PLEASE ALLOW ME TO INTRODUCE MYSELF,

I’M A MAN OF CLAY AND GLAZE

PUSHED MUD AROUND FOR SEVENTY YEARS

OR TWENTY FIVE THOUSAND DAYS.

Robin Hopper is a man of many parts, mostly worn out, rusty or dysfunctional, due to a lifetime of excesses! He started working with clay at the age of three and is still doing it over 70 years later. His lengthy, peripatetic career as a mudpusher has included side trips into working as a Professional Actor, Stage Designer, Property Maker, Stage Manager, Stage Carpenter, Grocer, Greengrocer, Jazz Musician, Teapot, Wine and Beer-Bottle, Trumpet, Trombone and Bugle Player, European Travel Guide, Founder of Several Clay/Art/Craft Organizations, Alchemist, Geologist, Primatologist, Linguist, Ornithologist, Botanist, Ceramic Historian, Educator, Author, Garden Designer, Lecturer on Japanese Garden Design, Laborer and Star of Stage, Screen and Potter’s Wheel!

Sunday, March 17, 2013

OUT OF THE SNOWBELT!

VISITOR FROM THE EAST

I WAS SO INTENT ON GETTING THE LAST POSTING DONE, THAT I HAD FORGOTTEN THAT  MY OLDER DAUGHTER KAREN WAS COMING TO VISIT FOR THE WEEK OF  SPRING BREAK. SO I DIDN'T GET THE PLANNED "AGATEWARE" POSTING DONE. SINCE KAREN WAS COMING TO SOUTHERN VANCOUVER ISLAND TO AVOID THE HIGH SNOW CONCENTRATION BACK EAST IN ONTARIO AND SEE SOME OF WHAT IS IN BLOOM IN OUR BALMY. PACIFIC NORTHWEST. FOR THOSE OF YOU CURRENTLY MISSING THE SPRING I THOUGHT I WOULD SHOW YOU WHAT IS IN BLOOM TODAY.

CAMELLIA JAPONICA


COTONEASTER LACTAEUS

CORYLUS CONTORTA - SIR HARRY LAUDER'S WALKING STICK TREE

IRIS UNGUIICULARIS - ALGERIAN IRIS

RHODODENDRON  -  PINK DIAMOND

GUNNERA Manicata

PULMONARIA - Spilt Milk

DAFFODILS,  SKIMMIA,  JAPANESE HOLLY and VIOLA Labradorica

EUPHORBIA Variegata

HELLEBORUS  Orientalis

HELLEBORUS  Orientalis - Prince Igor

MAHONIA Japonica - SWEET CHARITY with VARIEGATED BAMBOO 
THIS IS JUST A LITTLE TASTER OF SPRING IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST. AS A GARDENER, THIS AREA OFFERS THE WIDEST RANGE OF PLANTS THAT IS POSSIBLE TO GROW IN NORTH AMERICA.

 THE GARDEN IS ONE OF MY MAIN SOURCES OF IDEAS FOR BOTH FORM AND COLOR AS WELL AS DECORATION PROCESSES.

 THE NEXT POSTING WILL BE ABOUT COLORED CLAY PROCESSES, AGATEWARE AND NERIAGE. IF I DON'T GET TOO MANY INTERRUPTIONS IT SHOULD APPEAR ON MONDAY, 25TH MARCH. IF NOT, I WILL SEND MORE SPRINGTIME IMAGES

 PHOTOGRAPHS BY KAREN KEHLER  OF KARING KARDS
 Website: www.karingkards.com

 AND ROBIN HOPPER
Website: www.chosinpottery.ca

 BEST WISHES
ROBIN












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7 comments:

  1. BruceMarch 17, 2013 at 6:44 PM

    Beautiful. Our forecast includes possible snow, sleet and rain (Washington DC area).

    ReplyDelete
  2. smartcatMarch 18, 2013 at 5:08 AM

    Spring? What is that? Here in southern New England it hasn't gone above forty for a week......and now more winter expected. Maybe I'm in the wrong place?

    Just put in an order to Bailey for lots of glaze supplies. Wanting to get on with Mocha.....patience is not always a strong point for me!

    Your garden looks semi-tropical.....green with envy! (In honor of St. Patrick's Day!)

    ReplyDelete
  3. CyndiMarch 18, 2013 at 6:11 AM

    Robin, So envious of your wonderful spring. We still have snow and in the high 20's. Yuck. Thank you for the reminder of spring flowers. I was talking with a mutual friend this week who repeated part of her conversation with you over a year ago. The comment hit me between the eyes. I had her say it to me twice. Let's see if I can repeat it for you, "When considering our work, we need to look at what it is currently "saying". All pots tell us something, if we are truly looking, whether intended or not. Then, think about what we would like them to say. Finally, consider how close they are to meeting that intention." It was exactly what I needed to hear. You continue to be a teacher. Thank you. hugs to you.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Alex SollaMarch 18, 2013 at 11:44 AM

    I am amazed at what constitutes "spring" in the Pacific NW. It is staggering what comes into bloom so darned early. When we visited Seattle in Feb there were already daffodils up and getting ready to pop. That just seems unfair when we wont see ours until the end of April... if we're lucky!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. GRASSMarch 18, 2013 at 12:13 PM

      I didn't mean to make you feel jealous, Alex, just to give you hope that spring is actually on it's way. On Southern Vancouver Island some signs of spring normally start in November with winter flowering shrubs and trees.

      Delete
  5. Sandy MillerMarch 18, 2013 at 7:54 PM

    Snow and ice here in Ohio too. The rain forest of the Pacific NW is gardeners country. You guys grow stuff in the cracks of sidewalks I have to nurture along. Happy to see galanthus is just popping here and the nursery called last week alerting the fagus obelisk was dug and waiting....... Not sure how I will get that in the ground!

    The Spirit will never grow old in a garden......

    ReplyDelete
  6. RachelApril 4, 2013 at 11:49 AM

    Your garden photos made my day! What exquisite Hellebores you have, sir! I am not familiar with the white ones (but they are wonderful!), but used to have the other (pinkish-greenish ones) growing in my garden in Australia. Sadly they wouldn't do so well in Phoenix. Thank you for sharing your incredible garden in paradise, Rachel

    ReplyDelete

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