April begs me to do something outdoors! How about you? The
weather is about right all over the USA for gardening. Besides
planning what to put into your garden as far as plants, you
need to think of the special additions that make a garden
unique.
Gardens need "bones" to ground them. No pun intended! Garden
sculptures, hedges, specimen trees, and shrubs all help make
good bones!
Now what about those extra touches that make your garden
distinctively yours? Below is a list of ideas that you can use
with your own twists to create all kinds of garden goodies for
your own garden, or to give as gifts!
Broken plates-don't throw away those chipped plates, especially
the pretty ones! Stick them into the garden with the chipped
parts hidden by the dirt. Alone or grouped, they make a
statement! Uneven numbers work best.
Mirrors and Cds-reflective surfaces attract birds and are fun
in the sunlight. Make mobiles and hang from tree limbs! With a
large mirror, one can place it against a fence, behind the
plants and enjoy the reflections of your garden lighting. Our
dog uses our big mirror to scope out squirrels without being
seen. Funny to watch! She crawls into the greenery beneath the
trees and watches in the mirror for any unsuspecting squirrel
to enter the bed. She hasn't caught any yet but she sure likes
to chase them!
More mirrors!-broken mirrors can be found in the trash and
snatched for use in your garden. Glue with mirror adhesive to
fences, garden sheds, and anywhere you want to make a space
look larger. Use the pieces in a loose mosaic form and you have
a one of a kind piece of art!
Rusted metal anything-the rusted look is very "in" now and
metal can be found easily. Use your imagination and use large
rusted metal car parts, old gates, iron grates from demolished
old homes, and any metal you can get your hands on to create
unique garden elements. If you cannot cut or weld these
yourself, try finding someone who can and offer to trade a
piece of garden art for their work.
Fabric-how about an old beach umbrella that you strip down to
the bare spokes and cover with silk greenery and tiny Christmas
lights? Inserted into the ground where light and a bit of fun
are needed, the look is very "partyish"! Even better if you
drape tulle, chiffon, netting, etc. over the umbrella! Swagged
like you were draping a scarf over your shoulders. If it is to
be a permanent fixture, use it as a trellis! Wonderful with
lights!
More fabric-these same fabrics can be used to make "tent like"
areas for the private enjoyment of your family. While not
usually found in trash bins, the fabric can be had very
inexpensively in close out bins at fabric stores. Bamboo poles
make the structure. Even more dramatic beside a pool. An
informal cabana!
Pottery-broken pottery is found at garden centers and
nurseries. Sweet talk them into letting you have some! Large
broken pots look great as is, or can be faux painted to look as
though they are centuries old. Or try smaller pieces glued
together to make a sculpture all your own. Paint, glue mirrors
or tile pieces to make a mosaic, or leave as is. Make this
large enough to make a "statue" in your garden! You can add the
necessary "works" to make this a fountain!
Lamp stands-old lamps taken apart, tall stands of any kind, and
anything that you can add that is tall and slender can be
weatherproofed to make a grouping of candle stands for the
garden. Again, three, five, or seven work best. With or without
candles, these are attractive and catch the eye! Especially
among low growing flowers. Or you can line your driveway with
these for a luminary look!
Fence Posts-an old, tall, but sturdy fence post makes a great
pole for use as a flag hanger. Just screw the hardware into the
post. Mine has plant hangers and a small lantern hung from it
also. A welcoming sight!
Potpourri of Ideas-Are we there yet? Are your creative juices
flowing? Here are some off the wall ideas. Do you have a broken
box fan? The square grates are wonderful for painting and
hanging as faux gates, wall decor, or wherever your imagination
takes you! Snip out a design from the grate for an even better
look. Have an old touchier lamp? It too is great for painting
and "planting" in the garden, decked out with plants on the
top. Bury the bottom to keep it from tipping, or you can add
concrete to the base. Look around the house and garage and see
with new eyes. Check out the dumpsters and the neighbors trash!
Old TV tables can be cut out for plant pots to sit down in. How
about window frames? Old pool balls, golf gear, fishing gear,
boat parts and oars, wooden anything! Some of these things need
to be painted with clear or colored outdoor spray paints to
keep them looking good, whether the look is "old" or new.
A note: Always think about this...in some places, taking
something from someone's trash or going through a dumpster, is
illegal. Please check local ordinances before you take a
chance. And, another thing to keep in mind...sometimes you may
find people with "not so nice" intentions hanging around
dumpsters. All I am saying is...always be careful! Happy
Decorating!
About the Author
About the Author:
Jane Parr-Whitehead has been a professional Home Decorator for
over 15 years. She now offers Home Decorating via the Internet
from her site. Editor of a Home Decorating Newsletter, once a
month, enjoy reading about Home Decorating, Decorating
Childrens rooms, Animal Print Decorating, and much more. Visit
her site at http://Decorativeartsbyjep.com/
