Pondering a Porcelain Pièce de Résistance

On the way to Greenland Hills United Methodist Church Sunday morning, I turned a block too early.

Thus I found myself on Kenwood instead of Penrose.

And thus I saw this... this...

Well, the safest description is probably "art," which at least suggests that the meaning resides as much with the beholder as with the maker.

The questions tumble forth:

Is it a practical planter, proffered in the frugal spirit of a hearty Texan? ("No sense in this perfectly good ceramic 'pot' going to waste, now is there?")

Is it fanciful yard art? ("Let's just see the Joneses top this.")

Is it a shrine of sorts, a premeditated prayer to the porcelain gods? An offering to appease digestive demons, complete with thoughtfully arranged deadwood in the tank and prolific prickly pear in the bowl?

It did not end up in the front yard without expenditure of effort. The cactus seems reasonably healthy. Moreover, apart from this prominently positioned porcelain pièce de résistance there doesn't otherwise appear to be inordinate attention to landscaping on display here.

Who first entertained the idea: "You know, what our front yard really needs is..."