Garden Camper

My town of Romeo has a yearly garden walk where selected home owners showcase lush landscapes of flowers, shrubs and trees. It is a ticketed event and raises money for the local garden club named The Romeo and Juliet Garden Club.

Each home on the garden walk also features painters, sculptures and musicians. Years ago I painted plein air at one of the gardens and enjoyed doing it but life got busy and I was unable to participate again.

This year my neighbor who lives across the street told me he was going to be on the garden walk. This surprised me because his plantings aren't exuberant and a pool takes up most of the backyard. What I did not realize is that the garden club was going to sell plants at his home and stage them around his restored 1950's camper, which he keeps by the pool as a changing room.

The day before the garden walk my husband helped move the camper to the front yard and then a local nursery delivered a kaleidoscope of plants which club members artfully displayed around the camper. I told one of the members I wanted to paint it and she said I would be more than welcome to become part of the garden walk

I set up early Saturday morning on my tree lawn in the shade. I began an hour before the walk so I could get the painting blocked in without cars and people obstructing my view. The early morning light cast dappled shadows on the trailer and I reimagined the background as field and woods rather than parking lot construction at the school.

When the garden walk was in full swing I had a great time chatting with people and listening to live music at the event. Being at my own home was comfy and I could pop into the house whenever I liked. I painted for several hours then took the painting into my studio to tweak. The final image is below.

I am hoping my neighbor will be part of the garden walk next year. After all how often do you get a great plein air subject right in front of the house!

40% of this sale will go to the Romeo and Juliet Garden Club