Our Blog

28 Jun 2010
June 28, 2010 0 Comments By masterpiecelandscapingadmin The Art of Landscaping

The Disappearance of Seeking Beauty in Modern America

Over the past century and a half  western societies have suffered from the rise of the omnipotent university.  As the university populations increase,  the individual human imagination  decreases and the art of  creating beauty disappears.  Some university art education critics claim the human mind becomes programmed. The "feelings' of the individual become institutionalized.  What one absorbs  and attempts to understand or  respond to in inspiration....become  numbed.  The quest to achieve that which is beautiful dies. Beauty has...

Read More >>
20 Jun 2010
June 20, 2010 0 Comments By masterpiecelandscapingadmin About Masterpiece, The Art of Landscaping

Classical Landscape Garden Open For Public View

Our home grounds at Masterpiece is a classical landscape garden.....One enters its realm to retire from the present time and world.  With every move forward into the gardened grounds there are windows to view distant arrangements  and grand paintings to admire.  One is magnificently alone among Nature in its ideal.  Not the  only  ideal, but one of an endless possibilities for the ideal.  The sunny setting provides sharp colors and bright contrasts.   The temperature falls 15...

Read More >>
15 Jun 2010
June 15, 2010 0 Comments By masterpiecelandscapingadmin Residential Projects, The Art of Landscaping

The Landscaped Grounds of Metropolitan Minnesota

If you and I were to walk up and down the sidewalks of the city or streetsides of suburbia, it is likely we could give a pretty good listing of the personalities of the homeowning folks  who live there.  Many years ago I taught landscape classes at the University of Minnesota's Extension Service.  For the winter landscaping class, we added a bus tour to drive along many communities to tell my story about the art of...

Read More >>
18 May 2010
May 18, 2010 0 Comments By masterpiecelandscapingadmin The Art of Landscaping

Three “The Art of Landscape Gardening” Sessions To Be Offered

Masterpiece Landscaping has started a three session class to acquaint homeowners to the art of the landscape garden.  The class is led by Glenn Ray, co-owner of Masterpiece Landscaping and former instructor of  class sessions, "Landscaping the Minnesota Home Grounds" and "Beauty in the Bleak Season", through the University of Minnesota Extension Service. Glenn was Executive Secretary of the Minnesota State Horticultural Society from 1974 to 1988.  The class sessions will be held on Saturdays...

Read More >>
18 May 2010
May 18, 2010 0 Comments By masterpiecelandscapingadmin About Masterpiece, garden seasons, The Art of Landscaping

What Is Put Where, and Why?

The 2010 Minnesota spring is almost back to its normal time frame.  In my grounds today's May 18th garden usually occurs about May 26th, so now spring is only about 8 days early.   Last week's cool, cloudy and rainy weather, made the adjustment.  Still, eight days of a better Spring is much appreciated.  I usually use Azalea bloom as my standard for comparing Spring's timing.  My grounds are designed as a landscape garden....not a staged garden...

Read More >>
10 May 2010
May 10, 2010 0 Comments By masterpiecelandscapingadmin Ground Covers, perennials, The Art of Landscaping

Ground Covers in the Landscape Garden

Mulch, soil, leaves, river rock are all ground covers.  Each have there own place in Earth's landscape  with river rock probably best located at the river. The ground covers honored by this article are the ones which produce flowers and the coniferous evergreens that like to spread. Have you ever seen a Japgarden juniper over fifteen feet wide.  You've missed a beauty if you haven't. Ground covers provide the negative space among  upright forms in the garden...

Read More >>
03 May 2010
May 3, 2010 0 Comments By masterpiecelandscapingadmin battling the Minnesota climate, garden seasons

The Spring Garden Is Three Weeks Early

There have been at least three springs over the past twenty years that resemble the present spring, when the vegetative world  started a month early and has continued to maintain such a schedule.  The symptoms have been the same, although this year, 2010 our Spring began according to calendar, in March.... even a week earlier. Since then, not a day has been over 80 degrees Fahrenheit and there have been no driving dusty winds with dry...

Read More >>
01 May 2010
May 1, 2010 0 Comments By masterpiecelandscapingadmin The Art of Landscaping

Beethoven’s 3rd Piano Concerto and the Landscape Garden

I have a bit more homework for those of you who are studying landscape gardening with me.  Of the two pieces of classical music I asked you to review at home, I wish you would pay particular attention to a  Beethoven composition, his 3rd piano concerto, the first and second movement. You will remember I offered the analogy that much in classical music is to the ear as classical landscape gardening is to the eye.  Beethoven's...

Read More >>
20 Apr 2010
April 20, 2010 0 Comments By masterpiecelandscapingadmin battling the Minnesota climate, garden seasons

Season 2010 Is Three Weeks Early

I am certain that the vast majority of landscape gardeners in the Twin City area view this spring as outstanding.....thus far. So far both March and April have been cool or mild and clear.  We had a good winter snow to supply good soil  moisture.  According to most growth calendars, we are about three weeks ahead of schedule.  My Juddii Viburnums began opening their blooms yesterday.....redbud is in full lavendar-pink bud....PJM Rhododendron in its fifth day...

Read More >>
14 Apr 2010
April 14, 2010 0 Comments By masterpiecelandscapingadmin Uncategorized

The Conifer Garden at Courage Center

We at Masterpiece would like to invite readers and friends to visit the Conifer Garden which we installed about eight years ago at Courage Center on Golden Valley Road in Golden Valley, MN.  It is located at the South Entrance to the Center.  Spring is an exceptional time to visit the grounds.  The Leonard Messel Magnolia is now in full pink bloom.  The Redbud trees will begin their sharp pink-lavender blooms next week or so. ...

Read More >>