Wood towers mark a creative garden

AMESVILLE — The daylilies aren’t yet displaying their late-season finery, but visitors to the Hardys’ daylily garden on Sugar Hill Road can get a good look at the unique sculptures Molly Hardy has placed in strategic spots.She calls them “towers.” They are blocks of wood placed on tree stumps and adorned in various ways.Some are whimsical, such as a pair dedicated to ladies in the life of the late Pablo Picasso. “Here’s the Blue period,” Hardy said. “Every time he met a new woman he started a new period, I guess.”Next to that is The Blonde Bombshell.There is a patriotic tower, next to the checkout tent, featuring the Stars and Stripes; and the Pookie tower, honoring a well-loved dog.And then there is the tower that started it all. It has a sad story — it’s in memory of the Hardys’ grandchild, who died in infancy three years ago.“I needed an outlet for those feelings of sadness,” Hardy said of creating the tower.Hardy and her husband, Gerry, and son, David, are all artists. (David Hardy’s giant baby sculpture, forgotten and in storage for years, recently reappeared in the harbor at Sausalito, Calif., in a boat. For the full story, go online to www.tricornernews.com and search for David Hardy.)Molly Hardy said that most visitors to the daylily garden either don’t notice the towers, or don’t comment. She estimated that one in 20 customers shows enough interest to warrant a trip to the backfield, where the original tower and several others stand in a sort of Easter Island manner, overlooking the flower beds.“I’m a little puzzled that the art and garden crowds don’t cross over more.”The garden is open Thursday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, go online to hardydaylilygarden.com or call 860-824-0381.

Latest News

Water main cleaning in North Canaan

NORTH CANAAN – Aquarion Water Company today announced a water main cleaning project in the company’s North Canaan system. The project is scheduled to take place from Monday, April 1 through Tuesday, April 16, and is being undertaken to ensure customers in North Canaan continue to receive the highest quality water.

The cleaning for April 1 and April 4 (subject to change) will take place on the following streets:

Keep ReadingShow less
Tuning up two passions under one roof

The Webb Family in the workshop. From left: Phyllis, Dale, Ben and Josh Webb, and project manager Hannah Schiffer.

Natalia Zukerman

Magic Fluke Ukulele Shop and True Wheels Bicycle Shop are not only under the same roof in a beautiful solar powered building on Route 7 in Sheffield, but they are also both run by the Webb family, telling a tale of familial passion, innovation and a steadfast commitment to sustainability.

In the late ‘90s, Dale Webb was working in engineering and product design at a corporate job. “I took up instrument manufacturing as a fun challenge,” said Dale. After an exhibit at The National Association of Music Merchants in Anaheim, California, in 1999, The Magic Fluke company was born. “We were casting finger boards and gluing these things together in our basement in New Hartford and it just took off,” Dale explained. “It was really a wild ride, it kind of had a life of its own.”

Keep ReadingShow less
Robert Cray’s soulful blues coming to Infinity Hall

Robert Cray

Photo provided

Blues legend Robert Cray will be bringing his stinging, funky guitar and soulful singing to Infinity Hall Norfolk on Friday, March 29.

A five-time Grammy winner, Cray has been inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame and earned The Americana Music Awards Lifetime Achievement for Performance. He has played with blues and rock icons including Albert Collins, Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, The Rolling Stones, Tina Turner, Eric Clapton and many more.

Keep ReadingShow less