Tag Archives: Gardens

March 9, 2026

Mary Ahern Artist

We headed home on the red eye from LAX to JFK. Leaving spring warmth of weather in the high 70s to return to snow in my garden. But there is always something to make your heart sing, even in the cold. My witch hazel, Hamamelis mollis, ‘Arnolds Promise was in full bloom when I walked the garden. It was radiating a bright yellow glow into the depressing browns of winter. Gardening is all about optimism. Each season invites you to plan your garden for the future. I take cuttings of my plants, root them, and invite new plants into my garden. Seeds sprout new growth and energy. They signify rebirth. What’s more optimistic than that?

The view of my garden just before leaving for California
We were greeted by this joyful view of our witch hazel upon our return home.

These daily studio notes lead toward my 2026 solo exhibitions in New York City and  Poughkeepsie, NY.

March 8, 2026

Mary Ahern Artist

Bridges in gardens add so much interest to the ambiance of the setting. In my home garden, I designed the dry streambed after seeing the arroyos out west. I added a bridge, painting it a teal blue as a nod to Monet’s bridge, which he had built over his famous water lily pond at his home in Giverny, France. His bridge, in turn, was a nod to the Japanese garden bridges over koi and water lily ponds. No artist lives in such complete isolation that they are not inspired or influenced by what they see around them as they pursue their art. Artists are always gathering inspiration while living their lives, by going to museums and exhibitions to see the work of other artists. Gardens, mine and others, are one of the things that inspire me the most and drive me time and again to paint my flowers.

This bridge is located in the spectacular Japanese garden at The Huntington Museum and Gardens in Los Angeles, California.
A beautiful setting for this red bridge over the water feature at the Descanso Gardens in Los Angeles, California.
My teal bridge was a small tribute to Monet’s bridge over his Lily Pond in Giverny, France. His bridge, in turn, was a nod to the Japanese bridges he’d seen in art prints, which began to be available in Europe in the 19th century.

These daily studio notes lead toward my 2026 solo exhibitions in New York City and  Poughkeepsie, NY.