Elrond in the flower garden at Imladris, for @imladrisweek.
Some notes:
The garden has its own odd ecosystem: plants bloom at odd times, summer flowers linger long after the world without has turned to autumn, and certain plants thrive there that would not ordinarily survive the cold winters of northern Eriador. Hence hollyhocks, globe thistle, lavender, clematis, and (most peculiarly) wisteria are all in bloom in early autumn.
As the house and gardens are built into the sides of the valley, terraced gardens suited the landscape best. The terraces are accessed by sloping walkways rather than steps, ensuring they are accessible to Imladris' disabled inhabitants and those who come to Elrond for healing.
The oak-tree fountain is (irl) inspired by the work of sculptor Mehrdad Tafreshi. In-universe, similar fountains existed in Menegroth and Nargothrond, the work of a Sindarin coppersmith who was later well-known in Eregion for crafting complex, increasingly fantastical representations of plants and animals (both real and imagined). He called them 'imperishable forests'. Much of his work decorated the squares and buildings of Ost-in-Edhil. He was killed in the sacking of that city; the tree in Elrond's garden was made by one of his pupils.
If you zoom in on the top terrace, you will find statues of Luthien dancing and Elwing with a seabird.
Elrond's outfit was inspired by a 1910 House of Worth tea gown.
It took Elrond several centuries to admit that he needed reading-glasses (quirks of being a Peredhel). The arms of his glasses don't hook over the ear, so they're tied in place with cord.
This is possibly the most time-consuming piece of art I've ever done, clocking in at seventy-two and a half hours; I just barely finished it in time! Please please enlarge to look at all the tiny details :)
