I met the most fascinating man yesterday in the simplest way possible. See...I have a neighbor who is really into her landscaping and I was checking out her new perennials. I asked her where she purchased them and she told me that someone told her about this super cute little nursery that a man owns behind his house. I was looking for some different shade perennials so I figured I'd give it a try.
It was only about 12 miles away from my home and it was a stunningly beautiful and yet cool day so a drive was just the thing. I put the country ribs I had marinating the fridge in the oven on 225 degrees and set the oven timer for 3 hours leaving The Robinator with instructions to simply take them out when the timer went off.
I listened to music as Kadijah (the GPS lady) directed me to the address and oohed and aaahed over the simple, country style homes with porches and big, fenced in yards that I see in my future.
I found the house and followed the gravel around to the back as the signage directed me to do and I was presented with this:
I parked my truck and hopped out just taking it all in. The rustic, shabby chic nature of it just kind of tucked back in behind it all was pleasing to the eye and I walked into the gift shop.
It was the kind of gift shop where you'd stumble upon casual little trinkets your mother or your best girlfriend would adore. Jewelry and wind chimes by artists. Stepping stones with happy frogs. Art of a different kind than we think of when we first think of art. And I walked around slowly, taking in every thing listening to the reggae music playing, not in the background, but as if it was a piece of the art on display as well. Not touching anything...just kind of absorbing it because my mind had already begun to race connecting what I was experiencing with a character we've already put on paper and grown to LIKE but have yet to fall completely in love with.
My cowboy boots made a clicking noise on the stone, artistically designed flooring and the man behind the counter looked down at them and said simply, "I like your boots. And that vest."
I said thank you and walked out into the light and began roaming his carefully executed planet.
I thought to myself, this place has obviously been planned perfectly by an architect. I envisioned a major crew following those plans and getting it all up and running to the exact specifications. I visited the herbs and the shade perennials, picking up things along the way. Checked out some full sun annuals in bright, bold colors and some ground cover. I picked out things which were unique to me and my tray was filled quickly.
I saw the signs leading to the sculpture garden and decided to go put the things I was planning on purchasing down so that I could take it all in unencumbered.
And the guy from the gift shop was standing outside talking to my friend. We started talking about the lay of the land and how beautiful everything was. He thanked me and was like, "Yeah...I've been working on it for 25 years."
I stopped. Wait...what? YOU did this? All on your own?
The answer?
"Yes. I've planted all but two trees and did everything else myself."
You have to see this place in order to understand how amazing that information was. Every line, every curve, every slope was intentional and beautiful.
"Oh, and by the way, I did the sculptures too."
And I couldn't stop the questions from pouring out.
"Did you study art?"
"No."
"Degree in art history?"
"No."
"No schooling at all regarding?"
"Nope. It's just always been in my head just like I did it."
"Where do you do the sculptures?"
"Around back, behind the gift shop."
"Can I see?"
"Sure. C'mon."
And my friend and I followed him, around back, behind the gift shop.
He told us about his wife and kids and you got to know a lot about who he is and his value system by simply noting how comfortable he is in his skin and in the way his eyes lit up talking about his family and how blessed he feels that he's been able to pull things in his head OUT of his head and make them tangible.
Yall...I was in awe. I couldn't stop the thought that I was lead there for a reason. For some much needed inspiration. As we were walking back around to the front, I noticed this near his sculpting work space:
I went in, paid for my purchases and walked out of the gift shop to this:
We all walked to my truck and loaded up. My mind was racing with the possibilities and the knowledge this place even exists. Out of his brain and into the world. I felt like the Universe had given me a gift.
I haven't stopped thinking of the potential. I doubt if I'll be able to. Here was a pure example of what you could accomplish with a dream, a vision, planning, loving support and hard work. I told The Robinator that as soon as he has time, I want to take him out there so he could see it and take it all in too because the feeling was just transformational.
I hope you feel the same potential I felt roaming his planet. Sometimes...you simply need to SEE someone else's manifestations to get back on track creating your own.
David Therriault, Nursery and Stone Design
