March 22, 2009

A living ceiling

Have you ever seen one of Dale Chihuly's glass ceilings?
This one is in the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas....magical


When I saw this vertical garden in the April issue of Sunset magazine, I immediately thought of Chihuly's ceilings...and wondered if tillandsia would lend themselves to being suspended upside down in the desert as a living ceiling for my soon-to-be ramada.


So far my research is not promising.  These air plants don't like temperatures above 90 or below freezing.  Anyone know of a particular species that would tolerate high desert living?

18 comments:

Helen said...

Good morning! I have been blessed to see his amazing exhibits in two cities ... Atlanta and Orlando! I spent hours just taking it all in and could spend many more hours looking at his art. Have a great week ...........

Michelle Engel Bencsko said...

I've seen this ceiling and also the fantastic exhibit at the NY Botanical Gardens a few years ago http://www.chihuly.com/installations/nybg/.

You're not into vines or wisteria or honeysuckle?

High Desert Diva said...

Deer, deer, deer

I was thinking ceiling height might be high enough to not be a deer salad bar.

Still considering Mark's metal work vines, too.....

T.Allen said...

Oh I love it! I'm not sure what would work foliage wise though...The Chihuly exhibit is here in Phoenix-I can't wait to go.

Jeanne Estridge said...

My daughter arranged for an installation of his work at the Franklin Park Conservatory in Columbus, OH a few years back and when the show was over, an anonymous donor made it a permanent installation. His colors are so rich they quench your thirst.

Good luck finding an appropriate plant!

mati said...

Diva,
How gorgeous is this ceiling! I love the colors and the sense of depth! There is a flower here in the Midi which grows on a vine and has fushia flowers, it is a succulent which does well in the heat, however, I will have to find out the name in English and French for that matter.
ps might I ask you to try to ping or attempt the following thing yet again, I believe I fixed it yet need some feed back??? Have a super Sunday!
Salut du Midi!!

Vodka Mom said...

omg I ADORE that ceiling!!! wow.

Sherry said...

I saw the same exibit at the NY Botanical Garden that Michelle did. Perhaps we were there at the same time.

Robynn's Ravings said...

The eye of the beholder and all that......when I first opened your post I saw the VERY colorful ceiling picture and thought I was looking at an artist's rendition of a slice of pizza sitting on a wrought-iron patio chair. Really gotta lay off the drugs....Truly lovely once I realized what it was.

Unknown said...

wow..very nice :D

Charmaine said...

Thank you dear lady.

You are a class act. I'm a fan.

T. Kimberlyn said...

I've seen the ceiling....I felt like I was a fish under water...lol

Hey Harriet said...

That's very cool.

Sorry, I'm no help with the plants...

Cynthia Pittmann said...

Charmaine, what a lovely ceiling...and those photos...the lake view is beautiful. Your Ramada is going forward as planned...how beautiful with hanging plants...maybe you have to use dare I say "fake" flower/leaves? It would still be beautiful. I love hanging grapes and vines...too Italian? Napa? <3

Unknown said...

Wow that's one of the coolest things I've ever seen. Such lively color, brilliantly vibrant! The second photo is flipped horizontal, Exit sign is backwards...interesting :)

High Desert Diva said...

I noticed that too. It would be correct if one was exiting the hotel though....

Breeding Fancy Art Prints said...

Ahh, I know that ceiling well. I've passed under it several times, and each time I'm in awe.

It totally doesn't match most of the rest of that hotel, but I love it anyway.

Cheryl said...

I saw one of this ceiling last year during my first trip to Vegas. It was indeed magical, as was the Bellaggio. Spectacular. Though I couldn't help wondering later how on earth they clean it.