It’s been a long time coming but I appear to have finally (FINALLY!) caught up with the backlog of material that has occupied much of my time on martincooney.com since the fateful day I decided to consolidate my various websites into this one “Grand Central Station” of my internet life. So now I am free to move forward with blogging about the projects I’m actually working on (Oh, Happy Day!) rather than artwork that was, in some instances, created years ago.
So what better way to mark the occasion with a nice leisurely stroll around the Colorado Rocky Mountain English Country Sculpture Garden?
All the photos were taken within an hour or two during the late morning hours of a typically gorgeous August Sunday morning just a couple of days ago as I write this. Please click on the video below to take the tour… and I’ll meet you as you exit through the gift shop with one or two details regarding some of the artwork on display.
So, What’s New?
Well, one or two things; let’s start with The Leaning Tower!
So new is the tower that I have yet to draw up a post about it. Although without its flag it is still officially incomplete. Once they have arrived and are installed I’ll hopefully be posting about it later in the week – a post that will also contain a brief demonstration video about how I cut in all those little windows, so if you have an interest in just how I carve the stone look out for that one.
Soon to be “Elefountain” in the Grass / The Sculpture Garden @ martincooney.com
The Elefountain promises to be a fun project. Once complete water will not only emerge from between its ears and run down the front of his face, trunk and tusks, but will also emerge cheekily from his spout. All in all it should provide quite a splash when both fountains are going!
Solar Frog / The Sculpture Garden @ martincooney.com
Then there’s the Solar Frog – not exactly brand new, but his post is now so deeply buried with all The Maiden Collection posts that I think I’m going to have to revive the article and re-post it.
As you’ll see from the video if you click on the post ‘Froggy’ is extremely reactive to the available sunlight and reacts accordingly. All it takes is for the merest little cloud for him to draw in his steady bead of water, only to resume once again with gusto immediately the sun reappears. No matter how many times you see it it invariably raises a smile when he suddenly starts up as the sun re-emerges.
In fact, I’m so taken by Ol’ Froggy that I’m planning to carve a few more – not identical of course, each one will, you can rest assured, posses his own individual personality.
New Bridge / The Sculpture Garden @ martincooney.com
The new bridge proved a nice little addition to Elky’s woodland corner of the garden. One of the nice things about being a stone carver is there’s always just the right block of stone hanging around somewhere in the yard just waiting for the right application.
Beautiful Leafy Greens / Kitchen Garden @ martincooney.com
The Kitchen Garden could be termed as new, since it has come on leaps and bounds this past month or two. Up here high in the Rockies growing anything edible is a daunting task but this being my tenth year at 7,600 feet I think I’m finally getting the hang of it!
Veterans of the Garden
Will and Grace / The Sculpture Garden @ martincooney.com
I must say I would like to take credit for the lovely canopy of ‘floating’ yarrow that dreamily hangs above our lover’s heads but I have have to say that I had nothing to do with it. They, along with much of the garden, appeared out of nowhere and seemed to understand their roll from the off. I neither planted, pruned or anticipated them – they just arrived right on cue for spring and have been adorning the two lovebirds ever since.
Mabel, The Maiden Collection / The Sculpture Garden @ martincooney.com
Mabel’s “Island” is another corner of the garden I have barely laid a hand to this summer. Her entourage of flowers are all volunteers from the last time around and I have found no reason to disturb them.
For the uninitiated I will take this opportunity to point out that the circle of white light is in fact transmitted through Mabel’s wafer thin wall from the sunlight hitting the other side (her bowl). Check it out.
Green Man / The Sculpture Garden @ martincooney.com
Green man may look a little strange at the moment but if you were to ask him he’d most assuredly tell you that he is loving his mud bath. Hopefully he will emerge from his weeks long indulgence with a nice patina of dirt and grime that will provide the foothold for generations of lichen, moss, and whatever else feels at home in his craggy beard and tangled hair.
Let’s just say its a work in progress – but I’ll keep you posted!
Troy and Mabel / The Sculpture Garden @ martincooney.com
Meanwhile Troy remains ever vigilant for whatever he may find among the rocks and reeds that surround Mabel Island. Not that he’s found anything yet but you have to admire his determination….
Kris and Troy / The Sculpture Garden @ martincooney.com
…even Kris appears to be getting in on the act.
Kris Reviews the Kitchen Garden @ martincooney.com
And here she surveys the garden on a beautiful August Sunday morning, and, I can honestly tell you that everything I know about Kris I can say without fear of contradiction that there really is no place she would rather be!
The Sculpture Garden @ martincooney.com
So until next time I bid you adieu.
Sea Monster / The Sculpture Garden @ martincooney.com
