Saturday, August 21, 2010

Clipping

If you want a sneak preview of this year's UCLA Bruins football team, today's your day. You're going to have to go to West Los Angeles to see it, though, at Drake Stadium on the UCLA Campus. The Bruins will be back in Pasadena at the Rose Bowl beginning September 11th.

But this photo's not really about the Bruins, is it? Oh no, I don't think so. I think it's about obsession. Madness. Topiary gone insane.

I've got no room to criticize. I'm the one with a desert in my back yard. I'm just saying I hope the person who created this work of art has a health plan that covers the medication.

Football does that to people. This garden delight isn't far from the house that flies the Trojans flag 24/7/365. As there's probably more than one such house in town, I doubt that tells you much.

24 comments:

Arti said...

Yes, football does do strange things to people... Nice post! Have a wonderful day:)

Jean Spitzer said...

Is that a topiary owl behind the UCLA? Very curious.

Petrea Burchard said...

Hi Arti! Welcome, and thanks for stopping by.

Jean, I'm not sure what that is. I wasn't brave enough to knock on the door and ask.

John Sandel said...

It's a bear—Ursus deciduous, I think. Traditional, in a delusionary folly. Mme. Antoinette had one at Versailles, chained to a a tree by links woven from reeds.

Petrea Burchard said...

To me it looks like a couple of shoulder pads.

pasadenapio said...

I wonder if any one letter is more difficult to maintain than another.

We have a whimsical firefighter-shaped topiary on the front lawn of Fire Station #32 at 2424 E. Villa St. The [human] firefighters maintain it.

Trish said...

I was just figuring how long it would take me to drive over with shears in my hand to "fix" this sculpture and turn this into Tommy Trojan. Fight On!

but I digress...

you were saying something about football? ;-)

wv: fognow...what happens to persons on opposite sides of the field at SC/UCLA games, they're in a fognow

Susan Campisi said...

Very odd - the obsession and that mysterious thing on top. I suppose it could be a bear, as JP says.

The lush green plants in front are impressive.

Mister Earl said...

College fandom does have its extremes. I had a math teacher in high school, a big Cal fan who wore blue and gold and a Cal tie when the big game approached. The first day of school he'd say, "You can use any book cover except a Stanford book cover."

I love to go to the Bruin games at the Rose Bowl, but it's such an all-day proposition!

Petrea Burchard said...

I've seen that topiary, Ann. Good photo op idea.

I was always glad when my college team won (the Fighting Illini) because people were in a good mood, but I only went to one game. Football in Illinois is a freezing proposition.

Steve Scauzillo said...

Hey, If I was as talented as this Edwards Scissors-hands guy, I'd carve out an Angels in my backyard. Or maybe a "Titans" for Cal State Fullerton. But now I say "Go Bruins!" Go fans!

Kat said...

Look, I understand the madness. My team-- Ohio State Buckeyes. It was a dream for us when they played the Rose Bowl this year, we got tickets and could walk there-- and we won. So-- I see nothing wrong with having a football team topiary. If I didn't only grow cactus and natives... I probably would too!

John Sandel said...

Whatever that leafy figure's supposed to be, I think it just moved.

John Sandel said...

There it goes again—! Did anybody else see that?

Petrea Burchard said...

Nobody else saw that.

Greg Sweet said...

Wow, I thought I was the only one since 1968 to grow Heart-Leaved Bergenia.

Greg Sweet said...

I think it's that Rick Moranis/Gargoyle thing from Ghostbusters.

Petrea Burchard said...

That's what it looks like to me, too, Greg.

Mister Earl said...

Definitely the UCLA Owl!

John Sandel said...

Okay, maybe it didn't move, exactly. But it rustled. Just keep refreshing the browser page and cock an ear. Be sure your speakers are on. I've gone through most of a case of beer, today, so you have to put in some time. But it's worth it—it's uncanny!

Pasadena Adjacent said...

The first time I met you and Mr J you'd both finished planting a Dutch Elm. Did it survive?

Petrea Burchard said...

What a memory you have, PA. It's Chinese, actually, but you're right about it being an immigrant. And it's doing very well, thank you.

mark said...

Your USC Trojans are making a rare appearance this year to play the Golden Gophers (don't ya just love that name) of Minnesota. I think the last time USC visited Minnesota a guy name OJ Simpson ran for over 200 yards and the Golden Gophers were anything but "golden." Here is an early prediction, USC 41 Minnesota 10.

Petrea Burchard said...

It seems Trojans would trump gophers. Then again, what's in a name?