A Painted Garden...

Quiet Respite, mixed media, 2015.

The art of the garden is, for me, an endless subject of personal fascination.  I adore visiting and touring gardens of all styles to see the work of inspiring designers.  Every space is unique and seems to possess a different ambiance based on the plant choices, lighting, climate and natural topography that is a part of the environment.  

Autumn in the Olive Grove, mixed media, 2015.

Lately in the studio I am drawn to expressive art techniques and textural materials as I experiment with landscape paintings of the garden.  Since nature is central in much of my work, celebrating different gardens that I have enjoyed visiting over the years is a delight and a challenge for me as an artist. 

These two mixed media paintings are of Filoli, in Woodside, California and were selected to be shown there as a part of the exhibit Seasons of Filoli which runs from September 1 through October 25, 2015.

Leave a Comment Tagged: Creative Process, Filoli, mixed media, Painting Nature

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Cooking from the Garden: Winter Citrus Salad

Winter salads are a refreshing way to eat from the garden during the colder months as there are still many tasty treasures outdoors and the chilly weather is perfect for growing greens.   A local farmer gave me a delicious selection of artisan lettuce that inspired these variations on a winter citrus salad.

The salad above was made for a group and was served it in a trifle bowl lined with orange slices.  To assemble the salad, I first sliced the oranges and lined the bowl, then I added the lettuce, dried cranberries and walnuts.   The photograph was taken before the honey dressing was added.  It is important to dress the salad immediately before serving or the greens will get soggy and lose their texture.

For the dressing, I like to mix juice squeezed from an orange with honey and extra virgin olive oil.  Add salt and pepper then drizzle over the salad and toss.  It is very light and allows the flavors of the lettuce to emerge.

Here ingredients for the citrus salads such as pomegranate arils, tangerines, oranges, walnuts, and dried cranberries are shown with a jar of honey from our trip to Filoli.  The artisan lettuces were homegrown so I am not sure what the varieties were but the different colors and textures made an excellent base for winter fruit.  They were also very flavorful and do not require much dressing.  

The second variation on the citrus salad is shown plated below.  This version has lettuce with satsuma tangerines and dried cranberries and is drizzled with honey.  It is a simplified version of the larger salad above, but the tangerines are much more tart than the orange and provide more flavor contrast.  I served pomegranate arils on the side for sprinkling on top.

The Gilded Bloom now has a companion website called The Gilded Bloom Studio and is now on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram.  For more floral inspired ideas and updates,  please connect with me on these networks.  You can also follow The Gilded Bloom on Bloglovin' or via email using the subscription box near the top of this page. Hope to see you there!

This post has been shared on The Scoop, Feathered Nest Friday, and The Inspiration Gallery.

8 comments Tagged: Cooking from the Garden, Filoli, Potager, Winter

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Sweet Summer Roses

Roses are a delight to photograph and summer brings so many gorgeous varieties.  The delicate color and soft, tissue-like petals seen in these roses from the gardens at Filoli (see A Day at Filoli post) captured my attention when we visited...

Leave a Comment Tagged: Filoli, Garden and Flower Photography

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A Day at Filoli

The dazzling gardens at Filoli, a country estate in Woodside, California are a stunning reminder of the beauty and variety of formal garden design during the early 20th century.  Filoli is an historic site of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and features a lovely Georgian style estate home with extensive gardens and plant collections.  Although early spring at Filoli is the most celebrated season for viewing, our recent trip still proved to be filled with an abundance of beautiful blooms.

Here the Georgian style Garden House bears witness to the emphasis on symmetry found in architecture and design at Filoli.  This greenhouse structure is filled with exotic plants that thrive indoors like orchids and ferns.

The majesty of the gardens at Filoli is reflected in the formal style and exquisite use of space.  A layered natural landscape surrounding the estate is incorporated into the overall scheme of the gardens presenting a beautiful fusion of nature and design.  

The rose garden was in robust bloom when we visited.  The corridors of roses lined with boxwood reflect the English Renaissance style of garden design featured in this part of the estate.  

Countless varieties of roses in every imaginable color are found in the garden.  Below are two of my favorites...

Benches encased by climbing roses are functional focal points in the garden.  They provide both beauty and rest for those who want to sit down and enjoy the sweet scent of the surrounding roses.

Elegant garden views like that of the birdbath shown below highlight the structural beauty of the garden.  

Trees create a canopy over a boxwood lined pathway showing the garden's geometric organization and creating shade for wanderers.

Dramatic entrances frame the garden pathways and emphasize the graceful formality of the overall design.  Intricate ironwork gates along with vine-covered brick walls seen throughout the estate add another elegant touch to the garden's design.

For more information about the gardens at Filoli please visit the official website at www.filoli.org.

The Gilded Bloom is now on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram.  For more floral inspired ideas and updates,  please connect with me on these networks.  You can also follow The Gilded Bloom on Bloglovin' or via email using the subscription box near the top of this page. Hope to see you there!

2 comments Tagged: Filoli, Inspiring Journeys

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