There is more to garden art than placing a few gazing balls around the yard. Endless possibilities allow gardeners to fill in empty areas, conceal unsightly features or let their personality spill outside of the house. Garden art spans from abstract to whimsical, and can draw the eye towards a particularly beautiful area of your property, or draw they eye away from something you’d rather hide.
When considering items for your garden, look for appropriate sized items that will complement the landscape. A cluster of small ceramic pieces can look great tucked among miniature roses along a front border but would be lost around larger bushes along the back of the garden. Likewise you don't want to overpower the scenery with a large placement near the front which blocks the view of your fabulous floribundas. Grouping items also gives you visual focus rather than the dreaded polka dot look.
There is no need to fill your garden with art right from the beginning. Installations can be added over time. Pieces can also be moved around (size permitting), changing the look of the landscape from year to year or even for each season. A fun quest can be searching for garden art pieces as you travel. You can even plan a day trip with the purpose of seeking that perfect sculpture, bird house or ceramic piece for your backyard retreat. But unless you plan to over-winter your art indoors, be sure to make sure the object you select is intended to withstand the daily punishment of being exposed to the elements.
Many items are designed to change with age, especially wood and metalwork. When left out to the elements, wood can take on a beautiful silvery sheen that can be complimentary to both modern and classic tastes, while metal can tarnish and rust, lending a pleasing contrast to foliage.
Simple ideas to liven up your garden with art:
- arbors, gazebos or rose pillars
- statuary - wind sculpture
- bird Feeder or bird Bath
- architectural ornaments
The sky is the limit when selecting garden art. You can decorate using a specific theme or color combination. Repeating patterns is another option. For example, a simple gazing ball can be place to compliment circular elements in a trellis, spherical topiary, curving borders and other round features. Other shapes such as triangles (with pyramids), rectangles (with cubes) and other repeating profiles can be used as well. For a dramatic effect at night, consider installing night lighting to showcase your treasured pieces.
Happy Art Gardening!
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