tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5223294603002782762.post2294682626496298808..comments2024-03-24T06:10:25.358-07:00Comments on Noel's Garden Blog: James van Sweden - a memoir Noel Kingsburyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09443137231998907024noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5223294603002782762.post-57187074838044900152013-10-25T12:49:43.934-07:002013-10-25T12:49:43.934-07:00I had the good fortune to meet Van Sweden once man...I had the good fortune to meet Van Sweden once many years ago at an Association of Professional Landscape Designers conference in D.C. I told him I thought his work was pretty gutsy given the state of the typical public landscape at the time, and asked him if he ever had any doubts if he was doing the right thing. "Never" he replied. I don't have the same level of confidence in my work but I guess that's what it takes to be great. (Wolfgang gave us a tour of his own garden at that same conference -that's quite another story!)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11351767519020910183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5223294603002782762.post-24797972792418850702013-10-13T13:09:45.933-07:002013-10-13T13:09:45.933-07:00I guess my head has been in the dahlia beds becaus...I guess my head has been in the dahlia beds because I did not even know van Sweden had died! I am glad I found out through your memoir - what a generous tribute! The drunken Rosemary story made me fall off the chair laughing, though I am sure it was painful at the time.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5223294603002782762.post-83222321968729980232013-10-06T17:35:19.254-07:002013-10-06T17:35:19.254-07:00Architecture in the Garden was the first garden bo...Architecture in the Garden was the first garden book I ever purchased...I thoroughly enjoyed your remembrance of (one of) its authors.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14395380166485303934noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5223294603002782762.post-30457250339537297522013-10-03T04:59:00.955-07:002013-10-03T04:59:00.955-07:00I never had the pleasure of meeting this legend an...I never had the pleasure of meeting this legend and know him only through his work. You have made him oh, so human. If you are ever in New England, I would be happy to show you some special gardens...ooops, how American, but the offer stands. Loved your tribute. Layaneehttp://ledgeandgardens.typepad.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5223294603002782762.post-87962327243075684632013-10-02T11:08:01.344-07:002013-10-02T11:08:01.344-07:00Noel,
Very funny and true to Jim. Thank you for ...Noel, <br /><br />Very funny and true to Jim. Thank you for sharing. Can just hear him hissing, "I can't stand that mess!" Legend has it he hated Wolfgang's collection of potted plants so much he banished all indoor plants from the office. Pity the poor associate who placed a small plant at her desk, not knowing the rules. Susan Hineshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10218149320128098535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5223294603002782762.post-4709077669325326202013-10-02T11:07:38.974-07:002013-10-02T11:07:38.974-07:00Noel,
Very funny and true to Jim. Thank you for ...Noel, <br /><br />Very funny and true to Jim. Thank you for sharing. Can just hear him hissing, "I can't stand that mess!" Legend has it he hated Wolfgang's collection of potted plants so much he banished all indoor plants from the office. Pity the poor associate who placed a small plant at her desk, not knowing the rules.Susan Hineshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10218149320128098535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5223294603002782762.post-62799447156261973622013-10-02T11:06:44.892-07:002013-10-02T11:06:44.892-07:00Noel,
Very funny and true to Jim. Thank you for ...Noel, <br /><br />Very funny and true to Jim. Thank you for sharing. Can just hear him hissing, "I can't stand that mess!" Legend has it he hated Wolfgang's collection of potted plants so much he banished all indoor plants from the office. Pity the poor associate who placed a small plant at her desk, not knowing the rules. Susan Hineshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10218149320128098535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5223294603002782762.post-70794891692575096192013-09-30T10:45:54.554-07:002013-09-30T10:45:54.554-07:00what a beautifull hommage!what a beautifull hommage!Rosa Complicatahttp://www.gardenatheart.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5223294603002782762.post-44520816975503164822013-09-30T07:45:24.581-07:002013-09-30T07:45:24.581-07:00Great to read your memoirs on James van Sweden Noe...Great to read your memoirs on James van Sweden Noel, through your personal, lively and real. yet theatrically writing I feel like I met him already.<br />valeria hermidahttp://www.valeriahermida.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5223294603002782762.post-53375283342890032442013-09-30T05:18:37.977-07:002013-09-30T05:18:37.977-07:00Noel
Thank you for your sensitive portrait of Jame...Noel<br />Thank you for your sensitive portrait of James Van Sweden. Your first hand account of spending time with him was refreshing. Don Stathamhttp://donstathamblog.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5223294603002782762.post-78979850250405828932013-09-30T04:37:11.360-07:002013-09-30T04:37:11.360-07:00What a wonderful, very humane post, Noel. This &qu...What a wonderful, very humane post, Noel. This "drive on the right, drive on the right, pray to Jeeesus" just adds to my idea of van Sweden, though I've always felt a great human being behind the projects I've seen. Never had a privilege to know James in person, but his ideas were contagious and he was one of those few who taught me to look at prairie style with different eyes. Thank you for the post, Noel.Оля ван Саанеhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09922904018957684853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5223294603002782762.post-65734442542916696702013-09-30T04:18:59.026-07:002013-09-30T04:18:59.026-07:00Fascinating Noel! And moving too... Sounds like he...Fascinating Noel! And moving too... Sounds like he has been an extraordinary man in many ways.Amalia R.https://www.blogger.com/profile/09380512131224429302noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5223294603002782762.post-67388057436116689792013-09-30T04:18:17.363-07:002013-09-30T04:18:17.363-07:00Fascinating Noel! And moving too... Sounds like he...Fascinating Noel! And moving too... Sounds like he has been an extraordinary man in many ways.Amalia R.https://www.blogger.com/profile/09380512131224429302noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5223294603002782762.post-32163019444552479832013-09-30T04:00:49.644-07:002013-09-30T04:00:49.644-07:00By far the best remembrace of Jim I've read ye...By far the best remembrace of Jim I've read yet. You got his vision balanced with his spit and vinegar. Much appreciated.<br /><br />ThomasAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13805682623764800983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5223294603002782762.post-91876786480331142572013-09-30T03:51:36.673-07:002013-09-30T03:51:36.673-07:00Love this remembrance. You captured him brilliantl...Love this remembrance. You captured him brilliantly.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13805682623764800983noreply@blogger.com