A Study of Garden Ornaments – A Lesson in Observation

I’m not a huge fan of garden ornaments.  If overdone or not in harmony with a space, I
feel they can overwhelm a garden and detract from its natural beauty.

Recently, I took a trip to my hometown in central Illinois. During
daily walks through the nearby neighbors, I observed many garden
ornaments.  While most of them were not
appealing to me, I decided rather than judge what someone else had done, I
would try to observe and derive a lesson from each one.  Let me know how you think I did and whether
or not you would have drawn the same conclusion!

Lesson 1 – Make your garden
sparkle

A little bling never hurt anyone, right?  In this garden the golden lion made a
statement and caught my attention.  In
the same way a gazing ball reflects the garden around it, this garden ornament
shone in the sun as it protected its homeowner from harm.

 

Lesson 2 – Reflect
your hobbies in the garden

Like to fish and garden? No problem. Simply find a statue of
a fisherman and use the line as a vine support. 
Problem solved.

 

Lesson 3 – Make the
best of a bad situation

Had to take a tree down but don’t have the money or desire
to grind the stump?  Why not make it into
a landing pad for a toad sculpture instead?

 

Lesson 4 – Frame beautiful
views as a focal point

In this garden the homeowner literally framed a view.  I found this ‘see through’ sculpture to be an
interesting concept.

 

Lesson 5 – Tie the
inside of your house into the garden space

I believe in connecting the inside of your home to the
outside space and feel the best landscape designers consider the view from
inside the house.  That
said, I think it’s equally important to notice what you see inside the house from
the garden. In this photo, I was drawn to the row of old coke bottles on the
windowsill.

 

Lesson 6 – Know your
audience

Many of us strive to spend as much time outdoors as
possible, so design and furnish your space for the function you intend it to serve.  In this case a children’s garden sported some
red chairs that complemented the crabby sandbox.

 

Lesson 7 – Enjoy
& Observe

Love the space you are in. Whether you are taking a walk
through your neighborhood, relaxing on the patio, or maintaining your garden –
take time to enjoy.  Savor the moment and
observe.  You might see something that
brings a smile to your face and causes you to ponder some important life
lessons. 

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