By DARLA MCCAMMON 
Lakeland Art Association

I shared a photo with my daughter Dee Anna this week. After viewing it, she texted me, “Art does not always take the shape of a canvas-sometimes it can be an exquisite quilting pattern on a quilt or in this case, a garden in Dubai.” She is correct. 

One of the largest gardens in the world is the 72,000 square meter “Miracle Gardens of Dubai” in the United Arab Emirates (photo provided). With over 45 million flowers this unexpected oasis in the middle of a desert that averages 104 degrees Fahrenheit from June through September, is part of a larger attraction attempting to outdo Walt Disney World. 

By the way, they close through those hot summer months and re-open in October or November. The displays change frequently and an enormous underground irrigation system is in place using recycled water and a drip system to preserve as much water as possible while keeping the floral displays vibrant and healthy. You can Google “Dubai miracle gardens” to see some of the creative arrangements and artistic use of color.

Featuring enormous overhanging hearts, cars and vehicles made of flowers, gorgeous patterns of complementary colors, covered walkways, pyramids, rivers of red flowing from enormous green baskets, this garden has over three miles of walkways. The Dubai garden has been well planned and it is obvious the designers understand color theory.

But did you know you can apply some of these same color principles to your own home garden? One of the best resources to help you can be found on line at www.gardening.cornell.edu. This web site will walk you through the color wheel and help you transform your yard and gardens into a beautiful work of art. You will learn what colors play well against each other. How to make a small space appear larger, how to use large masses of color for drama, and how foliage also provides color. You will also learn those warm colors versus a garden area with cool colors. You will be shown photos of how a bed of orange nasturtiums can be made more spectacular if you place it next to a vibrant blue bed. You will immediately see why an area with violet and yellow flowers literally pops out because of the contrast.    

You will be very surprised and amazed at how you can become an outdoor artist by using the knowledge you gain in using the principles of color. Start getting your ideas down now for next year’s beauty!

Upcoming and Current Events:

• The Lisa Bemish exhibit opened at Warsaw City Hall Gallery on July 22. Visit 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily.
• August offers the agricultural art contest of the tomato festival in Pierceton. Enter at LAA.
• This summer Adult and Children Workshops always available. Call (574) 594-9950 for information.
•  Jan Hazelett will have work exhibiting at LAA through August (more on Hazelett next week)
•  Robert Hudson will demonstrate painting of mountains at the 24^th meeting of Lakeland Art Assoc.

LAA is located at 107 N. 1st St. Pierceton, IN 46562 or www.lakelandartassociation.org. Also on Facebook. Contact your author/artist Darla at [email protected] any time you have questions.