Another summer adventure took me to Akron to visit a showing of 'Bloom' by the artist Craig Mitchell Smith. If you are a fan of Chihuly glass, then you would also like the works of Smith. His sculptures are created using kiln-formed glass. This was a six month outdoor exhibit held at Stan Hywet Gardens.
As Akron was once the Rubber Capital of the World, there are a number of mansions in the area from its glory days. Stan Hywet Hall is the former home (1915-1955) of F.A. Seiberling, co-founder of The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company. Upon his death, the estate was donated to a non-profit for public use. Many people are married or photographed on the grounds and special events are held throughout the year. I remember visiting as a Girl Scout and also going with my grandmother to see a Faberge egg exhibit when I was a little girl.
Part of the fun of 'Bloom' was the treasure hunt aspect of finding the sculptures mixed in with the real flowers in the various gardens. Here are some pictures from our day. Please enjoy my last peek of summer.
As Akron was once the Rubber Capital of the World, there are a number of mansions in the area from its glory days. Stan Hywet Hall is the former home (1915-1955) of F.A. Seiberling, co-founder of The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company. Upon his death, the estate was donated to a non-profit for public use. Many people are married or photographed on the grounds and special events are held throughout the year. I remember visiting as a Girl Scout and also going with my grandmother to see a Faberge egg exhibit when I was a little girl.
Part of the fun of 'Bloom' was the treasure hunt aspect of finding the sculptures mixed in with the real flowers in the various gardens. Here are some pictures from our day. Please enjoy my last peek of summer.
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Tudor Revival Manor House (too big to fit into one frame)  |
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| Potted Plant |
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This one was called 'Fire' outside the Breakfast Room Garden |
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| Dandelion |
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A whimsical Dragonfly |
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| My favorite were the Orchids inside the Conservatory |
Wow, that is quite the spot. Be nice to have that backyard too. Being the Rubber Capital of the world, they must have had plenty of protection lol
ReplyDeleteVery small family....LOL!
DeleteHahahaha.....
DeleteBa-doomp!
DeleteGood one, Cat!
DeleteThat mansion looks gorgeous - it would be fun to have a company Christmas party there, when it's all decorated!
ReplyDeleteThey have a special event every year called Deck the Halls. I might try to go this year.
DeleteOkay, first I have to say...faaaaaaaabulous photographs! I clicked on each photo so I could view it BIG. OMG...that first one of the mansion is stunning! Love all the glass sculptures! My two favorites are the flowers and the lily pads in the pond. They look so real. I also love the dandelion.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for sharing. What an interesting place!
Have a super weekend, my friend!
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Thanks, Ron. I probably took 50 photos that day. The estate is huge and photos do not do it justice.
DeleteWhat a nice garden.
ReplyDeleteThey are beautiful there.
DeleteThat would be a fun place to visit; so much history there too I imagine. Nice that it now is put to use for displays like this as well as other things for people to enjoy :) Great pictures :)
ReplyDeletebetty
Yes, lots of history and I also appreciate its current use for the community's benefit.
DeleteSome of the old lumber towns around northern Michigan have similar little pockets of opulence from a bygone era (altho not on quite such a grand scale).
ReplyDeleteI used to visit Akron with some regularity, once upon a time, altho I never got much beyond the Goodyear facilities. The blimp hangar is cool, tho. . .
Nothing says Akron like the blimp hangar! That's so neat to me that you've spent so much time in 'my town,' I only get back to the downtown area once a year or so, but it will always be home. Most everyone I knew had a connection to one of the three major rubber companies (my family's was BF Goodrich).
DeleteWhat an interesting exhibit! Love the dandelion and the dragonfly. I can see why people go for special picture ops too, such nice grounds.
ReplyDeleteThey have a birch tree alley that's really cool. The dandelion tells me the artist has a sense of humor!
DeleteThat dandelion looks great. That has to be the first one I'm not allergic to.
ReplyDeleteIt's Sunday...
Such a fun day!
Glad you are having fun, Grumpster. See you at your blog!
DeleteWonderful sculptures, so original. I love the dandelion and the butterflies.
ReplyDeleteI don't really think of the US as having grand old houses, they seem more of a British thing, but clearly Akron proves me wrong.
I think most of our cities have a 'Millionaire's Row' with these type of Tudor estates. At least all the cities in Ohio do!
DeleteI giggled at "rubber capital of the world," but the gardens are pretty fantastic.
ReplyDeleteIt's funny, but growing up, I never thought about it!
DeleteSuch beautiful photos, Bijoux!
ReplyDeleteThank you, I tried!
DeleteWow, those were just beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThank you.
DeleteBeautiful home. If you are ever in Grand Rapids, you should visit Meijer Gardens--they have some incredible glass as well wonderful grounds with all kinds of sculptures. http://www.meijergardens.org
ReplyDeleteThat is lovely. Thanks for the link!
DeleteVery interesting to see the different ways the Big Folk lived back when . Locally we've had Big Shoe, Big Photography, and Huuge Computer company dominate the are during different eras but the mansions here would have probably just been at best middle-management hovels in other areas of the country. Even just up in the finger lakes they made grand mansions but the folks here never got the memo. ;-)
ReplyDeleteInteresting and surprising! So, there's not a Millionaire's Row in the old part of town?
DeleteIf there is I ain't never heard of it. There is one modest mansionish thing in Binghamton but that would probably just be a historic home anywhere else.
DeleteGuess we just don't fertilize our rich folk properly.