It seems only natural that the garden would inspire the couple ’ s artistry , too . Cathal is a sculptor , and there are tokens of his work tucked in a bed of climbing English roses and supporting a container of begonias . Meanwhile , Lorraine ’ s watercolor paintings of vibrant florals and rural landscapes , as well as an entire series of butterfly paintings , seem to be pulled straight from their environs .
As beautiful and inclusive as the space may be , it ’ s not without its heartache and backache . The Browns have labored many hours throughout the years weeding , planting , replanting and strategizing . They recently bulldozed a shed that bamboo and raccoons had overtaken and plan to build a meditation hut in its place . They ’ ve lost count of the plants that have died for some reason or another .
But in the end , they relish the space they ’ ve transformed from a forlorn postage stamp of a lot into a welcome respite to share with friends and family . And it ’ s just what the Browns needed to spread a little peace in their world , even to hungry birds .
“ It doesn ’ t matter where you sit , you know there ’ s something to paint or draw . I think my friends really enjoy that . They have a lot of choice , a lot of options on the river , all different heights of trees , and colors and shapes ,” Lorraine says . “ So sometimes it can even be a little confusing what to paint but after you sit in the garden , you figure it out . Something calls you .” 🆁
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