by Martha Keehner Engelke NC State Extension Master Gardener SM volunteer of Durham County
(Special thanks and recognition to Deborah Pilkington, Joan Barber, and Lisa Nadler, Extension Master GardenersSM in Durham, NC, who contributed to this article.)
When you decide to add art to your garden do you make choices based on what is on sale or readily available at the local nursery ? Or, do you add art based on a goal that you hope to achieve? For example, you might want to add dimension to your garden space or provide a welcoming environment for birds and other critters. The mission of the Durham County Extension Master Gardener SM Demonstration Garden, located at 721 Foster Street, is to teach and demonstrate practical research-based gardening techniques for a variety of urban spaces. Since the garden began, art installations have been thoughtfully chosen to advance this mission. This article highlights the goals that have been advanced through the placement of specific art installations. Some potential projects for the future are also discussed.
Goal 1: Provide a permanent home for seasonal plantings
Whether you garden at home or in a public space, it is nice to have a permanent place where flowers and small shrubs can be displayed and changed based on the season. Many gardeners use pots or make a raised bed from wood or stone. Since the Demo Garden is in a very public and open space, we wanted to develop something more permanent and secure. Enter the idea of a gabion. A gabion (from the Italian gabbione meaning “big cage”) is a metal cage, cylinder, or box filled with rocks, concrete, or sometimes sand and soil. It is used in civil engineering for building dams, foundations, or roads. In the military, a gabion is used for protection of infantry from enemy fire, and in landscaping a gabion might be used for erosion control.
(Left to right) Gabion walls surround a hanging garden; a gabion is filled with books. (Image credit: Deborah Pilkington)
After extensive research, the gabions were ordered from an online supplier. They were assembled, and inner cages were created. The gabions were placed at an angle to the walkway for visual interest. Large rocks were inserted between the outer and inner cages; then the inner cages were lined with weed barrier fabric to allow for drainage while also separating the potting mix from the rocks. Then the gabions were planted.
Peter Gilmer, Master GardenerSM volunteer, provided the rocks for the gabions and led the effort to construct and line the them. The picture on the left shows the base and framework of the gabion, and the picture on the right demonstrates how the constructed gabion appears before planting. (Image credit: Deborah Pilkington)
As seen in the pictures below, we plant the gabions at least twice a year to demonstrate seasonal approaches to container gardening.
(Left to right) Examples of seasonal plantings in the gabions. (Image credit: L- Deborah Pilkington; R- Allie Mullin)
Goal 2: Demonstrate approaches that provide a welcoming environment for birds to thrive
Part of the mission of the Demo Garden was to obtain Bird Friendly Habitat Certification from New Hope Audubon (now New Hope Bird Alliance). This designation recognizes that a garden includes native plants (at least 70%); is free of invasive species; and provides a haven for birds. There are two bird houses in the garden. One, in particular, is unique, handcrafted, and colorful.
Another art installation that welcomes the birds is a bird bath made by local artist Bob Simchock. He and his wife Jenny started their company doing residential stonework but now limit their work to benches, tables, birdbaths, lights, and garden art.1 The birdbath was installed in July, 2022.
(Left to right) The artistically made bird bath. (Image credit: Lisa Nadler); Recognition plaque of Bird Friendly Habitat Certification (Image credit: Martha Engelke)
There were several problems related to the birdbath that we addressed. First, it sits on a stone pedestal which rocks a bit causing the water to drain out. This has been corrected with shims between the top and the base. Second, the bird bath must be cleaned with a brush on a regular basis since you cannot pick it up to wash it. A brush is now part of our demo garden toolkit. Third, because the birdbath is shallow, it does not hold much water and was drying out on a daily basis. Filling it required dragging the hose between multiple plants, resulting in it being dry more often than it was filled. This has been corrected by having the irrigation system which waters the garden fill the bird bath. This allows water to be in the birdbath most of the time.
Goal 3: Add a vertical dimension to the garden to highlight plants and vines that climb
Having a vertical section of the garden was always a part of the master plan. Deborah Pilkington, the lead of the “vertical” team, had taken a welding class, and as her final project built a tall artistic garden trellis inspired by a picture in Handy magazine.2 The size, dimensions, and the artistry made this a perfect choice for the vertical section of the Demo Garden. With volunteer Jackie MacLeod’s metal expertise and tools3, Jackie, Deborah, and Lisa Nadler cut, bent, welded and painted the pieces to replicate what Deborah had previously made. Peter Gilmer helped with the installation.
As the vertical team fashioned the trellises they developed, a secondary goal evolved: having the trellises pay homage to the building where we’d install them. The original Agriculture Extension Building was erected in 1948 in a Moderne architectural style, and it served as a “curb market” (what we would typically think of as a farmer’s market) until the mid 1960s. In 2004, the building was rehabilitated and the larger windows above the three main block entrances were replaced with black metal frames with a central circular motif. To tie the trellises artistically to the building, a similar circular element was added to the original trellis design recognizing the historical significance of the building.
(Left to right) The circular window of the building was added in 2004, and it is reflected in the structure of the trellis. (Image credit: Martha Engelke)
The corners of the trellis have colorful and beautiful fused glass squares created by Ali Rosenberg which are attached by a single wire at the top and bottom allowing them to have some
movement in the wind.
The trellises were installed in April 2024, and additional work is being completed to level and stabilize them. A lively discussion has ensued about whether these are “art” or “trellises.” The outcome of that discussion will determine what if any vine-type plants are added. Possible options are moonflower vine (Ipomoea alba) or an annual such as black-eyed Susan vine, (Thunbergia alata).
The Future: Can a dead tree by turned into art with a purpose?
One of the issues that has recently emerged in the Demo Garden is that a large crabapple tree (Malus coronaria) has died. It will be a challenge to reevaluate the plants in this area given that it was the central feature of the shady bed.
The chair of the demo garden team, Joan Barber, has already started to generate ideas for how this tree could be turned into a work of art. Here are a few thoughts that were generated during a recent workday:
- Directional Signpost: Attach directional signs to the branches to guide visitors through the garden.
- Carved Sculpture: Transform the dead tree into a beautiful carved sculpture, adding an artistic focal point to the garden.
- Educational Display: Use the tree as an educational tool by adding plaques or signs with information about the tree’s species, history, and the wildlife it supports.
- Art Installation: Decorate the tree with various artistic elements, such as hanging ornaments, wind chimes, or mosaic tiles.
- Birdhouse: Install birdhouses on the tree to provide shelter for wildlife.
- Planter: Hollow out sections of the tree to create unique planters for flowers, succulents, or herbs.
- Insect Habitat: Turn the tree into a habitat for beneficial insects, such as bees or ladybugs, by drilling holes or adding natural materials.
Stay tuned! As the plan for the dead tree materializes we will keep you up to date through this blog. Until then, come to the garden and enjoy the plants, art, and people that you will find there.
Notes
1. Additional information and pictures of Mr. Simchok’s work can be found at https://www.simchockstone.com/.
2. Additional information on the inspiration for the trellises can be found in Handy magazine, Legwold, Gary: Artistic Trellis: Weld Your Way to a Transformed Garden, May – June, 2007, pp. 44-48.
3. To see examples of Jackie MacLeod’s work go to: http://jackiemacleod.com/
Resources and Additional Information
To read more about the history of the Durham County Extension Building which was a curb market at one time go to: https://www.opendurham.org/buildings/durham-county-agricultural-building-curb-market-extension.
From September 15th – December 8, 2024 the 36th annual Sculpture in the Garden exhibit will be open. This event unites the work of local artists with the native plant landscapes of the North Carolina Botanical Garden. More information can be found at: https://ncbg.unc.edu/visit/exhibits/sculpture-in-the-garden/.
The Cornell College of Agriculture and Life Sciences has developed a project called Dig Art! Cultivating Creativity in the Garden. The program is for educators interested in strengthening the relationship between gardening and a variety of the arts. The activities in the guide help to teach ecological literacy and inspire new enthusiasm for garden-based learning. To learn more about this program visit: https://gardening.cals.cornell.edu/lessons/dig-art-cultivating-creativity-in-the-garden/.
If you want more information on how to construct a birdhouse that birds will really enjoy, take a look at this posting from the Cornell lab of Ornithology: https://nestwatch.org/learn/all-about-birdhouses/features-of-a-good-birdhouse/.
To learn more about how to use art in your own garden, visit one of our previous blogs written by volunteer Wendy Diaz for tips and design principles. See it here at: https://wp.me/2nIr1-46H.
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