On TV.

I have been interested and somewhat following a new show on HGTV called The Outdoor Room With Jamie Durie. Mr. Durie is an Auzy bloke who has mad crazy design skills and has brought his talent and ideas to USA TV. I have to say, though, that the show is a little ruff. I do not like how his team always talk about him and his ideas behind his back so when I say hooked I like the final projects but the way they get there, um well .... Anyway, there is an episode that has got me really excited on a great Zen like style garden to do with Veg and Herbs. I really like the layout of the raised garden. It just works in a Japanese style garden. Clean simple functional. To watch the show click here and scroll over to episode "Garden of Zen"

Gatherd Together.

"A collection of plants is just that - a collection. Unless and until that collection is structured and organized in a pleasing and functional manner, it is not and never will be a garden. It's as if you gathered together an assortments of your favorite timbers, stones and tiles and prematurely declared it a house"

" A Garden should be more than just a nursery."

"Without a strong architectural foundation, no garden can be truly natural. Nature was the first architect and she remains an insistent practitioner, instilling architectural order into every aspect of her landscape."

"By "Domesticationg" the landscape... referring to the process of making it comfortable and convenient for human use. That's the essence of garden... A wilderbess, by contrast, may be magnificent, a superbly pleasurable aesthetic experience, but it would be inconvenient for day-to-day life."

"Designing a garden must begin with "the program". That is , before opening the first nursery catalog, you should think long and hard about how you want the landscape to function, what you want it to do, and what it will need to accomplish those purposes. What's the best route for the path that will take you from the front door to the street or parking area? Will the herb garden be in close proximity to the kitchen? Where should you place the terrace that you plan to breakfast on pleasant weekends?"

James Van Sweden, Architecture in the Garden, 2002

To Create

“There is a great work for the Saints to do. Progress, and improve upon and make beautiful everything around you. Cultivate the earth, and cultivate your minds. Build cities, adorn your habitations, make gardens, orchards, and vineyards, and render the earth so pleasant that when you look upon your labors you may do so with pleasure, and that angels may delight to come and visit your beautiful locations. In the mean time continually seek to adorn your minds with all the graces of the Spirit of Christ.” Brigham Young, (Deseret News, Aug. 8, 1860, 177)

I believe in living prophets who speak to us what the Lord would have us do. When he speaks it is our Heavenly Father speaking, guiding, warning, and teaching. This quote is so inspirational to me and a testament to continue to seek out, study and learn all I can about the natural world around me. To do my part to beautify, build, protect, and inspire others to do the same. Lets push on.

Cheers,
'Mr.Ray'

Our Patio.

As we have taken a new position of employment that will keep us here in the Southern California area for a few more seasons I felt that it was time to delve back into the up keep of our front patio area. In so doing I think it is the best it has been in years, or at least since we have dwelt in this abode. Being dirty and surrounded by living, growing things and the study of the life of Beatrix Potter has sparked a real interest in the natural world around me and want to surround myself with more of the beauty of gods creations and curiosities.
I have started experiments and planted 'hi-jacked' findings from around our complex to see how they grow and what they are to become.


I hope to make this my spot of continued intrest but do not plan to post regularly for this is only for the purpose of my own entertainment and recording only to document for my own enjoyment, history, and research.

'Mr.Ray'