In his book "Close: A Journey in Scotland" and its related exhibition at the U.S. Botanic Garden, Scottish-born photographer Allan Pollok-Morris explores the work of some of the leading garden designers and land artists working in his homeland. The landscape at the Maggie's Cancer Caring Center, in Dundee, was designed by the garden designer Arabella Lennox-Boyd. The building is by Frank Gehry.
Many thanks to my friend Ann Reid, also a Scot, for the link to this article by Adrian Higgins in the WaPo on a book and exhibit at the U.S. Botanic Garden.
These ten pics, Higgins' review, our recently changeable Virginia skies, and reading the 6th in Alexander McCall Smith's fun Edinburgh series, The Lost Art of Gratitude, inspire homesickness in me for Scotland, a place I discovered during a year at St. Andrews while in 'Uni', at that time a place with bad weather and worse food.
Thanks to almost 20 hours of light in summer, but, (thus far in climate change's progression) temperatures far cooler than our 90-100 degree slog through summer, Scotland's gardens boast vibrant blooms, lush, clean foliage unmarred by sunburn, drought and Japanese beetles. Or Stink Bugs. Sigh.
Inspiring homesickness, jealousy, and well, just inspiring me, Scotland always calls out to me to break away from what holds me down, holds me back.....to stand on a hill with the wind blowing a gale, and to simply....SEE the landscape.
If you are a designer, or a gardener, or inspired by their work, you will never be more inspired than in Scotland.
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