knob bolted to the center. Put it on a metal pole, anywhere from four to five feet tall, and it’s a stunning flower sculpture. Wood also finds plenty of materials in her own garden and in abandoned lots around town. One of her favorite materials, and maybe one of the most surprising, is kudzu. “It’s very versatile, and also very strong,” she says. “The young vines are thin and malleable, and the thicker the vines, the stronger they become. It really makes great wreaths.” I admittedly don’t have a crafty bone in my body. But after spending time with these passionate, creative women, I have been inspired to try my hand at garden sculpture. Maybe this summer my garden will get a few new additions, and this time it won’t be just pansies and marigolds. Rather than distracting from the flowers and plants, garden art is a way for us, as humans, to put our own mark on this world. OH
Jan Wood
Karen M. Alley is a regular contributor to O.Henry and freelance writer living in Elkin. Her work has been published in several magazines, including Carolina Gardener. You can find Weisbrodt’s art for sale on her Facebook page (www.facebook. com/WhitebreadCreationsByNancyWeisbrodt). Wood’s art and the work of the trolls can be found at Paul J. Ciener Botanical Gardens, 215 South Main Street, Kernersville, cienerbotanicalgarden.org.
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April 2014
The Art & Soul of Greensboro