There is nothing I love quite so much as a touch of verdigris in the garden. I never knew what to call it when I was growing up, but I was drawn to old fences and weather vanes, and the more worn they were with that wonderful green tinge, the better.
Verdigris is the natural pigment that forms when copper, bronze or brass are exposed to the air. The word is a derivative of the french - vert-de-gris, which in turn is derived from vert-de-Grèce or Green of Greece.
In North America, the most famous example of the process is the Statue of Liberty:
But for me, verdigris belongs in the garden...
The University of New Brunswick has the most lovely mansard roofs with the best verdigris finishes:
They start off all coppery and beautiful and then they age to the most delightful green...
The most recent weathering has been the New Brunswick Legislature, which recently redone, shone a fiery copper for a couple of years and is well on its way to its verdigris end...
Sadly, I have no real copper in my garden, though my little bench is an homage to verdigris:
What I really want is a copper weather vane for the gazebo. Since Barry is going to redo the roof this summer this cedar shakes, this may be just the time...
Maybe a nice hummingbird...
Well it is Monday, June 10th and it just so happens to be Miss Dani's birthday! Hightail it over to her blog and wish her a lovely day! Dani is the queen of elegance in my mind, so I am imagining her at home this morning in some wonderful frock, taking a day off the laundry patrol, and sipping champers and munching bonbons as she is curled up on the couch....
Maybe this frock - it looks like a birthday frock...
Happy Birthday Dear Dani and Lots of Love and Good Wishes!
Have a safe Monday all and stay safe out there!
Verdigris is the natural pigment that forms when copper, bronze or brass are exposed to the air. The word is a derivative of the french - vert-de-gris, which in turn is derived from vert-de-Grèce or Green of Greece.
In North America, the most famous example of the process is the Statue of Liberty:
But for me, verdigris belongs in the garden...
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| his head is how I feel some mornings... |
The University of New Brunswick has the most lovely mansard roofs with the best verdigris finishes:
They start off all coppery and beautiful and then they age to the most delightful green...
The most recent weathering has been the New Brunswick Legislature, which recently redone, shone a fiery copper for a couple of years and is well on its way to its verdigris end...
Sadly, I have no real copper in my garden, though my little bench is an homage to verdigris:
What I really want is a copper weather vane for the gazebo. Since Barry is going to redo the roof this summer this cedar shakes, this may be just the time...
Maybe a nice hummingbird...
Well it is Monday, June 10th and it just so happens to be Miss Dani's birthday! Hightail it over to her blog and wish her a lovely day! Dani is the queen of elegance in my mind, so I am imagining her at home this morning in some wonderful frock, taking a day off the laundry patrol, and sipping champers and munching bonbons as she is curled up on the couch....
Maybe this frock - it looks like a birthday frock...
Happy Birthday Dear Dani and Lots of Love and Good Wishes!
Have a safe Monday all and stay safe out there!
I love it as well. I love a bit of natural attrition and in fact I love a bit of a rust while we are at it. Wow, there seems to be a lot of Geminis out there!
ReplyDeleteCSW - I love a little rust, too! I hear you about the geminis! What does that say about the October before?
DeleteOh I love the image of Dani on her chaise, nibbling bon bons!
ReplyDeleteOh those cedar shingle slate thingmies are a big favurite of mine, you never see them here, what a catch Barry is!
Well he was reno-ing yesterday afternoon Tabs and he is so sore and slept so fitfully because of it, that he is rethinking the whole physical labour thing!
DeleteYes, the image of Dani munching bonbons is an image indeed!
The sun is shining again! This is a good thing indeed!!!
Tabitha and Dani, I'm late to the party but wishing you both many more happy years to come. Why are there so many lovely ladies born in June? That includes me, ha ha. Verdigris, another new thing I learned from you WMM. I was just thinking that you will make a great visiting professor. Students will benefit from your wit, wisdom, experience and sartorial sense without you being bogged down with published research and admin duties.
ReplyDeleteMarie - when is your birthday? I am a collector of birth dates!
DeleteI used to teach at the local university - may go back one day!
It's on the 25th, thanks for asking. George looks like a slacker compared to your Barry.
ReplyDeleteWell Barry is in a lot of pain this morning!
DeleteThanks so much Wendy! Now that I have permission to eat bon bons and drink champers all the day I think I have the afternoon planned. And you know I think I will wear that frock tonight for dinner, Little Miss is in charge of cooking so it won't be dull!
ReplyDeleteLittle Miss in charge of cooking? In my house, that would mean I would be eating Swiss Chalet or Waffles!
DeleteHave a wonderful day!
Hi Dani, I'll put my birthday wishes here as you don't have a new post up yet. Have a great day!
DeleteHappy Birthday, Dani! :-)
Delete(PS. I can't wait for the day my kids are cooking for me!)
Happy Birthday, Dani. Always fascinating what the kiddies choose to make for us, isn't it?
DeleteMorning WMM, I love the mansard style of roof, very French-looking.
ReplyDeleteJust found out via Canada AM that yesterday we celebrated Fathers Day a week early! Oh well, we'll have to do it all again next week - he's worth it.
As is your Barry - it sounds like he can turn his hand to almost anything!
Patricia - that is too funny! I wondered yesterday, but then thought I was maybe wrong!
DeleteHi Wendy, I also love verdigris. There is a house in our neighbourhood with a copper roof that has oxidized very nicely. I always admire it whenever we walk by. Cedar shakes and a copper weather vane sound like a lovely combination for your roof, looking forward to seeing the finished product!!
ReplyDeleteI would love a copper roof, though it would look odd with our 1970s split level!
DeleteMLane is a major verdigris nut. He rescued bits of copper gutter-- no one throws that away any more but they once did-- and fashioned a channel on the cedar shaked barn for my rain barrel. Clever lad. I saw him pop a couple of Advil this am after the weekend's exertions. Hope Barry feels better too.
ReplyDeleteWe also have more rusted out iron than most. And granite.
I think a verdigris hummingbird would do your gazebo proud.
Oh good for him - those were the good old days of scavening, weren't they?
DeleteI love verdigris too. We have a sundial in the shape of a lily pad with a frog on it and a dragonfly with a long tail to tell the time. I love sundials in the garden. That hummingbird weathervane is perfect for you.
ReplyDeleteI love sundials too! I have an old one that someone had made for my grandfather with the family name on it that stands in the middle of our potager, always makes me think of him!
DeleteNot sure what it says about me but I like copper new. I also prefer teak new and brown instead of weathered and gray. Too much work to keep it up though. Whadya think of Game of Thrones? A bit anticlimactic after last week but a good set up for next season. Have a lovely afternoon.
ReplyDeleteBB - I like copper new as well - I think I like it all ways! I liked Game of Thrones - talk about taking an arrow through the heart! Lots of good stuff to set it all in motion for next season, as you say!
DeleteOh really? I never thought of that ever since. My, at this age I thought I knew it all but I wrong. Thanks anyway for the information and details. I really learned a lot from it. Actually, we have the same favorite but I never knew what to call it till today. Thanks again. I owe you a lot for this.
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