Yet it’s rich texture and character is exactly why Karen instinctively placed it as a sculpture in her newest flower bed. (Below) A large, 4ft log has a lot of humps and bumps. It’s hard to tell whether the driftwood accents the flowers or the flowers accent the driftwood. It’s just the right shape and dimension to give flowers a little nook all their own. (Above) This smooth piece of driftwood conveys a sense of motion. Sedum is charming growing out from a split in this old log Artistic Driftwood Additionally, some plants thrive on the nutrients they derive from rotting wood.
So, using one as a planter gives your garden a more natural look. Take a walk in the woods and you’ll see moss, ferns and sometimes tiny flowers growing out of an old log. The mushroom garden art in this grouping (photo above) really compliments the scene.Ī long, decaying log filled with potting soil becomes an ideal planter. This puts her bedding plants at different levels in the garden which creates a lot of interest for showcasing her flowers. For instance, a bulky segment of an old log serves as a retaining wall. Karen uses different pieces in different ways. Perfect! The smooth-flowing contours and limbs of this piece of driftwood cradle the flowersġ) Retaining Wall this segment of log is used as a retaining wallĭriftwood makes a happy garden. But which side looks the best? Do you lay it out flat or stand it upright on end? To do it in such a way as to have the right artistic appeal is a bit like hanging a picture on the wall: a little to the left. You would think setting a hunk of driftwood out in the garden would be easy. They don’t all look the same and add variety as accent pieces as well. She chooses them based on their size and shape and texture. Karen is selective with the driftwood pieces she adds to her garden.
But her worries would soon subside as she discovered that the natural tones of the driftwood blended in nicely with the woodland-cottage character of her garden. “And we don’t live anywhere near the ocean” she said. With driftwood accumulating, Karen grew concerned that her garden might take on too much of an ocean-theme. (note: a ‘hootananny’ was a term common in the 1950’s and 60’s for an informal session of folk singers who performed for their own enjoyment, often in front of an audience) That way, he chuckled, the owl couple can be known as “hoot ‘n’ annie”. Eventually, it becomes almost impossible for them to look at a piece of driftwood and not see something else in it.Įveryone loves “Hoot”, the owl. It takes practice to fine-tune one’s sense of imagination. The bend of a knee or the crook of an arm are pieces the Ericksons’ found that had just the right contours. What’s more, all of the driftwood pieces are in their natural state. Tiger Wood is another of his whimsical driftwood sculptures. Walt cut out hands and feet with his little bandsaw. “Surfer Dude” reflects the couple’s favorite vacation spot in Maui. The figurines like “Woody and Wilma” are the result of a little family contest between Walt and his brother to see who could make the best art out of driftwood. They collect it from the beaches of Ninilchik (Nih-NIL-chik) and Anchor Point, their camping destination for over 35 years. The couple use interesting pieces of driftwood extensively throughout their garden. The reward, they say, of having a “public” garden in the front yard is the joy it brings to other people! Driftwood makes a happy garden Today, there are quite a few neighbors who wave as they pass by or stop to chat and admire the couple’s work. Theirs was one of the first houses in the subdivision where for many years, neighbors were few and far between.
“We eat dinner out here all the time.”Īt one time, the Erickson’s place had been homestead land and former hayfields that harken back the Matanuska Valley’s farming heritage. “This is where we spend the late afternoons”, Walt says, gesturing to some Adirondack-style chairs under a shade tree. But together they have created beautiful outdoor spaces to relax and enjoy under Alaska’s midnight sun. His wife Karen is the actual gardener extraordinaire. Adding driftwood that had the right shape and length for arms and legs, Walt’s “Woody and Wilma” fish every summer from the Erickson’s front yard. But to Walt Erickson, it seemed quite human. What do you see in a piece of driftwood? To the average eye, this might be like looking at ink spots, or cloud formations.
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