Comments on: The Gardens of Tony Duquette http://philipsgardenblog.com/2008/04/26/the-gardens-of-tony-duquette/ Tue, 07 Oct 2008 07:15:12 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.1 By: Julie http://philipsgardenblog.com/2008/04/26/the-gardens-of-tony-duquette/#comment-217 Julie Mon, 07 Jul 2008 13:52:03 +0000 http://philipsgardenblog.com/2008/04/26/the-gardens-of-tony-duquette/#comment-217 Great gardens, some favorite writers, postcards, sustainable tidbits and your wonderful voice and eye: your blog a joyous discovery! As a Chicago-area landscape designer, I am wondering if you have any tips on how to find a tour at Tony Duquette's garden (internet no help) when I visit LA in November??? Many thanks for all that you do! How do you find the time to be so passionate & thorough? Great gardens, some favorite writers, postcards, sustainable tidbits and your wonderful voice and eye: your blog a joyous discovery! As a Chicago-area landscape designer, I am wondering if you have any tips on how to find a tour at Tony Duquette’s garden (internet no help) when I visit LA in November??? Many thanks for all that you do! How do you find the time to be so passionate & thorough?

]]> By: Steve Snedeker http://philipsgardenblog.com/2008/04/26/the-gardens-of-tony-duquette/#comment-86 Steve Snedeker Thu, 01 May 2008 12:10:33 +0000 http://philipsgardenblog.com/2008/04/26/the-gardens-of-tony-duquette/#comment-86 These pictures of such whimsy answer the question of "What could possibly be better than "Kitsch"? ;-) That Phoenix sculpture is one of the most riveting pieces of garden art I have ever seen. I had to think of Gaudi almost immediately, poring over your killer photo's, Philip. Or maybe Dali, lol. What a shame about that fire. Are there photographs around anywhere relative to the gardens that were lost? Great post, man. Just fascinating stuff. These pictures of such whimsy answer the question of “What could possibly be better than “Kitsch”? ;-) That Phoenix sculpture is one of the most riveting pieces of garden art I have ever seen. I had to think of Gaudi almost immediately, poring over your killer photo’s, Philip. Or maybe Dali, lol.

What a shame about that fire. Are there photographs around anywhere relative to the gardens that were lost? Great post, man. Just fascinating stuff.

]]> By: Esther Montgomery http://philipsgardenblog.com/2008/04/26/the-gardens-of-tony-duquette/#comment-81 Esther Montgomery Wed, 30 Apr 2008 08:50:05 +0000 http://philipsgardenblog.com/2008/04/26/the-gardens-of-tony-duquette/#comment-81 Struggling with 'naff'. Said this on your 'plot' . . . 'Naff' - a particular version of bad taste. Difficult to explain without examples - but things which are artificial, inexpensive, plastic or unreasonably bright and shiny. If used judiciously can be humourous. If used without imagination - simply dreadful. . . . . then moved here Some of the Tony Duquette designs wobble on the point of 'naffness'. Recently, my children stuck a bunch of plastic roses in the box hedge (to make it look as if it had come into flower). I left them there for a while - because they looked funny. But if I bought lots of brightly coloured plastic flowers and stuck them in the ground all over the place, thinking this could be an inexpensive way to have a brightly blooming garden - well . . . And it isn't just to do with cheapness. Suppose someone copied a Tiffany egg and sold it in a lot of shops and lots of people bought one and put on their mantlepiece - this would become naff. (Common - ness is part of it.) But if someone were then to have the cheap version copied but this time with real jewels and at great expense - it would still be 'naff'. Um . . . see what I mean? (And there's self-awareness (or lack of it) involved too - and snobbery!) Esther Struggling with ‘naff’.

Said this on your ‘plot’ . . .

‘Naff’ - a particular version of bad taste. Difficult to explain without examples - but things which are artificial, inexpensive, plastic or unreasonably bright and shiny. If used judiciously can be humourous. If used without imagination - simply dreadful.

. . . . then moved here

Some of the Tony Duquette designs wobble on the point of ‘naffness’.

Recently, my children stuck a bunch of plastic roses in the box hedge (to make it look as if it had come into flower).

I left them there for a while - because they looked funny.

But if I bought lots of brightly coloured plastic flowers and stuck them in the ground all over the place, thinking this could be an inexpensive way to have a brightly blooming garden - well . . .

And it isn’t just to do with cheapness.

Suppose someone copied a Tiffany egg and sold it in a lot of shops and lots of people bought one and put on their mantlepiece - this would become naff. (Common - ness is part of it.)

But if someone were then to have the cheap version copied but this time with real jewels and at great expense - it would still be ‘naff’.

Um . . . see what I mean?

(And there’s self-awareness (or lack of it) involved too - and snobbery!)

Esther

]]> By: admin http://philipsgardenblog.com/2008/04/26/the-gardens-of-tony-duquette/#comment-80 admin Tue, 29 Apr 2008 23:32:04 +0000 http://philipsgardenblog.com/2008/04/26/the-gardens-of-tony-duquette/#comment-80 Kathryn, Thank you for the comment! :) Esther! that sounds great! Now...where do I find wild chicory! hmmm... and"naff" is that a British colloqiuilism? I love it! not sure what it means 'zactly, but it sounds like just the ticket. Kathryn, Thank you for the comment! :)
Esther! that sounds great! Now…where do I find wild chicory! hmmm…
and”naff” is that a British colloqiuilism? I love it! not sure what it means ‘zactly, but it sounds like just the ticket.

]]> By: Esther Montgomery http://philipsgardenblog.com/2008/04/26/the-gardens-of-tony-duquette/#comment-79 Esther Montgomery Tue, 29 Apr 2008 08:13:17 +0000 http://philipsgardenblog.com/2008/04/26/the-gardens-of-tony-duquette/#comment-79 Your remarks about red painted branches - The winter before last, I collected tall, white , dried out stems of wild chicory and stuck them in the ground in my garden. They stayed there several months and looked wonderful - though I also felt a bit awkward. In theory, at least, it was a 'naff' idea. But it 'worked'. Esther Your remarks about red painted branches - The winter before last, I collected tall, white , dried out stems of wild chicory and stuck them in the ground in my garden. They stayed there several months and looked wonderful - though I also felt a bit awkward. In theory, at least, it was a ‘naff’ idea. But it ‘worked’.

Esther

]]> By: Kathry/plantwhateverbringsyoujoy.com http://philipsgardenblog.com/2008/04/26/the-gardens-of-tony-duquette/#comment-78 Kathry/plantwhateverbringsyoujoy.com Mon, 28 Apr 2008 23:54:27 +0000 http://philipsgardenblog.com/2008/04/26/the-gardens-of-tony-duquette/#comment-78 Absolutely extraordinary and inspiring! Thank you for expanding our visions! Absolutely extraordinary and inspiring! Thank you for expanding our visions!

]]> By: admin http://philipsgardenblog.com/2008/04/26/the-gardens-of-tony-duquette/#comment-74 admin Mon, 28 Apr 2008 21:33:01 +0000 http://philipsgardenblog.com/2008/04/26/the-gardens-of-tony-duquette/#comment-74 <p>Hi Marie!<br /> Hi Nancy!<br /> Thank you for your comments!<br /> Esther! I know exactly what you mean. I did not know about the Abbotsbury Subtropical gardens. Thanks! I have always wanted to visit gardens of this type such as Trelissick and Tresco Abbey.In checking this out online I thought Abbotsbury proper of interest as well with its midieval buildings and swannery.Thank you for telling me about that. I think Ming would love the bridge over the gunnera in the stream as it is nice and RED ;)<br /> Jayme, Hi! You know I saw this done in some gardens in Capitola by-the-sea where they painted(glossy) branches this coral red and placed them in the border. I was thinking of doing this to my garden teahouse as a kind of mad enrichment of the interior :) Very Tony Duquette!<br /> Hi Phillip! The book is the best! We gave it to our clients as Christmas gifts this year.I am very pleased you enjoyed the garden and thanks for your comments.<br /> Best regards,<br /> Philip</p> Hi Marie!
Hi Nancy!
Thank you for your comments!
Esther! I know exactly what you mean. I did not know about the Abbotsbury Subtropical gardens. Thanks! I have always wanted to visit gardens of this type such as Trelissick and Tresco Abbey.In checking this out online I thought Abbotsbury proper of interest as well with its midieval buildings and swannery.Thank you for telling me about that. I think Ming would love the bridge over the gunnera in the stream as it is nice and RED ;)
Jayme, Hi! You know I saw this done in some gardens in Capitola by-the-sea where they painted(glossy) branches this coral red and placed them in the border. I was thinking of doing this to my garden teahouse as a kind of mad enrichment of the interior :) Very Tony Duquette!
Hi Phillip! The book is the best! We gave it to our clients as Christmas gifts this year.I am very pleased you enjoyed the garden and thanks for your comments.
Best regards,
Philip

]]> By: Phillip http://philipsgardenblog.com/2008/04/26/the-gardens-of-tony-duquette/#comment-73 Phillip Mon, 28 Apr 2008 20:53:57 +0000 http://philipsgardenblog.com/2008/04/26/the-gardens-of-tony-duquette/#comment-73 Loved your post! Have you seen the new book about him? I ordered it for the library where I work. A very unique designer - what a garden! Loved your post! Have you seen the new book about him? I ordered it for the library where I work. A very unique designer - what a garden!

]]> By: Jayme http://philipsgardenblog.com/2008/04/26/the-gardens-of-tony-duquette/#comment-71 Jayme Mon, 28 Apr 2008 20:06:56 +0000 http://philipsgardenblog.com/2008/04/26/the-gardens-of-tony-duquette/#comment-71 The red painted branches that look like coral are really beautiful The red painted branches that look like coral are really beautiful

]]> By: Esther Montgomery http://philipsgardenblog.com/2008/04/26/the-gardens-of-tony-duquette/#comment-68 Esther Montgomery Mon, 28 Apr 2008 09:06:59 +0000 http://philipsgardenblog.com/2008/04/26/the-gardens-of-tony-duquette/#comment-68 These are the kind of gardens which I would expect to hate - but, in practice, would visit again and again if I were able. I'm wondering if you know of the Sub-Tropical Gardens at Abbotsbury, Dorset (England)? Esther <a href="http://estherinthegarden.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">ESTHER IN THE GARDEN</a> These are the kind of gardens which I would expect to hate - but, in practice, would visit again and again if I were able.

I’m wondering if you know of the Sub-Tropical Gardens at Abbotsbury, Dorset (England)?

Esther
ESTHER IN THE GARDEN

]]> By: Nancy Bond http://philipsgardenblog.com/2008/04/26/the-gardens-of-tony-duquette/#comment-66 Nancy Bond Sun, 27 Apr 2008 00:26:00 +0000 http://philipsgardenblog.com/2008/04/26/the-gardens-of-tony-duquette/#comment-66 Oh my, I am absolutely in awe of this creativity! How wonderful. I should think it truly is a magical place. Thank you for sharing! Oh my, I am absolutely in awe of this creativity! How wonderful. I should think it truly is a magical place. Thank you for sharing!

]]> By: Marie http://philipsgardenblog.com/2008/04/26/the-gardens-of-tony-duquette/#comment-65 Marie Sat, 26 Apr 2008 22:04:19 +0000 http://philipsgardenblog.com/2008/04/26/the-gardens-of-tony-duquette/#comment-65 Very interesting post! Very interesting post!

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