In this week’s photo challenge, Cheri asks for curves suggesting we might find them in architecture, bends in nature or man-made undulations.
I immediately thought of a recent visit to Chihuly’s Garden And Glass Museum in Seattle, where a cornucopia of curves can be found, not just in the sinuous art glass, but in the garden design and plant choices too.
I’m still sorting through the pictures so this is just a preview: regular readers can expect a post about way the planting anchors and echoes the art in this inspirational garden soon.
In this shot, taken just outside the garden, the Space Needle’s towering curves are accentuated by the wide angle of the camera lens. Early evening light helps create a chiaroscuro effect.
Finally, you might call this ‘poor man’s Chihuly’ – it’s a blue bottle tree, wreathed in scarlet Salvia coccinea. The bright sunlight was a big ask for any camera, but I took a shot anyway, more in hope than expectation. The camera spectacularly failed to recreate what the eye saw, but came up with its own take: day-glo highlights against black, abstract shapes – and lots of curves if you have leisure to look for them.
Susan Rushton 
I love Chihuly. There are a couple of bits about him and his work on my blog!! I’d love to see this space. Great pictures!!
Thanks. I hope you’ll find your way there one day.
Gotta love Seattle! Beautiful pictures!
It’s the first time I’ve been – and a brief visit – but Seattle is a place I’ll remember!
Those leaf fronds are lovely.
Sorry I mean fern fronds. Time for more coffee.
Ferns… leaves – what’s the difference between friends?
LOL thanks!
Beautiful photos. I saw Chihuly glass installations a couple years ago at the Denver Botanical Gardens and they were surprising, enchanting, and awesome. Loved it. This looks pretty awesome as well.
It was – we tried to time our visit when the garden would be in flower so we could see the colours and forms working together. I’d love to see more gardens featuring art or sculpture – they work together so well.
I love the bottle tree .. Lots of nice curves 😃
I was reminded of that picture by the first sentence of the brief:
When I peer through a camera lens, or put my phone’s screen up to my face, I never really know what a photograph will look like.
Love the use of variegated Hakonechloa to accentuate the curving path in the first image, a sharp contrast to the bold orange artwork too.
It also has a great curve itself, doesn’t it? The master plant list has it as Hakonechloa macra ‘Aureola’.
‘Aureola’ is a fabulous form, I grow most of them, they’re all great at softening hard landscaping and excell draping taller planters too.
I wasn’t sure if it was that one or Acorus gramineus from the list, so I was especially pleased to read your comment.
I loved the way you put it: how the planting “anchors and echoes” the art. What an amazement. Thank you!
The planting is brilliantly chosen and maintained. It never overwhelms the art, though that would be difficult!
Love the ferns.
They are decorative plants aren’t they?
Definitely!
Absolutely amazing photos; love the shot of the space needle! 🙂
Seattle is so beautiful, it takes my breath away each time I visit