I have devoted a lot of ink to the story of how my shop came to be. Why is this? As important as it was to me personally, I think it is an interesting story. The bel’occio gene-I think both Rob and I have that. When I look at these pictures of our opening night, I am struck by how sparsely furnished the space was. It was a giant expenditure to get the building ready for company. What I had to spend to furnish it was 1/4 of what it cost to make the space habitable. A place where people would feel welcome came first.
Two of my oldest landscape clients sprung for this opening party-I still work for them both, and love them dearly. They saw to entertaining my guests. Making relationships over the landscape is one of the best parts of my job. They helped me to believe in myself. This was a very special gift that they made to me.
I was excited beyond all belief to have Detroit Garden Works full of people for the first time. No landscape gets my seal of approval until I see how people interact with it. Do the spaces work? Are they comfortable? Are they on occasion provocative? Is there a natural and easy flow? Does it handle traffic, kids, entertaining, reflection and family? Would you smile, or study what you saw? I am happy to get graded.
But this night was not about a passing grade. It was a beginning. An opening statement. Rob and I had done the work-that work spoke for itself.
All of the food was served in Italian pots. Pots from Crete. Pots from England. Pots from France. The big idea here-a garden can nourish.
We had an idea about gardens. We made that come to life. This was one of most favorite gardening moments ever.