I could tell it was going to be a good flower-spying day. The temperatures for late June were near perfect, where 100% humidity and high temps were the dreaded usual norm. I was feeling so good I got up extra early that morning, a rather miraculous feat, so I grabbed my camera, downed some iced coffee and headed off to the Baltimore Farmers Market.
Held under the JFX freeway, this farmers market is by far my favorite in Maryland. It's filled with urbanites of all backgrounds and venturesome suburbanites, who gladly make the trek into the city each week for delicious Maryland grown produce and foods, including hand made crafts. The selection is as diverse as the crowd-- you'll find every kind of ethnic food, endless assortments of fruits and vegetables, omelet stands and at least a half dozen pastry, donut and bread kiosks. Zeke's coffee reins supreme here with three strategically placed stands to stop and get caffeinated. For the flower lover, there are nearly a dozen plant and locally grown flower stands that have anything you can think of for the garden. A few odds and ends are thrown in just for the exotic seekers, like botanical essences, vintage clothing and tribal trinkets. Going early is advised though, wait and you may miss some of the market magic.
After loading up on some sweet corn and several bunches gorgeous zinnias, I bumped into an old college pal. We talked a bit and I told him I was ready to leave after circling the market a few times. As I started to go, he asked if I had seen the succulent man. I said no, who was that? He instructed me to turn around and focus on the truck behind me. When I did, I gasped, there in front of me stood the most amazing tree sculptures, how could I have missed them? Unusual combinations of lush, succulent plants and perennials were spilling out of twisted tree limbs and stumps, it was absolutely fantastic.
I watched other people passing by the yard sculptures, most commented on their uniqueness, but with all the surrounding food vendors, many people did not see them. Perched on an old flatbed next to the sculptures was a charming old man in suspenders with a curious comma on his cheek. He introduced himself as Richard Watters, the artist who made the botanical designs. When I looked closer at some of his pieces, I noticed several of the limbs and trunks had been hand carved to better serve as plant vessels, giving the pieces a professionally designed look.
I asked Mr. Watters about his artistic process, he told me he loved carving wood and gardening and creating these sculptures became the perfect combination of his two passions. He said he mainly uses hearty wood like black locust due to its resistance to rot. He showed me how the plants were placed as he removed a fat succulent, exposing garden netting secured with tacks onto the wood. "Some of the plants were more mature than others when I started" Watters, explained, "it can take years for some of them to propagate, but it is worth my wait every time!"
Mr. Watters and I talked for a long while so asked if it would be ok to take some pictures of his work. He asked me if his prices were reasonable: $75 for smaller tree stumps, up to $500 for the much larger ones. Given the considerable time and labor it took him to construct each design as well as the size and weight of each piece, I told him they seemed very reasonable. I then asked if I could share his work in my Neglected Beauty blog, his would be my first post actually. I felt his story and work needed to be shared-- creating beauty utilizing what is naturally available to us is something I am seeing more of and am eager to experience in my travels. Mr. Watters asked, "You'd do that for me?" Yes Mr. Watters, with pleasure, I said. Then he turned around, looked me straight in the eye and gave me a big hug. Thanking me for appreciating his work, he ended our meeting saying, "now go write away, girl." Or maybe it was "go right away."
Finding secret environmental designs is one the things I love about the Baltimore farmers market--you just never know what is waiting to be discovered. Supporting our local farmers, merchants and artists is what sustains our community, and when you get the opportunity to meet someone as special as Richard Watters, it leaves an impression. As one of those rare, special mixes of character, talent, vision and old school Baltimore charm, Mr. Watters was the perfect find hiding underneath a busy urban expressway, mostly overlooked on any other day but Sunday.
LOCATION: JFX Farmers Market, Baltimore, MD. Sundays: 7:00 a.m.- 12:00 p.m.
PHOTOS: "Yard Art by Richard Watters." Various sized tree logs and limbs with sedum, euphobia, lysimachia aurea and other assorted succulents.
CONTACT: Richard Watters (410) 838-7437
ALL PHOTOS: C.A. LANGRALL
Meghan said...
I saw this very thing Sunday as well and thought how beautiful they were! I love this blog..very nice!
June 3, 2008 11:42 AM
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