"Playin' at Plein Air"....the 1st. Annual

  Plein air, a French phrase, literally translates as 'open air', and is defined as painting or drawing done outside, in the open air. These works were taken directly from nature, and infused with a feeling of the open air.

We have hosted a lot of events at The Flower Tree over the last 12 years, but I don’t think any have ever come together smoother or quicker than the Plein Air event we had today. We had been trying to come up with an art event that would help us fill the coffers of the scholarship fund that we set up in memory of our dear friend Linny Moore who passed away last winter. While we have been adding to the account from the sale of her artwork in the gift shop, we were hoping to increase it enough to be able to offer three scholarships for local art students this next spring semester. Enter the idea for "Playin' at Plein Air" at The Flower Tree. With only two weeks to put this together because of the rapidly advancing cool weather, we looked to a group of local artists from Fallon and Fernley to help us. With their assistance and participation, I am extremely happy to say, we have met our goal. With only TWO HOURS to set up and create their vision I think you will agree, there was some amazing talent represented. A vast spectrum of medias - everything from pastels, oils, watercolor, mixed media, glass, acrylics to...yes….gun powder art.  The best part, we all agreed - Linny would have loved the day. We would all like to thank everyone that came out and enjoyed the warm afternoon and generously bid on the artwork. Take a view of the day below, and please…please… make plans to attend next season’s event when we capture spring at the nursery.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Garden Girls ~ Lucia's

Signs.....signs....everywhere a sign. While this may remind you of a certain song from my generation, Lucia's gardens exemplify not only the literal but the figurative view of the song as well. Lucia has planned and built her gardens around her acreage with light, wind, harsh sun and all the elements Fallon can throw at you in mind. You see signs of careful thought in placing her whimsically created miniature gardens just where they need to be.....in afternoon shade, to take advantage of the smaller containers and water use. Signs of her love of the mountains are highlighted as you turn a corner and alpine style gardens filled with ferns, hydrangeas and daisies lay at your feet. You see signs of her strategic placement of her roses in wine barrels not only because she is dealing with sometimes poor soil, as many of us are, but also so that they gather all the sunshine possible in between her huge old cottonwood trees that grace the property. And then there is her art, signs of her artistic skill and creative mind are placed just out of direct sight, so that you are constantly searching for what hides behind the next corner. On this late summer evening, as we settled down for dinner after our garden tour and watched the amazing sunset, I gazed around the table at all the smiles, and listened to the laughter fill the air…..and I reflected on how very fortunate we Garden Girls are ….to have these evenings together as signs of our friendship.

 

this is one of many that help keep the grass down out in the pasture 

 

 

 

 

 

 espaliered quince, who would have thought.....