tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-213339149669405453.post6417470041617921003..comments2023-09-08T04:44:05.206-07:00Comments on InterLeafings : Garden Designers Roundtable: Points of FocusLaura Livengoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04101658363604076352noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-213339149669405453.post-81851741432530379472012-05-03T05:39:53.921-07:002012-05-03T05:39:53.921-07:00I like so much beautiful photos.I like so much beautiful photos.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-213339149669405453.post-638912933203074282010-05-03T07:53:00.630-07:002010-05-03T07:53:00.630-07:00Laura, I am so taken with your idea of a focal poi...Laura, I am so taken with your idea of a focal point as a destination. I think of focal points in that way too, but never articulated it so well. Thanks for the beautiful photos and thought-provoking words. I loved seeing your unique take on this.Genevievehttp://www.northcoastgardening.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-213339149669405453.post-49831758582527011742010-04-29T08:29:55.945-07:002010-04-29T08:29:55.945-07:00@Teresa thanks for visiting! I've loved comfy ...@Teresa thanks for visiting! I've loved comfy chairs in a garden ever since the outdoor sofas of my college days!<br /><br />@Andrew Glad you like the windmill! Mine came from Northern Tool, but the quality isn't the best. Google 'Garden Windmills' and see what you find; if you've got $100 bucks and a 3' x 3' spot you can have a windmill too!<br /><br />@Susan, well, it USED to be the utility path, now it's part of the garden!Laura Livengoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04101658363604076352noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-213339149669405453.post-29294794077572346842010-04-29T03:53:07.205-07:002010-04-29T03:53:07.205-07:00Love the destination "utility" path. Alt...Love the destination "utility" path. Although it's so pretty, it's a shame to call it by that name!Susanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16739298503882838868noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-213339149669405453.post-59230622059124788242010-04-29T03:43:24.650-07:002010-04-29T03:43:24.650-07:00Love your point about focal point as destination, ...Love your point about focal point as destination, and LOVE the windmill! WHERE do I get a windmill like that?!? I feel now the world may come crashing down if I do not procure a windmill for myself right this very moment.<br /><br />(Can I afford a windmill? Do I have the space? Formalities, I say!)Andrewhttp://www.gardensmackdown.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-213339149669405453.post-24809756323351947982010-04-28T14:47:25.538-07:002010-04-28T14:47:25.538-07:00Hi Laura: This was a very interesting post. Thanks...Hi Laura: This was a very interesting post. Thanks for all the great ideas. I really like the curvy pathway to that comfy chair. TeresaSeasonal Wisdomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03100322004379073566noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-213339149669405453.post-49493556653921978482010-04-28T08:52:25.385-07:002010-04-28T08:52:25.385-07:00Thanks for the great comments, everyone!
@SusanM,...Thanks for the great comments, everyone!<br /><br />@SusanM, isn't it the truth, in suburban gardening we are often dealing just as much with what we don't want to see! Fortunately the ability to do so is satisfying for me! That blue fountain is killer; we sealed the top with plex so the water volume is low, and filled it with tumbled glass. <br /><br />@Ivette I love glazed pots too, and am fortunate to have some awesome resources for them. I feel badly for those in colder climes who can't have these beauties outdoors year-round!<br /><br />@SusanC I was so impressed with John's design for that fence; since it is a condo he couldn't replace the existing one, but it was transformed with those horizontal boards attached the the existing posts!<br /><br />@SirRobert Thanks! I designed that staircase a few years ago and on the plan included a rendering of how it would look from this position, but no other specs. I was so impressed when I saw it built and it looked exactly like my drawing! Good contractor, that.<br /><br />@Jocelyn My clients who add fire features to their gardens always love them! There is something about gathering about a fire at night that is so satisfying...<br /><br />@Debbie I love a comfy chair in the garden, and such things are much more widely available (and affordable) than they used to be! When a client says something's missing in their garden, it's usually a place to SIT!<br /><br />@Carolyn Thanks! The blue fountain was fun to do, and the sealed-top design keeps things really clean!<br /><br />@Rebecca I need to take you to see the Los Altos Garden one of these days; the owners are moving to Europe but thankfully won't be selling this house; I'll be keeping an eye on it!<br /><br />@Danger Feel free, my blog is always open!Laura Livengoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04101658363604076352noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-213339149669405453.post-21506294994906040962010-04-27T19:16:50.826-07:002010-04-27T19:16:50.826-07:00Great post with so many good points! I think I'...Great post with so many good points! I think I'll have to read it again to catch them all!danger gardenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09227500551609537140noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-213339149669405453.post-3190293678058261742010-04-27T18:37:49.730-07:002010-04-27T18:37:49.730-07:00Nicely done, girl! I love your idea of a simple s...Nicely done, girl! I love your idea of a simple staircase acting as a focal point - and you're absolutely right. Focal points don't have to be elaborate...sometimes a simple, well constructed element is all that's required. Love the Los Altos garden, too - just beautiful!rebecca Sweethttp://www.gossipinthegarden.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-213339149669405453.post-51626849803229589982010-04-27T16:10:45.831-07:002010-04-27T16:10:45.831-07:00Wonderful post and illustrations, Laura. Your des...Wonderful post and illustrations, Laura. Your design for John Black looks almost identical to one that I did for a client. Oh well, great minds think along the same lines.. :-)Sweet Home and Garden Carolinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08026451200405491815noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-213339149669405453.post-71689446228843716352010-04-27T15:16:29.175-07:002010-04-27T15:16:29.175-07:00Laura,
Lots of inspiring photos. I think I like ...Laura,<br /><br />Lots of inspiring photos. I think I like the one of the comfy chair beckoning me to walk through the winding path and sit down and relax and take in the view for a while before exploring the garden even more.Debbie @ GardenofPossibilitieshttp://gardenofpossibilities.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-213339149669405453.post-22583810760069615952010-04-27T14:24:29.817-07:002010-04-27T14:24:29.817-07:00Many, many wonderful examples here, Laura! I'...Many, many wonderful examples here, Laura! I'm glad you included fire as a focal point; the structural as well as the elemental essence that we humans all relate to. Thanks!Jocelyn/the art gardenhttp://jocelynsgarden.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-213339149669405453.post-6375022612600761222010-04-27T14:12:52.369-07:002010-04-27T14:12:52.369-07:00Lots of lovely ideas here, but I liked the windmil...Lots of lovely ideas here, but I liked the windmill and that AMAZING staircase best.<br />Thanks<br />Robert, AKA an English Knight of the Round Table!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-213339149669405453.post-72512004755399713082010-04-27T13:33:16.214-07:002010-04-27T13:33:16.214-07:00love, love, love the off center cobalt water featu...love, love, love the off center cobalt water feature against the mahogany colored wall. Tour de force! Thanks.Susan aka Miss Rhttp://www.suancohangardens.com/blognoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-213339149669405453.post-51519697477371684662010-04-27T12:24:30.324-07:002010-04-27T12:24:30.324-07:00Well OF COURSE you'd have a great post ...
I a...Well OF COURSE you'd have a great post ...<br />I am especially partial to the use of glazed ceramic pots as water elements - they are simple and elegant, and can be used to create a destination point that is at once both quiet and dramatic. I see that in all of your examples- a certain quiet elegance that really holds the space. <br />LUV! <br />Smarty-pants!<br />XOXOIvetteIvettehttp://thegerminatrix.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-213339149669405453.post-91657935954595437902010-04-27T12:14:49.915-07:002010-04-27T12:14:49.915-07:00I really relate to your examples in this post. Li...I really relate to your examples in this post. Like you, I'm more likely to be designing in smaller spaces where the focal points need to do more than draw the eye - they have to disguise unattractive views and corners, and delight the senses in multiple ways.<br /><br />Great post and I particularly like the blue fountain at the end of the slate path!susan morrisonhttp://www.garden-chick.typepad.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-213339149669405453.post-17454093541193840292010-04-27T08:26:00.782-07:002010-04-27T08:26:00.782-07:00Thanks Pam (oops, it was supposed to go up at 9am)...Thanks Pam (oops, it was supposed to go up at 9am) but thanks! It's amazing the journeys one can take when sitting perfectly still...Laura Livengoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04101658363604076352noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-213339149669405453.post-19898938635844697842010-04-27T07:38:15.584-07:002010-04-27T07:38:15.584-07:00Your post is up early, and it's a good one. I ...Your post is up early, and it's a good one. I like your point about "making the journey through a garden with one's eyes." A good focal point leads the eye. And more likely than not, the feet will follow, led on irresistibly by the tempting view.Pam/Digginghttp://www.penick.net/diggingnoreply@blogger.com