If you travel through the Dudgeon-Monroe Street neighborhood on Madison's near west side you are no doubt familiar with this garden. It stretchs the length of the building that houses Art Gecko at the corner of Monroe and Grant Streets. The shop is devoted to items from China, India, Bali, and Nepal. The 10-by-54-foot garden is the work of store employee Jake Goeller and clearly reflects the vivid aesthetic of those nations.
This photo was taken across the street from the garden and gives you a small sense of its scale.
I shot this one standing in the street during a break in the traffic. You can see the space is planted from curb to sidewalk in a bermed bed.
The garden includes annuals, perennials, grasses, evergreens and found objects. When I walked by the other day snapping these photos, I noticed at least three orchids! Plants in pots or in the ground are always being added, making a garden that changes throughout the growing season in myriad ways. The owners have obviously spared no expense on this garden, created to beautify the area and bring pleasure to the neighborhood.
Found objects are interspersed among the plantings and on this utility box which is greatly disguised by greenery. It is far and away the most gorgeous and inspirational "hell strip" I've ever seen.
It is a beauty, so much exuberance.
Posted by: Lisa at Greenbow | Wednesday, October 29, 2014 at 02:42 AM
Very cool and very Madison. I like it.
Posted by: Erin @ The Impatient Gardener | Wednesday, October 29, 2014 at 10:29 PM