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The artist inspires the gardener

 

Karl Maughan - Mangaweka 2018 v2-493Painting gardens has long been a favourite of many artists. Claude Monet is perhaps the most famous. His French garden at Giverny is famous because of his paintings. He settled there in 1883 and created a garden which was divided into two main areas. The most famous aspect is the Japanese bridge over the lily ponds, wisteria drooping in colourful harmony from above. Thousands visit every year. His plan was to create a garden full of symmetry, perspective and colour. evident in his beautiful impressionist work.

Matisse was also known for his garden paintings and, once confined to his bed, his paper cut-outs representing his surroundings. My friend Bev Rhodes, also an artist, has used my garden for inspiration on occasion. I have a lovely painting of one of my daylilies captured forever.

Karl Maughan, my favourite New Zealand garden artist, has the ability to draw you into his paintings, his colourful arbours tumbling down on to grassy paths which disappear between shrubs heavily laden with bloom. 

A friend of mine has a block of land and a garden which they have devoted to native plants. From a bare paddock they have created areas of well-established native bush surrounding the perimeter and driveway and providing a wind break.

“Help,” she asked. “I need colour near the house. I crave flowers. What shall I plant?” 

The lawn in front of the house drops down to a lower level, the bank it creates between the two levels seemed a great place to start. We didn’t want to break up the lawn at all, or interrupt the view too much. I didn’t need to show her some Karl Maughan paintings, she was already a fan.

“How about we recreate a Karl Maughan painting on your bank?” I suggested.

We are doing the opposite, using the artists to inspire us. 

With a spray can we set out to outline the areas for each group of plants, tapering from the top to the bottom to create a drift and inserting some crescent shapes and counting the possible number of plants we need.

The paintings suggest hydrangeas and rhododendrons. The north facing bank may be too dry for both although we both agree hydrangeas would look wonderful and Rowie at the market is very good at supplying more drought resistant varieties. If we keep the hydrangeas near the bottom of the bank they will benefit from any moisture run off.

For a tropical look and ideally positioned, some intensely coloured hibiscus, reds, yellows and oranges in drifts of five or more will contrast well with the blue hydrangeas. A well placed Senna corymbosa John Ball tree (previously known as Cassia John Ball) will provide a yellow colour block.

To introduce the purples we have some tibouchina Carol Lyn which can be kept well clipped. Some salvias and drought resistant pentestomens will add to the range of purple and provide a contrast in form.

At a stall at the Tavern market I discovered some Rhondeletia strigosa plants. These fast growing little evergreen shrubs produce masses of starry red flowers for much of the year. Growing in sun or shade they will be an ideal ‘filler’ where we need them. The list of suitable plants grows! I can’t wait to see the finished product. Let’s hope we will have created our own harmony of symmetry, perspective and colour.

Artist Karl Maughan’s work is based on New Zealand scenes of gardens, flora and fauna, and public places. Pictured is Mangaweka 2018, oil on canvas. IMAGE/OWNERS RIGHTS

 
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