Bookcase as Landscape

Great animation with kicky music. Don't miss the dragon and the clock.
(OK, this is my second post with a bookcase in four months. What's up with that?
Perhaps I need to read more.)

What's Happening in the Garden Today?

There is a huge white oak in my back yard that is probably over 125 years old. (I know this because two others of the same era have had to be removed over the years... sniff.) 

It's lowest limb is over 30 feet from ground level.

Recently, on one of the first warm days of the year, I was sitting beneath it's broad, bare canopy staring up into it's massive limbs. These strong, protective arms stretch so wide that they reach far into adjoining properties. I was reminded then of how much I love this tree. 

It is home to many of my friend Charise's beloved squirrels and if I were a critter or bird, 

I too, would choose to live here. It provides dappled sun in spring, much needed shade in summer, and a plethora of leaves in fall to rake and jump into. Though my bare feet aren't crazy about the acorns, it's dignity is overwhelming.

During the SuperMoon this weekend, I took these photos hoping to capture some of it's aura and majesty.

Gotta Get It Garden Gear - Nubrella

Now that April showers are on their way, here's a new take on an old standard.

The Nubrella's clear plastic dome stops rain, wind, and snow, and its built-in shoulder straps keeps your hands free as you stay dry. While the inventors seem to envision their 

newfangled umbrella making a statement with pedestrians and bikers on city streets,

it'd be great for yard work in a downpour.

Tree becomes Paper becomes Tree

Yuken Teruya (1973- ) a Japanese-born artist based in New York City, constructs intricate paper cuttings from discarded materials like toilet paper rolls, high end shopping bags, books, McDonald's fast food bags, and cereal boxes. His meticulous creations  begin with everyday objects and often reference consumer culture.

“When people become attracted to my work and observe it closely, they start extracting messages from it.” Teruya told Asian Art Newspaper. “Whenever art is made from everyday objects the viewer brings the experience into their own private sphere and upon using the same material, they will view it from a renewed perspective.”

Using tiny scissors, Yuken Teruya creates meticulous and intricate and enchanting worlds that are sometime viewed from within and cast haunting shadows. In each bag or roll, the shape of a tree is created without adding or removing anything, just by cutting out and folding the paper from the object itself. Simple yet elegant. 

To view additional work, visit Yuken Teruya Studio.

 

For his Giving Tree Project, Yuken cut and created a tree from the pages of Shel Silverstein's classic children's book, The Giving Tree.