with vines.

Hearts & Flowers

While on a Southwest airline flight, he picked up three slanted heart coffee stir sticks, put them together, and he liked the shape. From that, he created his “Hearts & Flowers” sculpture where all the elements, blooms and leaves, are heart shapes.

It is hard to count or even find all the things Rich has created over the years. This is only a sample of things he made for the garden. There are just as many he made for inside the house. His joy is figuring out how to do it; the more complex, the better. He says he “just likes making things.” The garden is all the better for it, all year round.

It is now too hot to be in the workshop, but these pieces will be a pleasure to enjoy for the days of summer still ahead.

23 thoughts on “Summer Color from Rich’s Workshop”

  1. Just love, love your garden and Rich’s creative ensembles.
    I hope you get to travel and many thanks
    For sharing both your creative talents.
    Is Rich available for a consultation and project for our garden?

  2. Wow I just love all the works Rich has created! They are so wonderful and a joy in the dry dusty Phoenix summer!

  3. We love the creativity in your backyard. We had some wonderful time in your garden of delights.

  4. Linda, It is so great to receive your Garden Wanderings again. I have missed them. Than you for making the effort. Rich is definitely talented in designing as well as implementing his ideas. Here’s hoping that you are successful in making your trip. My Grandson and his family went there recently and sent many pictures. I was envious.

  5. Well it was worth the struggle to share such wonderful creations. Aren’t you lucky to have such a talented husband!!
    I hope your travels come to fruition.
    I know how frustrating it is to feel held down when your feet are so itchy for travel.

  6. Beautiful art work and garden. I enjoy your letter and pictures . Hope you can make the trip. I plan to go to Switzerland around the same time. Let’s hope it all happen.

  7. Enjoyed the tour of Rich’s art pieces! Ocotillo and hearts & flowers are my favorites. I hope you are able to travel to Floriade in September, I would love to read about it when you return.

  8. Oh, Rich is colorful in so many ways! Not to mention gloriously talented. Thank you for sharing this delightful part of your garden and for concluding with you colorful “star”.

  9. Safe journey and happy travelling.
    Agree with so many of the comments – fascinating artwork in your garden – Rich my name and rich in creativity. As always enjoyed sharing a colourful journey with you .
    All good wishes.
    Jan UK.

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