Thursday Doors…Your (Un)natural Garden

Although not much in the way of flowers or plants was blooming during our visit to Descanso Gardens, we were able for the first time to visit Boddy House, named for the original owner and something was definitely blooming inside.

Perched high above the Descanso Gardens landscape on the crest of a hill, the historic Boddy House offers a glimpse of a glamorous bygone era. Built as the home of Descanso founder E. Manchester Boddy in the late 1930s, the Boddy House today is a must for every first-time visitor. (from the Descanso website)

I’m sure Elias Manchester Boddy wouldn’t have recognized the exhibit inside the house itself, standing in stark contrast to the simple elegance of the house itself. Your (Un)natural Garden has creations throughout the park but the house is the epicenter.

Artist Adam Schwerner asks visitors to please touch the art. Opening April 16, Your (Un)natural Garden is an experience like nothing at Descanso before.

Installations at the Sturt Haaga Gallery, Boddy House, and throughout the landscape will intrigue visitors’ senses and invite participation. Archways, created with found materials, will lead to the art gallery and house. Once there, explore rooms that will surprise you – from hundreds of bells playing to feather boas hanging from the ceiling. (from the website)

We’ll take closer looks at the installation but as it’s Thursday, we’ll focus on the doors. The front door is not usually this vibrant pink but it foreshadows what you’ll find inside. I decided to take the shot from a different angle than the usual and just a warning: you might want to don your sunglasses as we go inside.

You might be pardoned for not immediately homing in on the door in this shot if you were at the house. It seems even more simple when contrasted with the wallpaper and the exhibit on the other side. But the outlining of the one panel raises it beyond the usual.

Finally we see the somewhat more subdued back door leading to the patio with its share of the creations. It was fun to be able to see the inside of the house, although I’d like to go back when it’s restored to its non-(un)natural garden state as well.