Rain in the Garden, 2014  – Michaela Harlow – Pastel on Cold Press, Deckle-Edge Paper, 20″ x 16″ 

Working on this recent group of pastels —inspired in part by remnants and debris as I slowly button up the garden before winter— I am reminded of the ‘Broken Flowers’ series from years ago. There was a time  —long before the seasonal demands of a garden design, installation & maintenance career— when the garden was a source of great inspiration. Lately, my own garden has become sadly and embarrassingly neglected. Not only are the flowers broken, the gardener herself has broken down. Some days, I want to dig deep and pull everything back to its full glory. Other days, I delight in the garden’s decay and demise.

 Rain in the Garden, in progress

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