Monday, September 22, 2008

Living Sculpture


Keith's post over at Gem City Images inspired me to present this photo. Say hello to a particularly whimsical Los Angeles area phenomenon: over-sculpted geometric yard topiary! When I moved to LA many years ago I was charmed and amused by the rampant use of hedge trimmers in neighborhoods all over the region. You might have noticed some gallant attempts at shrub artistry in this recent post, too.

My daughter calls these dandy boxwoods on El Centro "the big green teacups." Edward Scissorhands, eat your heart out...

24 comments:

Julie said...

Overdone gardening-wise quite possibly, but the geometry that results is just terrific. Look at the lines, the spheres, the planes, the circles (complete with radii). What a photographer's delight!

I took something sort of similar but totally different this morning. Shall post it overnight. It was an attempt to capture shape.

I would hate a garden like this, BTW ... I like a garden to be a rambling surprise.

stromsjo said...

And she's right - just like giant teacups. I agree with Julie. It's fun to look at for a while but not really a garden in my taste.

USelaine said...

They do this to the shrubs at the local hospital. I have a recent picture I keep meaning to post, but haven't gotten to it yet.

Instead, I offer you a picture someone took of a longstanding landmark in the Mendocino coast village of Manchester.

Sarah said...

Yes,It is just fun for a while and not for all the time.
Thanks for sharing,and good information about tiles in my blog,have a nice day!

Olivier said...

beau jeux d'ombres, on dirait des tambours.

beautiful game of shadows, it looks like the drums.

Knoxville Girl said...

That is very weird. If you threw a tablecloth over them, you could have a Mad hatter tea party.
They make great sunlight/shadow opportunity, though. You have a good eye for this.

Seb! said...

Amazing... like you say ther's something to Edward's scissorhands !

Jane Hards Photography said...

Poor hayfever sufferers. The desperate housewives phenomnema of tidy lawn, but untidy inside prevails. We have them here, trying to outo each other. My own mad hatters tea party is in the woods of course.

Virginia said...

That's hilarious. Reminds me of the finely manicured shrubs in Paris. I had visions of little men with teeny tiny nippers that spent their days catching the stray stems that didn't follow the party line. Of course in Paris they looked cool. Here, well, ....goofy (as in DIsneyland!)

Anonymous said...

Hi Laurie - have you gone up to the water tower, its up in the altos de monterey area of so pas....up via del rey. Also, there is a "snake trail" that connects this area with the meridian area by the high school. One of the entrances is at the end of Flores de Oro street. Check it out!

Unknown said...

These hedges would be too much work for me. When I trim hedges, I'm satisfied with "looks good enough".

Anonymous said...

As a graphic artist, I find this photo absolutely beautiful. I especially like the way the shadows break the crisply trimmed border of lawn to adorn the sidewalk.

If your photos were for sale, this is another one I would have to buy.

Unknown said...

My first thought was that someone needs to put broom handles, paired, in each "bowl" and then we can all think of going to the nearest Chinese restaurant. :~) I love topiaries. You rarely see them here, maybe a spiral by a front door, but that's about it. Where is Edward Scissorhand when we need him most?

Wayne said...

I thought of Edward Scissorhands too. I like a well manicured lawn and garden. But because they are so water and energy intensive they just don't make sense. If I had to maintain a yard I'd look for alternatives to a lawn and If I had to trim these hedges they'd look more like teaspoons than teacups by the time I tried to get them symmetrical.

This is a very pleasing shot Laurie.

Sharon said...

Your daughter is very observant. I think they look like cups too. Actually Alice in Wonderland comes to mind for me.

Barbara Rahal said...

Hey Laurie nice shot!! mm makes me feel like havimng a tea time!!..mmm if they shape a bit on the corners going round they could be small heart bushes..how neat!!

Dixie Jane said...

Moss covered canteloupe halves, all in a row. For a giant. But would he eat them?

M. CHRISTOPHE said...

Nice construction, you make it very graphic.

Anonymous said...

I'm crazy for sculpted hedges. My mom's gardner poodle-ized all her cyprus trees and wedged the hedges. She just hates it, but due to a difference of language, she can't seem to get that point across.

Ken Mac said...

how do they do this and keep the shrubs so lush and full? I could never pull this off growing up in NC

Rob said...

A lot of work to maintain these beauties. I am reminded of Bob Marley like kettle drums. ;)

Laurie Allee said...

Hi everyone,

Welcome zip and seb! zip, I've been up to the water tower but had no idea about a snake trail... now I must go exploring! We're talking snake as in shape of the trail snaking around, not some weird little-known South Pas rattler, right? :-)

Elaine, that tree is the soulmate of Keith's hedge over at Gem City Images!

I love all the shapes you guys saw in these silly bushes. Dixie (Mom!) you actually made me spew coffee out my nose with your description.

Thanks so very much for all the nice words. I thought this was a fun subject while still being graphic and modern. It's not often I can find a blend of all those things at once.

Hilda said...

I find them amazing, but they're just not to my taste. I like gardens to be a little on the wild side.

I'm just catching up on your blog now. Felt like coming down with something so I had to take meds and sleep early just to make sure I didn't get sick. Looks like I caught it in time.

Laurie Allee said...

Hope you feel better, Hilda. My family is sick with a nasty version of a cold. Ugh.

I am with you on a wilder garden, too. I tend to like gardens that look untamed and overgrown.