Cal Lane’s art inspires me to no end. She is certainly, at least in part, some of the inspiration behind my summer barn mural project, and if I could have one of her projects installed in my garden, I would be eternally happy. I am hugely envious of whoever this homeowner is. Not only did Cal put her 1000-gallon filigree cut oil tank sculpture in the garden, but she continued the pattern into the grass. (with the use of a hand torch)
Cal Lane, 2009
Photo by Kerry Polite via Canary Promotion
I have so many questions about the usefulness of this technique in making a lawn more interesting. \
How long does the effect last?
If I torched some grass like this, what precautions would I need to take to prevent an out-of-control grass fire? (very much place dependent)
And I wonder if it would work to do this and then plant some other sort of mowable seed to make for a contrasty texture design in the lawn?
How would I maintain it? Or would I have to assume it to be a fleeting effect?
Would this be a useful trick for writing a garden party message in the landscape? Perhaps a garden wedding decoration?
This is giving me so many thoughts — just how I like my inspiration served.
I think as soon as some of this snow melts, I will start experimenting…..
images by Megan Wendell – Canary Promotion
It seems like you could get the same effect, though much slower, by laying objects on your lawn in a pattern. Maybe a polka dot lawn made from coffee cans?
Nature abhors a vacuum. In days that space will be full of weeds. Sad, but true.
Bizarro! I’d love to see the burned out areas planted with a different type of grass.
This is certainly one of those efforts in which ‘your milage may vary.’ Perennial grass that is simply burned off will resprout quickly. If the roots are burned, I expect in my climate to see weed seeds sprout as Jenn said above.
Dead grass burns like the proverbial wildfire. Green grass hardly at all if the ground is damp. It will be interesting to see more answers to your questions.
Absolutely beautiful and inspirational. LOVE IT!
that’s crazy! love it. i think it would be fun to then plant succulents or some other plant in the burned out paths, and see what happens. such imagination!
Thats fantastic. I would plant Geophyten like crocus and grasses in the burned out places.