Intentional Garden Design – Reviewing the Walk

Posted on 25/11/201721/11/2017 by Alastair

The details of this Dorset garden, where my walk this week took place, show just the kind of garden I like – informal but with elements of intentional design.

It is a mistake, in my opinion, to try to control nature – nature will always come out on top in the end – but that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy arranging different aspects of it in our gardens. That is how we end up with interesting collections of patterns and textures connecting the man-made with the moss, the rust with the rose hips. Continue reading→

Colour To Be Found and Hidden Reflections

Posted on 24/11/201720/11/2017 by Alastair

It may be a wet late Autumn on my walk this week through this Dorset garden but there is still colour (other than greens) to be found as well as some hidden reflections. Red, purple, yellow, white – all natural colours compared to the bright plastics in my previous post.

I love all the shades and tints of green as well, whether blurred in reflection or crisply in focus, the range is phenomenal. I have heard that we are more attuned, more perceptive of greens than any other colour – whether or not this is true, it is easy to believe.Continue reading→

Lakeside Woodland Wander – Reviewing the Walk

Posted on 22/04/201714/04/2017 by Alastair

Reviewing the walk this week I looked across the valley to the lakeside woodland through which I wandered in order to collect materials for my natural weaving project on the Get Creative weekend at The Waterside-Felindre.Continue reading→

Natural Materials

Posted on 21/04/201720/04/2017 by Alastair

Having found natural materials to construct and weave with in the lakeside woodland of The Waterside-Felindre, I only had time over the Get Creative weekend to make a start on this outdoor weaving. Hopefully it is sturdy enough to withstand the attentions of the alpacas and open enough to allow the wind through – at least until the next time I am able to work on it.Continue reading→

Nature and Power Patterns Against a Blue Sky

Posted on 02/12/201628/11/2016 by Alastair

The patterns I saw on my walk this week were wonderful. Both natural and man made, these objects were clear and crisp against the most significant aspect of the views – the blue sky. Whether it was the near fractal patterns of a bare tree or the electrical loops of power lines, the bright blue sky made them stand out and I was in awe at the complex beauty around me.

Taste of Gower, Port Eynon – Reviewing the Walk

Posted on 30/10/201624/10/2016 by Alastair

As always with a Taste of Gower walk we ended our outing at Port Eynon with a visit to a local cafe or pub – in this instance it was The Ship Inn. I don’t know where the anchor came from but I wouldn’t be surprised if it were attributed to one of the smugglers’ ships that apparently used to frequent Port Eynon! That may be unlikely but if anyone does know where the anchor came from, please let me know 😉

The rusty anchor outside the Ship Inn, Port Eynon

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A Natural End to Summer

Posted on 29/10/201624/10/2016 by Alastair

My walk this week took place at the end of September which this year means it was still a Summer walk as the temperatures were so unusually high. But we are now in the full sway of Autumn and I would be unlikely to see this red admiral butterfly or any of the other natural details of this walk in quite the same way, if at all, were I to return to Port Eynon now at the end of October.

Red Admiral

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Willow Wall

Posted on 05/10/201629/09/2016 by Alastair

Returning from the wildflower garden to the children garden on my walk this week at Kunsthuis Gallery I explored one of its features. The willow tunnel entrance to this natural / man-made “dwelling” was too enticing not to do so. Bending down to child height I entered the dome shaped structure and enjoyed the changed and semi-secretive space with its growing willow walls and willow roof creating patterns and textures as it changed the sunlight from above.