Road trip....today my friend Rachel and I visited a very cool garden in Bishopville, SC. Walking among these topiaries and garden art are like climbing into a children's book!
There is a documentary out in the small theaters right now about the man who made this garden. Pearl Fryar is totally a self taught gardener. What trained horticulturalist would make a snowball out of a dogwood tree! You don't prune dogwoods into snowballs! Yes he did! And it looks great...
He also pruned this dogwood in the photo above into a sort of umbrella...now you get to really appreciate the wonderful bark....We were lucky to get a tour by Pearl around the gardens. (As we were starting out a church bus full of people pulled up..."wasn't expecting that," Peal said, "gonna need some more fliers.") There are no hours posted and no admission (though there is a donation box for his scholarship fund for C students "the A students get enough as it is," according to Pear, "someone has to look out for the rest of them.")
He makes a lot of the yard art out of things most other folks would throw away. There is a theme of love and caring through much of the yard art. This one says "hate hurts." Growing up in the segregated south and through much of the social revolution has heavily influenced Pearl's work.
Since I have been piecing some words for Tonya the past few days I thought I was hallucinating when I began to see letters...
letters everywhere....
too fun....
He spent a year putting in the driveway to the house...he laughed when he saw me taking picture of it!
oh, well. I also took lots of photos of his yard art....
and of the landscaping he has done for the local Waffle House!
Not quite sure how this could be incorporated into my quilting. I took it more as just a chance to see someone who loves what they do do it so well. The inspiration is in how he designed his life not just in the garden design.
16 comments:
These topiary gardens are beautiful. Thank you so much for sharing.
Wow, those are wonderful photos. I may have to take a mini road trip myself to go see that. I only live an hour away from there and I didn't even know about that place. Thanks for sharing those photos. ~Leah
That is so unbelievably cool! What an incredible artist he is. Thanks for sharing this with us - I would have never known Pearl was with us.
There was just a show on Ovation about Pearl and his garden. Your pix are awesome.
What a great road trip! It sounds like a "must see".
How amazing! I'd love to see that in person, and just walk around in wonder....he sounds like a wonderful man.
Thanks for the great photos. If we ever get back to Augusta, I will have to put that on my list.
Amazing photos. I think quilters see things differently than Mr and Mrs Average.
I live 30 minutes from Pearl's house (in Hartsville) and was pleasantly surprised to see him on your blog.
He is THE nicest man; and so talented....I am so glad he has gotten the recognition and appreciation he deservess.
As you saw, he has to maintain all those sculptures just about 24-7.
The documentary is great isn't it.
Donnamo from Hartsville
hmmm, I like the "V" in the grass...
;-) looks like a fun day!
V
I love it. looks like the perfect setting for reading Dr Seuss. gorgeous trees. I see the letters too! so glad you and Rach finally got to go!
What a labor of love! Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for those photos, what a great man. I loved what he said about the C students. So true.
The hours he must put into those gardens....it is truly a labor of love! thanks for sharing them with us.
You never know how others work will influence you...sometimes it shows up in something you may do and sometimes is just pure awe at anothers creativity.
Happy Sewing
Sio,
This was a true "Artist's Date" ~ good for the spirit and soul. Thanks for sharing. I feel like I was along for the ride, without the heat. :}~
Wow! Incredible "artwork!" What a talented and giving man Mr. Pearl Fryar is!
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