Greetings and well-met, dear beautiful and creative souls of Sherwood!
I have this idea that keeps dominating my thoughts. It's to create Sherwood grounds into this fantastic visual display of garden and vegetative sculptured fantasty land.
I am not creative tho. I have ideas, but cannot put them to paper or design.
So, here is my thought...
Have folk submit designs (shapes, sizes, plants, landscaping features, etc) for approval. Then, invite groups or clans to construct the the various gardens throughout the faire.
The gardnes might be dedicated to a fay or saint or ancient spirit or historic figure.
I would love to have some of the gardens include water features like fountains or ponds.
Likewise, if there are other structures or features you would like to create within the grounds similar to what Noobler has done in Scarby, send them on. This is a collective creation. Join us in building something quite unique.
If this is up your alley, send designs to rengypsy@sherwoodforestfaire.com
Love yall,
Rengypsy
PS Dont forget about our gathering on the Fourth of July Weekend. we are looking for those among you who would like to entertian us with music, dance, fire, etc.
(http://www.ual.es/congresos/esc2009/Alcazaba_almeria3.jpg)
Spanish water garden (10th-11th century)- small bubbler fountain, long reflecting pool, paved surround enclosed by tall poplars (trees of any type really) for shade; concrete benches all along the inside of the tree line for sitting.
Are you thinking of topiaries? I am not a landscape artist by any means but I found a picture of this:
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3283/5782204219_b87334ee21.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/41799285@N04/5782204219/)
(http://www.flickr.com/photos/41799285@N04/5782204219/) (http://www.flickr.com/people/41799285@N04/)
I am sure there are some talented people out there that can make topiary forms of all different creatures, animal and fey.
The site I found this image on also suggested using:
• Boxwood
• Holly trees
• Bay laurel
• The yew tree
• Privet is an excellent choice for fast growth.
Hardy plants that are easy to prune and can withstand severe trimming are the best choice for topiary.
So you could have items like these blending with other greenery which would look nice.
OOOoooooohh! I have a good friend—no smartaleck comments—who is a landscape designer that specializes in water features. He has taken numerous blue ribbons for his designs at the Arkansas Garden Show... He owes me a favour! The only problem is, we're 8 hours away...we'd need a proxy work crew!
If you send me lots of pictures of the area that you would want a water feature in, along with measurements, I would be willing to attempt to badger him into designing something for Sherwood.
Italian style garden with Green Man water feature-But Merlin you are right, to make something that would actually work would require seeing the site with all of its terrain and elevation problems.
(http://www.veranda.com/cm/veranda/images/nC/gardens-greenwich-estate-5-0409-lg-8324486.jpg)
The cool thing about water features (to a good designer) is that there is no such thing as a terrain or elevation "problem." Those are the things that make each water feature unique.
Well, Merlin, the only way I see this working is a FIELD TRIP! You and Nimue and your friend need to come on out for something at Sherwood. Let us know when you come so we can be sure to invade too! 8)
I love the thought of adding gardens! The gardens at TRF draw thousands of photographers every year (even I get the bug and spend hours in there shooting lilies with my little Kodak).
My family has set up a few of what we call "mystery gardens" in the past, and they always end up lovely. Usually it involves a group of kids (it's an educational project!) We make a space somewhere and throw a couple nice stone features in it (little fairy statues, or huge garden frogs, or a big interesting rock- the idea is for it to be something that's NOT fragile). Then, we let everyone we know donate a plant. It can be purchased or pulled out of their own gardens at home. We don't ask what it is. Everybody plants their plant. Usually we end up with some kind of crazy eclectic magnificence- it's all about the mystery of what will show up :) .... incidentally, I ALWAYS plant bulbs like Amaryllis, because after they're in the ground, they come back year after year all by themselves- and it's even more wonderful if you forget they're there!
Face Palm Moment!
Punch has landscape design software that lets you play with 3 models and print out architectural blueprints. (http://www.punchsoftware.com/c-14-landscape-design.aspx)
I used to play with the Punch 5 in 1 Home Design years before anyone thought of Sims and I had forgotten all about it.
I stumbled onto this site that has some really neat items for either purchase or might be used as inspiration by someone with artistic talent that can build to a scale that is wanted.
http://www.fairywoodland.com/index.php
Samples of their work:
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3166/5830335941_d7a961eeac.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/41799285@N04/5830335941/)
Wind-Master-844[1] (http://www.flickr.com/photos/41799285@N04/5830335941/) (http://www.flickr.com/people/41799285@N04/)
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3583/5830335899_fdc31d73f9.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/41799285@N04/5830335899/)
Heart-of-Magic-703[1] (http://www.flickr.com/photos/41799285@N04/5830335899/) (http://www.flickr.com/people/41799285@N04/)
To have something like Wind Master would be totally outa sight!
Quote from: Merlin the Elder on June 13, 2011, 07:01:37 PM
To have something like Wind Master would be totally outa sight!
Wouldn't it?! The person that makes these is extremely talented. I thought it was inspiring. :)
Something like that in full-size would really be spectacular!