Jan Johnsen’s “Spirit of Stone,” and an Art Challenge for Earth Day

Wow, it’s been more than a year since we started our backyard makeover! We began by replacing our thirsty lawn with drought tolerant, earth-friendly plants—envisioning, as we did, a haven for birds, bees and butterflies, and a sanctuary for us.

Salvia spires, cape fuchsia, lavender and roses…they’re sprawling across decomposed granite walkways now, perfuming the air as they reach for the skies.

Heaven must surely be a garden, or so they say. And by they, I mean me. Most of the time. Songbirds perch on the feeder, singing their little hearts out. Visual harmony, however, is still very much a work in progress.

In this next phase, I’ll expand my color palette—maybe add some splashes of yellow.  I want also to rein in the random groupings, clustering whimsical pieces and grounding the airy (read: unruly) salvia with rocks.

How to accomplish all that? I hadn’t a clue.

That’s where Jan Johnsen’s latest book, THE SPIRIT OF STONE, comes into play. Have you read it? If not, go grab yourself a copy!

In seven, beautifully illustrated chapters, Johnsen offers new and/or freshly interpreted ways to incorporate stones into your outdoor living spaces. Quick confession: I’ve never really understood the notion of hoisting huge boulders into your yard, willy-nilly, or scattering white gravel around your succulents. It doesn’t look…well, natural. But after reading this book, I’ve come to realize that a few, well-chosen rocks will add dimension–maybe also a bit of sparkle–to my flowerbeds.

Courtesy Jan Johnsen, Spirit of Stone

There are important design considerations, of course. Johnsen walks you through the options.  Rock gardens, cairns, stairs, stacking stones, accent pieces and Zen sculptures… she details the possibilities, and then shows you how to bring your favorite ideas to fruition.

I appreciated that Johnsen braided practical advice and deeper knowledge, and that she explored the ‘spiritual’ significance of rocks. Some people attach meaning to their beautiful colors, shapes, and textures. We might also see them as talismans of strength and endurance. As metaphors, they speak to us in ways that flowers cannot. As Antoine de Saint-Exupery said: “A rock pile ceases to be a rock pile the moment a single man contemplates it, being within him the image of a cathedral.”

Courtesy Jan Johnsen, Spirit of Stone

The Spirit of Stone is at once practical and spiritual, and it’s as beautiful as any coffee table book you’ll find. I’m keeping my copy handy, as I reimagine my garden landscape this spring.

And…

Because it ties in so nicely…

The Art Challenge prompt for April is Earth Day, so apropos!

Let your imagination flow like water over rocks, inspired by this global celebration of Mother Nature (with an emphasis on conservation). The rules are simple:  1) Drop a note in the comments for this entry, to let me know you’re interested.  2) Sketch, paint, make photos, embroider, knit, write a musical score, record yourself dancing…. any creative interpretation is welcome! 3) Display your work on your own blog, over Earth Day weekend (April 21-23).  4) Link it here, in the “gallery of participants” I’ll provide in an updated post.

22 Comments

  2. Carol baldwin

    Great idea, Melodye. I can’t join you in this celebration, but look forward to seeing the results! Lovely gardens of stone!

    • Melodye Shore

      I sure do wish you lived closer, Jan! You have a keen eye & beautiful artistic sensibilities. I’d love to take a walk with you in my garden….

  4. Kathy Halsey

    Such as cool idea. Our neighbor across the street has little stone sculptures everywhere.

    • Melodye Shore

      Oh, that’s wonderful! Have you been inspired by your neighbor to add sculptural stonework to *your* garden? I do much better when I can use someone else’s examples as inspiration…

    • Melodye Shore

      That would be lovely! She talks also about leaving scattered stones in a corner of your garden–a way to invite backyard visitors to create their own stacks and cairns.

  6. I always dream of a zen garden of some sorts but I don’t really have the discipline…lol My Zen almost always becomes a wild British type of chaos garden. 😀 I’m in for the Earth Day challenge.

    • Melodye Shore

      We are alike in that way, Veronica–sprawling gardens, using the flowers best suited for our parts of the world…

      Glad you’re joining the Earth Day challenge!

  8. Donna

    Well, I never knew that rocks and such could sound so interesting. Thanks Melodye. It gives me some ideas for the backyard. Great review. Peaked my interest which is always good thing when I otherwise, would have walked right by the book.

    • Melodye Shore

      I’d love to explore your backyard garden, Donna…would you mind very much if I snuck a few rocks into my suitcase? I’d go for the boulders, but the airlines are a bit pesky about luggage weights… 🙂

  9. Kim Baccellia

    Omg, so gorgeous!
    Question: Do you have problems with the wild rabbits out here? They messed up our lawn but I don’t want to hurt them. Your lawn is so gorgeous and peaceful looking. Wondered if you had similar issues?

    • Melodye Shore

      Yes, we have rascally rabbits, too. They live in the chaparral on the adjacent hillside, but are frequent backyard guests. That’s another reason we feel good about replacing our lawn. They DO munch on our flower buds and nibble the tender new leaves to nubs, so we just encircle the most vulnerable plants with rabbit wire. But since we live in a very rural area of OC, I think it’s only fair that we strive for a peaceful co-existence.

      Oh, and look again at that grassy landscape–photo credit, Jan Johnsen. It’s one of the featured landscaping projects in her book. Our climate (ergo, plant choices) are different, but I hope that my yard will eventually be as beautifully cohesive and serene….

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