Well, the girls are finally here. Jamie and I have wanted to add the four season statues to our garden for a long time, but were uncertain as to where we could put them. When we finally completed the new back bed Jamie suggested it would be a good place. After searching forever, we finally found a place we could get them. The unstained statues weren’t that hard to find, but finding the pedestals that came with them was a different story. After debating the existence of them with several companies I was finally able to convince a nursery in Montgomery to search. They found them and were willing to order them for us. They came in last Monday and Jamie and I went to the nursery to pick them up this past Saturday. In the photo below there is a 4th goddess waaaaaaaay down at the end that isn’t visible. There was just no way to capture all four in the same photo because although it may not look like it, this bed is 75 feet long.
The Horai were the four Greek goddesses of the seasons. In original mythology there were only two seasons, Thallo and Karpo or blooming and fruiting. Later the seasons became three goddesses to exclude winter. It wasn’t until the 4th or 5th century that all four seasons were represented by goddesses and given a name. Very little information is available on what is considered to be the 4th generation Horai that symbolize all seasons. They were mentioned in the epic tale ‘Dionysiaca’ produced by Nonnus in the 5th century and have been represented as 4 since that time.
The goddess of spring, Eiar, is usually found holding a bouquet or garland of flowers.
Theros, the goddess of summer, is usually holding a harvest of wheat. When purchasing the statues you may sometimes find fall and summer misidentified.
The goddess of fall, Autumnus, is found holding grapes or some other fruit.
Chiemon, the goddess of winter is usually found wearing a cloak or long sleeved garment and sometimes holding a flame.
This will most likely be the last statuary purchased for the garden. I think once the privet and other shrubs grow in to screen the distracting view of the houses the statues are going to look great. Not to mention the bed is practically void of any perennial planting. I had hoped to take care of that this year. For now, I’m really starting to feel a little gardened out, if we get the new plants in the bed this fall that’s great, if not there is always next spring. :-) I hope everyone has a great week!
37 comments:
The right plinth really makes a difference in how statuary presents, doesn't it? I think it's good that you can't see all four at once. Statues, like seasons, should come into view in advancing sequence, not all at once.
Oh they look great. I always thought the wheat one was fall so I had them mixed up too. I think our winter one looks a little different from that one (something about the cape) but I could be wrong.
Nell Jean,
You are right, these would not look the same without the pedestals. I don't think I would like them at all.
Phillip,
Phillip I use to think the same thing until I started researching the statues. we actually have ours set up the wrong way so I have to move summer and fall around. Shhhhh... Don't tell anyone.--Randy
Beautiful and lovely landscaped garens. The statues look lovely against the gardens behind.
ABSOLUTELY gorgeous! I love them!!!! I can't stop staring at the pictures of them....
Your seasonal beauties are a great addition to the garden. I can just see the shrubs and perennials all grown in and they will be a pleasant experience to come upon them as you stroll along the path.
I enjoyed the little tutorial about the ladies too. I didn't know the difference between summer and fall. I often think of wheat as a winter crop. There is a lot of what they call winter wheat grown around here.
They sure are a classic touch in your beautiful garden.
I have to agree, a classic touch for sure........Love them all!!
Randy, They are gorgeous. I can't pick a favorite... Something about Winter is appealing--but maybe that is because I love winter. Of course I love all of the seasons except Summer.
Now I have a question.. What are you two going to do with those four new women in your lives----trying to boss you around and telling you what to do????????? ha ha ha
Betsy
Becca,
Thank you so much! We’ve worked very hard to create these this last 16 months.
Dirt Princess,
I’m glad you approve! That’s very reassuring coming from a professional decorator!
Lisa,
I think they are going to look really good when everything is planted and grows in for a couple of years. Like you and Phillip I misunderstood fall to be the wheat. Ours is actually set up that way too. I just learned while doing the mythology research that we had summer and fall backwards.
Tina and Darla,
Classic is good! As the garden matures I really see it moving more towards something a little more formal, around the edges anyway. The center will always be reserved for the butterflies. I think the more evergreens shrubs we add the more it will move that way. Darla, if you look to the right of the statue in the last picture you’ll see your mother’s coneflowers sporting blooms. :-)
Betsy,
So far they’ve been “stone cold silent!” hahahaha! :-)--Randy
These beauties sure provide a finishing touch to the garden, Randy. You did well too on the pedestals. Will they darken with age? I see a fountain with cascading water as the next project ;) I'm with you...I'm gardened out, too!! Aug. heat is the worst!
So what is your favorite one?
Those are fabulous and what a classic look for your garden. Your blog is very cool.
Wow, classy addition to your garden! The statues give a real formal touch.
Oh Randy, they are magnificent! The pedestals are quite necessary, so glad you were able to get some, whatever the means! Having that green background will make your new ladies stand out even more. They already look great. Well done. I hear the tiredness in your voice and hope the upcoming change of season rejuvenates you. It always does for me. :-)
Frances
Lynn,
Thanks! I think they’ll age well. The other items we have are slowly darkening. There are three trees on this fence row with the shrubs, I figure once the honey dew and sap start to drop they’ll darken up nicely and have an antique appearance to them.
CIMS-
I think the summer one. I like the idea of spring, but when you look at her face she’s kind of zombie looking right now. LOL
Lost Roses,
Welcome, welcome! And thank you for the compliment. I visited your blog and we have the same mermaid! Ours sits on the edge of the birdbath. :-)
Thanks Connie,
I would like to lean more towards formal, but to tell the truth we can’t stick t a “style” to save our lives. We just do when we like. :-)
Frances,
I agree about the pedestals and I will be so glad when the background fills in. It’s not that we dislike our neighbors, but it would just give a better appearance to the garden. As for the tiredness, I hope you are right; I’m concerned it may be the upcoming change of season that is causing it. Only time will tell. ;-)
Randy, They're perfect and look great in your garden. I am glad you were able to locate them...aren't sales people fascinating! They are often so convinced they know it all!
I hear you on being gardened out! You've both worked very hard on the new garden, the lighting, irrigation and now moving the goddesses!
If we could keep this cooler weather at least at night...I am sure my energy would return. gail
I see them, I see them!!!!!!
Thanks Gail,
You know I hadn't realized just what all we did this year until you started naming things off. No wonder we are so tire.:-)
I'm sorry you've been tired lately but I'm glad to know I'm not the only one that has had a less than optimal level of energy. Maybe the heat has taken it's toll. Maybe as the weather cool we'll get more frisky!:-)--Randy
Oh, those are bea-u-ti-ful! I love the ststues in the gardens, they are so regal!
Glad you were able to find a nursery who believed the pedestals existed! It's funny because when I first read about summer and wheat I thought, "You know I bet lots of people think of wheat as representing fall (harvest and all), but wheat really is done in summer and how cool that the statue maker got it right!" (I can be a little pedantic. I blame my father.) But then was relieved to see your next sentence say the same thing! ;-) Fall has always been my favorite season, and fall is my favorite statue, too. :)
Those are really lovely. Statuary really transforms a garden and makes it special. I'm not up on my mythology, I just think they create a very elegant touch in your garden.
Marnie
Thanks Dawn! I’m glad you like them.
Monica,
We originally got summer and fall wrong. I had no idea wheat was harvested in June. So it was a learning experience. NOW, we’ve got to put them in the right order. :-) I don’t know that I can pick a favorite just yet. Hmmm….
Marnie,
Thank you! I took mythology in high school, but that was 24 years ago. I remember some of it, but not much. I’ve just always been fascinated by the stories, some of them are really lovely. If we could find room for one more statue, I would love to have the goddess Flora. Unfortunately, it would be really easy to over do-it in our small garden and we are pushing it now. Maybe as the garden matures it will develop more pockets for us to conceal surprises. Or maybe we can move some stuff around. :-)--Randy
Those statues look beautiful in your garden. I really like the way you've arranged them down the border.
The statues are very cool and I agree they will look great once the hedge behind them grows in more.
Jake
I love the statues!
Those are really lovely statues. And I didn't know that there used to be only 2 and then 3 and then 4 goddesses for the seasons, so thanks for that info.
I think everyone starts to lose some gardening energy by now. As you said, there's always next spring!
You have an award on my blog.
My goodness---it's all done so tastefully. The girls make a very nice addition to an already amazing garden. I sure like their placement. I bet the night light reflects on the stone and then they glow. Congrats on your perseverance to get the base for them.
I nominated you for a meme today. Come on over to my blog to see what it's all about.
Cameron
Defining Your Home, Garden and Travel
Extremely cool!
Jamie and Randy,
I LOVE your statues. I have been looking for a statue for my garden for a while, so many of them are cheesy. I am especially interested in the godess Flora, as I have a room in my garden called the Flora Glade.
How tall are your statues? and with the plinths? Why are beautiful statues like this so difficult to find?
I am trying for a formal look in my garden. I have already planted a Lime Walk, and I intend to pleach the lindens.
Hi Jamie and Randy
After reading a couple of your current posts, I decided to go back and read everything!
I cannot believe, first the devestation that you both went through and then the beauty that has come from it. When I was reading the post about the four sesaons, I never would have guessed that your garden was only a year and a half old. It looks very mature, yet the proof was in the pictures. It was absolutely a blank slate.
For me, the most interesting things about peoples blogs is not the individual posts of their flowers, but the story of the creation of their garden.
How brave you were to restart after the tornado, but then a true gardener never gives up.
The statues are just lovely. I bet you can take some nice little strolls along the grassy path.
What a whimsical and thoughtful addition to your garden. It'll be great to see the garden grow up around them.
Seventy-five feet really gives you scope, doesn't it, Randy?
I think you were wise on the timing, too - instead of chopping holes into fully grown shrubbery you added the statues at the mid-stage, so the statues can age and the branches fill in gracefully. Thanks for the lesson on the symbols for the seasons, too!
Annie at the Transplantable Rose
Wow! The statues really make the space awesome. Do you plant to plant the flora that'd bloom that particular season around those statues? That'd please the goddesses.
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