An Appreciation of Stone(49)

Apparently South Carolina(and me) are all abuzz, because Chris Williams found a rock in a box. Not any ordinary rock but a rock that looks like South Carolina.

You know I had one of these once, hell I turned it into a table, mine was/is bigger than his, anyway . . .

Apparently Williams was getting ready to do what a lot of other D-I-Y’ers are doing(besides keeping designers and landscapers underemployed) their own work in the yard. In this case he must have been wanting to do some stone work . . . the horror of it all.

. . .he dug through a box of rocks at an outdoor shop and spied his 11-and-a-half pound treasure.

"When I first looked at it I said, ‘Gosh, this does look like South Carolina,’ " Williams said. "And then I kind of put it aside, but I kept looking at it and comparing it to the map." 

Now Williams keeps the rock tucked in bubble wrap and secured in a leather case. An attorney told him it could be valuable if he lists it on eBay, and geology professors he contacted at local colleges told him it was sandstone, likely from Tennessee, which had probably broken off of a larger rock to form its current shape.

Now anyone in the stone business can see this is a piece of sandstone that surely was part of a larger slab-probably broke off where his right hand is. That is my guess from years of using this same kind or rock when I lived and worked in South Carolina.

I sure hope this was for steps or a landing, or outcropping . . . something cool like that, not some wacky 18” high wall.

This here is a map of South Carolina for comparisons sake.

It looks like the rock Mr. Williams is holding is a perfect match.

Not only is it a great match but Mr. Williams has some plans for that rock

"I was trying to think of something to do with it and I came up with Rock Against Cancer," he said.

He’s designed mouse pads, barbecue aprons, T-shirts and map prints, all emblazoned with the rock’s image, and started a Web site, scrocks.com, to sell merchandise. Some of the proceeds would go to cancer research in South Carolina, which has claimed the lives of many of Williams’ relatives, he said.

Williams plans to display the rock in libraries and museums across the state during its maiden S.C. Rocks Tour this spring.

Its first stop is at Clemson University’s Cooper Library through April 10.

Clemson Tigers, I guess my wife better not read this story-she is a Gamecock(University of South Carolina) through and through.

So I dug a little deeper, that’s why you love me dear readers . . . I dig deeper. Working hard, going out to the edge to bring you the total story.

Look at this, he’s followed through on his items for sale.

The above is a print, he has shirts, mouse pads, tote bags, aprons and all other sorts of goodies for sale in promoting the rock.

This way to the site.

He mentions part of the proceeds go to cancer research-good for him.

I couldn’t help but to pick up on this story . . . I mean it’s about a rock, sandstone, South Carolina.

A guy who loves a rock, he can’t be all bad.

Robert Marvin

Every so often I have been fortunate enough to meet the man whose work I have come to respect and study. In this field of Landscape Design this had/has happened to me several times. Robert Marvin was one of those people.

Mr. Marvin died in 2001 after getting along to the age of age 81, of the work he was responsible for there are some well-known public spaces. Some of which were highly praised and a few were not(Hazards of dealing with the public). Either way Mr/ Marvin stood by his work and tried to create the best design for the space and the client:

It is a look at the mind that left us such heirlooms as the Henry Chambers Waterfront Park in Beaufort; the Waterfront Park in Charleston; the Governor’s Mansion compound, the Congaree Vista and Finlay Park in Columbia; and the Callaway Gardens Sibley Center in Georgia.

I had a chance to spend time with Mr. Marvin after one of his trips to Columbia during the building of Finlay Park. It was during this time he was receiving some criticism about the design and it’s implementation. Even so he was gracious enough to allow me to pick his brain on several design issues and some of his design philosophy.

It was really great to discuss issues concerning simplicity in design and understanding the need to work with the clients on the site, and not force your ego on the site. a nice guy and I will not forget his patience and demeanor.

Why bring up Robert Marvin at this time? Well . . . If you live in the South Carolina Low Country you should take advantage of this event on May 6th:

May 6: Glorious Gardens — A Tribute to Robert Marvin, from 3 to 6 p.m

This event is part of the Walterboro antiques, history and arts festival which runs the 4th-6th. I was unable to get down to visit him in the low-country and will be sad to miss this event. And besides that Walterboro is some beautiful low country.

___________________________________________________

Addendum: There is another new trend happening in another part of the Lowcountry, and I am sure this will create great opportunity for Landscape Designers. It seems that people are not driving all the way to Florida to get some sunshine and are getting off a few exits earlier on I-95.

Let us hope they keep the growth under control and leave the beautiful nature and scenery as unspoiled as possible.

One large-scale development, called Tradition, broke ground in October, with 9,500 homes in the $500,000 price range. Hampton Pointe, a gated golf community of 1,022 homes by the Toll Brothers, is also under way, with prices starting in the mid-$300,000s.

Then there is this gem and plenty more:

Lots were specifically drawn to accommodate the oldest live oak trees, and the developer, the Settings Development Companies, an Atlanta-based concern, has a policy of no clear-cutting. The first phase of the project is nearly sold out, with vacant lots selling for $100,000 to $800,000.

I am hoping for the best, but . . . The other thing I didn’t get straight was all the talk about building on marshland or, on and near wetlands. Lots of talk about saving Live Oaks, but marshland? wetland? I don’t know . . .

$370 Million Dollars

That means the take home is around $170 million dollars in tonights MegaMillions drawing. Congratulations you’ve won! You now have to build a Botanical Garden somewhere in the World. Where would you build it? What kind of Garden would it be? Who would you hire to help build your dream?

[How about a Taj Mahal? nah, not enough money, besides it's really the Worlds most famous tombstone]

So what about this:

[Brookgreen Gardens down in Myrtle Beach, SC]

Quite the place Brookgreen, I’m sure you could get it done for $170 million on a cheaper piece of property. Any ideas yet . . . how about another off the wall jolt of inspiration, something with an historical bent, an homage to the ancients, and sustainable sculpture to boot:

[Carhenge in Alliance, Nebraska]

Carhenge needs lots of Botanical stuff, and a few trees (like the rest of Nebraska) to get to the Botanical part going. But you got to admit the car sculpture is a great conversation starter. You need those starters to get the excitement going, draw in that initial crowd, create a buzz, promo material, etc.

Not exotic enough? How about something really exotic, really strange, wild plants, otherworldly almost . . .

[Lotusland in Santa Barbara, CA a truly fantastic place]

Monuments, sculpture, water, fantastical horticulture take your pick. Find a theme, what would it be? Tell me about it. I’d love to hear the daydreams for your fantasy Botanical Garden.

As I finish this post up the numbers have just come out . . . 16-22-29-39-42-(20) . . . well, I guess I’ll be back tomorrow with another post

Walkway Pergola

This pergola was designed to guide visitors down a small, simple, straight walkway around to a small hidden seating area, and utility space. It was important that the pergola create some visual interest from afar because it sat at the end of a driveway.

What I would like to point out about this pergola is that to enhance the perspective issues we cheated in the construction of the pergola;

1. Post heights were lowered in 4″ increments.
2. This means cross beams were each 4″ lower going front to back.
3. Cross beams were also shortened as we went front to back.
4. The walkway was 6″ narrower at the back than at the front.
5. This means back post were closer to each other in the back than at the front.

More on the Sandstone Bench

posted, 11/27/06
From the yard, a look before final facing
Comments, e-mails, even a phone call. Thought I would show a few more shots of this rather large bench. You can see part of the walkway, a combination of pavers, sandstone slabs, and wood for the bridge.

A look from top of walkway:
This is a look of the project/walkway in the fall, you can see down to the bench on the left. I was asked to create a pleasant walkway from the front of the house to the pool house.

The client was very adamant in her desire that the walk would be interesting, and those visitors getting out of their vehicles would be able to look over to a very pleasant scene.

The walkway is over 120 ft. long, and the width varies from 5 to 8 feet. All the rules for walkways were thrown out, rules for steps were thrown out, pretty much all rules were thrown out. In the end it was all about the aesthetic, the visual, the experience.

Ascension, more Images.

posted; 07/22/06

[Moving a small one]

I posted about this project on Wednesday the 19th, and mentioned something about putting more photos online-well then go here if you have some time to kill.

There are images for the drawings I completed for the proposal and many shots of the job in action, including a traffic jam and the Fire Dept. hosing off quartzite.

What I wish for are some night shots . . .someday I’ll go back and hopefully take some.

Trac-hoes, 100 Ton Cranes, and VERY Large Boulders.

posted; 07/19/06

I have just put up what I am going to call a “project page” on my website. It concerns this sculptural piece that I named Ascension It is on a hillside going into a large city in South Carolina, and I had hoped it would look like whitewater tumbling off the hillside.

In the above photo you are looking at the quarry where the stone came from. A mica-schist for the outcroppings, big boulders, banks, etc. and a quartzite to represent the whitewater (lots of mineral deposits and flakes to make it shine –especially at night with lights).

Right now I just have a lot of images up and am going to add a narrative in a day or two. Two things will always stand out from this project for me. One—it took 3 times as long to prep as it did to execute the installation of the project. Two— it was a lot of fun, a lot of fun. I’d do it again, given the opportunity.

The above shot is the crane in action. We spent 2 full days just preparing the correct base for the crane and it’s outriggers to stabilize on. It’s good to be careful when moving boulders weighing as much as 13/14 ton.

Placing boulders-this one probably weighs in under 2 and a half ton — a mere lightweight. So safety at all times – which is really about being alert. While those guys are doing the final prep, the crane operator and I did a strange dance to communicate where and how I wanted the boulders placed.

The other nice thing about this was that it was not a pedestrian area so I had some latitude in placement. After all, my primary viewer was going by in cars at 40-55 mph making detail in placement a non-issue.

The city did a little bit of planting around the edges to soften the area, I would have liked to put in several hundred grasses but there was no budget for that sort of planting.

Final thoughts, it was a great challenge – especially logistically, but it was a lot of fun. I hope it brings a little bit of enjoyment to those that drive by everyday.

Sandstone Slabs

posted; 06/30/06

Here’s a few shots thrown together of a few projects that I had put together with some sandstone.

The bench in the upper-right is a sandstone called Tennessee Web-wall. I guess the locals have named it as such because the striking rings of mineral elements in the sandstone look like webbing. I’ve not use any in a few years and it looks to be in short supply from what I was told.

The other 2 shots are of the same stone being used in simple sculptural elements in the garden. An attempt to add a vertical element with some 4 season interest.

The lower right is some pieces added to a Children’s Garden for the AHS in Alexandria, Virginia back in the mid-90’s. I’ve no idea if my stuff is still there, moved, tossed, just no idea . . .

Anyway; it’s good to look back once and awhile-to measure how far we have come, and how far we have-yet to go.

Ascension, from the Concept Drawing

posted; 05/00/06
This was the drawing I had to show the City Council to receive final approval to work the project. See previous post. This was back when most of my concept drawings were completed in black and white.

I would still prefer to do them all this way, but the client likes looking at renderings with color. Color helps with the visualization of possibilities.