Green Man, Dore Abbey

Green men are usually depicted in art and architecture as a face peering out of the leaves some time he sports a beard of leaves and hair of leaves as well.  He represents different things to different people but we know this is a very old myth.  There are statues like this that date back to Roman times so the design itself is very old.  Various meanings have been ascribed to it over the years and after the fact associations made.  I think it must be a fun image to carve because it is rather timeless and sculptor after sculptor seems to be drawn to it.

The green man represents the life, death and rebirth cycle represented by the progression of spring, summer, winter and fall.  I think he also represents our repressed wilder nature or the part of us that longs for nature.  He has been associated with Robin Hood and the wild men of the forest.  There is also a strong association with fairies in celtic tradition.  Fairies were often referred to as the green men.  And though modern sensibilities may ascribe that designation as ancient aliens I prefer the fairy interpretation.

I think as soon as we became, 'civilized' and tied to the land we started longing to be free to roam again.  The green man represents this longing.  During Beltane the god and the goddess consort and the green man represents our wilder drives set loose.  Who doesn't go to a green man festival and dream of stepping aside with a pretty lady and enjoying the privacy of the glen for an hour or two.

Green men were often worked into the architecture of grand cathedrals under the watchful eyes of the friars the wildness called even in and maybe especially in the church pew.  Green men have been with us a long time and are not fading into the distance any time soon.

Kibble Palace Mirror, Glasgow Botanic Gardens, Scotland

A garden mirror can bring out a magical touch in any space. As long as you know how to use a mirror in the garden, you can expect only great results in the end. If you have no idea yet in terms of using this garden decoration, read on and find out how you can effectively use a mirror in your yard.

To extend the space you have in the garden, it is a good idea to replace windows with garden mirrors. For instance, if you have a shed at the end of the garden, you can change some of its windows to mirrors. The reflection of the garden on the mirrors will create an illusion of a larger space.

Also, you can bring in a more interesting view in your garden through the use of mirrors. If you have a trellis, it is ideal to place mirrors behind it. This location of the mirror will give you the view of the back side of the flowers and leaves, which people do not usually see. It can even give you a bonus of the reflection of the sky and the sun.

Another great way to use mirrors in the garden is to install them as a backdrop for the planters. You can install the mirrors on the fence and let flowers grow on the planters. When the flowers are in full bloom, you will see a magnificent reflection of the colorful flowers on the mirror. To finish this design, you can train vines to crawl up the edges of the mirrors on the fence. This will give the mirrors a more natural look on the fences.

The secret towards taking advantage of garden mirrors is to know how to use them properly. Take note that even if you have the most expensive and most stylish mirrors for the garden, you cannot guarantee to reap the most benefit out of them if you use them inefficiently.

(more...)