Capitol as Night Falls

Capitol and Fountain

Capitol and Fountain © 2008 Bo Mackison

Living in the capitol of Wisconsin, it is hard to pass this stately building wthout taking a photo now and then. Friday night my Sherpa and I lugged the camera gear to the Isthmus (the Capitol building is on a narrow strip of land between two large urban lakes) where we dallied with dinner at a local brew-pub, then strolled over to the Monona Terrace Roof Garden.

We enjoyed the steady breeze off Lake Monona, and watched the clouds move in, cover the Capitol dome in gray, and then slip away again. Finally the Capitol lights went on and I set up and took a few photographs. She’s a mighty handsome building – this Capitol with the loveliest gold statue of ‘Miss Forward’ standing atop her highest stone.

Trio of Taliesin – A Third Post on Frank Lloyd Wright’s Home

Like any architect, Frank Lloyd Wright wanted to make his own house an epitome of everything he stood for emotionally, spiritually, technically. And so on the family property in Spring Green, Wisconsin on the brow of a hill he built this great, long, rambling, beautiful, hugging the ground house which he called Taliesin and it was going to be his statement to the world.

It was an immaculate invention that he pretended was close to nature and was a farm and of course it wasn’t a farm at all, it was an estate. It was a rich man’s estate. And he didn’t have any money but he made himself a rich man’s estate. And he kept losing it, mortgages unpaid, bank would take it, he’d get it back, he’d incorporate himself and found a new method of outwitting everybody around him and he hung on to that to his dying day.” —Brendan Gill, Writer

Front Entrance at Taliesin

Front Entrance at Taliesin © 2008 Bo Mackison

This is the main entrance to Taliesin, the author’s residence. Opening into a vary small vestibule, the ceiling is low and immediately “pushes” you into the main part of the home. Intentionally, Wright did not want his visitors to linger at the front door, but to move through the expansive spaces of delight he had created.

The Architect Recycles

The Architect Recycles © 2008 Bo Mackison

He was the ultimate “recycler”, even in the 1910s and 1920s, as evidenced by his use of barn stanchions to provide color, lines, and spaces in the interior garden.

Taliesin Entrance with Asian Jar

Taliesin Entrance with Asian Jar © 2008 Bo Mackison

This is the terrace leading the the main entrances of his studio, partially pictured in the photo, and his personal residence. An antique Asian jar rests in a place of prominence. Asian Art is placed throughout Taliesin, exterior and interior. One of FLM’s loves and inspirations was Asian Art, which he purchased with abandon, even when he hadn’t money for the necessities of life. For some insight into Wright’s passion, here is an interesting peek into his relationship with this style of art.

Frank Lloyd Wright Studio

Frank Lloyd Wright Studio © 2008 Bo Mackison

Taken from the interior garden, Frank Lloyd Wright’s studio is immediately centered – the expanse of windows where he had his studio and architectural work tables, and the massive fireplace which was used for heat, some cooking, and as a central gathering place. To the left are the string of once-barns, now re-modeled apartments for the architectural students who currently study at the School there.

More Taliesin – Frank Lloyd Wright

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Taliesin Wing © 2008 Bo Mackison

South view of Taliesin overlooking the man-made Lake Wright designed for the entrance to his home. The far area is Wright’s wife’s bedroom, the closer window to the left is Wright’s bedroom addition, later expanded to include a study when he was approaching his nineties. FLW was an insomniac, and frequently worked or roamed the night. He didn’t make for a peaceful bed partner according to his wife who wanted her 8-10 hours of uninterrupted sleep every night.

Frank Lloyd Wright's Plunge Pool

Frank Lloyd Wright’s Plunge Pool © 2008 Bo Mackison

This 8 foot deep plunge pool was immediately outside FLW’s bedroom, and reportedly he would jump in to refresh himself, often in the middle of the night. It is no longer that depth, now only about 3 feet.

Taliesin Viewed from the South Lawn

Taliesin Viewed from the South Lawn © 2008 Bo Mackison

View of the home from the south lawn. The extension to the right is the “bird-walk” Frank built at his wife’s request. At the time of its construction the area was lined with tall hardwoods, and the extension led high into tree branches.

Red Tile - FLW's Personal Mark of Approval

Red Tile – FLW’s Personal Mark of Approval © 2008 Bo Mackison

This signature tile is at the entrance to Frank Lloyd wright’s studio and home. FLW would present his famous mark, a red ceramic tile with his signature, to many of the designated buildings that met his requirements and approval – a visible sign he accepted the structure as “truly- totally-Wright”.

Taliesin – Frank Lloyd Wright’s Home

Taliesin Landscape

Taliesin Landscape © 2008 Bo Mackison

View of Taliesin in the distance and the surrounding countryside.

Red Taliesin Bus

Red Taliesin Bus © 2008 Bo Mackison

Jump on this bright red bus, Frank Lloyd Wright’s favorite color, BTW, and it takes you to Taliesin, Wright’s home in Spring Green, Wisconsin. This hillside was Wright’s favorite spot as a child when he lived and worked on his uncles’ farms – he would come here to hide and escape his chores. When he was an adult, his mother bought the property as a bribe to get her son to return to Wisconsin from a long stay in Europe. The bribe worked and FLW returned and built his home there.

Taliesin Apartments

Taliesin Apartments © 2008 Bo Mackison

These are the interior gardens; the main house in behind the camera. The long row structure to the right was originally a long string of barns for the family’s animals. They are now apartments for the architectural students studying Prairie Architecture at the school housed nearby.

Taliesin

Taliesin © 2008 Bo Mackison

Wright designed his buildings so that there was not a direct route to the entrance. He wanted you to “have an adventure” before you even stepped into the interior. In the case of Taliesin, one has to go through the garden, around the string of student apartments, and then past his studio, to find the front door. The windows to the left are in the main room of the house, one of the first “great rooms” – a combined living room, dining room, study.

Taliesin's Interior Gardens

Taliesin’s Interior Gardens © 2008 Bo Mackison

A view of the garden. Wright bought innumerable Asian artifacts to Taliesin, and decorated the interior and exterior with these treasures. No photos of the interior were allowed, though the home tour was in depth and included all of Wright’s living areas and studio. Filled with wonderful Wright designed furnishings, Oriental rugs and Asian art.

Spring Green is about 30 miles west of Madison and Taliesin is truly a national treasure, worth the visit if anywhere in the area.

What’s Blooming in the Prairie?

Thistles in the Blue

Thistles in the Blue © 2008 Bo Mackison

Thistle, prickly to the hand and quite noxious to other plants as it tends to take over and monopolize the land to the detriment of other plants. The name “thistle” is an Anglo-Saxon word meaning “to stab” – the plant is appropriately named, full of thorn set as a defense against crawling creatures after the flowers’ extremely sweet nectar. Birds and butterflies can easily approach though, and goldfinches are especially fond of both the seed as food and the down as nesting material.

Butterfly Weed

Butterfly Weed © 2008 Bo Mackison

Butterfly Weed, as the name implies, is an irresistible plant for butterflies. The huge domes make lovely landing pads and dining palaces for many adult butterflies and the foliage feeds the larvae of the monarchs. It is the orange member of the milkweed family.

Queen Anne's Lace

Queen Anne’s Lace © 2008 Bo Mackison

Queen Anne’s Lace, also called Wild Carrot. Its leaves, stem and root taste and smell like the garden carrot, its taproot can be eaten as a vegetable or roasted as a “coffee”. And legend says that if the “flowers of the lace are mixed in sweet red wine and drunk long into the evening” it acts not only as a love potion, but also as a contraceptive. Can’t speak for or against that lore.

Milkweed

Milkweed © 2008 Bo Mackison

The Common Milkweed might as well be called the Monarch Butterfly Plant, as it is essential to all stages of that butterfly’s existence. They lay their eggs on the plant; the caterpillars spend their entire lives feeding on the leaves. Once mature, they build their chrysalises on the undersides of the leaves, and when the butterflies emerge from their cocoons, they feed on the flowers. The plant also provides protection to the Monarchs as the sap the caterpillars feed on is distasteful and keeps away predatory birds.