I realized this morning that I approach creating a garden the same way that I create a drawing. Sometimes the garden is completely planned out ahead of time - plants, locations, balance... everything. Other times I work on the garden a little at a time adding things that I like then removing and transplanting until an organization begins to emerge.
Most recently I have started to plant gardens based on what I want to photograph and draw as well as what I want to look at. I think about plants that will be interesting at different times of year, the flowers and fruit and perhaps even the roots of the plant.
A garden composed of things that I want to draw is taking shape. Some large very colorful pieces will happen in the next year based on these ideas. Seasons, growth, stages and time to observe are becoming more important to me as a person and as an artist.
Above: Bear's Breeches or Acanthus Mollis. Not native but works beautifully in part-shade locations in the Southern US. Slowly multiplies to create nice groupings.
