07 Absolute Home & Garden
July 29, 2020
09 Holy Hostas!!!
August 14, 2020
Garden Art
I love garden art!! A piece of art makes a garden happier—if that’s even possible.
Art in the garden is an excellent way to express your personality, your style and taste. For example, I am eclectic and colorful but controlled. One of the best compliments I have received was from a visitor to my place who said, "A creative person lives here." That just warms my heart.
On the other hand, I know my style is not for everyone, and I accept this. But when someone doesn't like my style, my first thought is, "Are you high?!"
And then (this comes from experience) someone you get along with otherwise gives you a piece of art for your garden, and you look at it and think, "Don’t they know me at all?!" But it's a gift! So you have to put it out in your garden. (My advice: find a bush!)
Sometimes adding a plant in your garden is not an option, especially when digging a hole for it requires an hour with a digging bar, a whole lot of sweat and many bad words—and even then you've only dug down 5 inches. A piece of art instead would seal that deal!
If, like me, you are a foliage person, garden art is a great way to add color. (No deadheading!) Art can also add height or a needed focal point. But you can also add art just because you like it.
When I see good garden art at nurseries or garden shops I really have to control myself, because so many pieces "speak" to me, I want them all to come home with me. And for the ones that do, I find myself moving them around the garden from year to year (or day to day) to find that perfect spot.
I live in a very visual, colorful world, and if something does not look just right...well it has to be moved, and it needs to be done immediately so I can rest.
This goes for plants too. I moved a Buddleia davidii Butterfly Bush 5 times in 4 years to find the right spot for it and then ended up donating it to the El Dorado County Master Gardener’s Plant Sale (future blog post).
When deciding where to place your garden art, you do not have to see the entire piece at once but instead see glimpses of it from different angles as you move through the garden. (This goes for containers and pots as well, which I'll cover in a future post.) Though there are pieces that must be admired from all sides (Mermaid Fountains!), these are rare.
If you have talent to create art out of a stick, hats off to you. I’m somewhat crafty but I would be so much craftier if I had a She-Shed. For over 10 years I’ve asked for one and in fact was suppose to get one as a birthday present. But nope. Not yet. I do have a greenhouse, but it is to grow things not to make me into Ms. Crafty!
Art compliments plants and vice versa. And what you liked 20 years ago may not be the same today. It is okay to donate or give away and—most fun of all—start shopping again! You have my permission.
I have a relationship and history with everything in my garden. Just like my plants, my art is in my memories: where I bought it and with whom, and my travels to and from—which often do not go smoothly but always give a laugh. Oh the stories my art and I can tell!
Here are some of my favorites pieces...
I’ve had these metal giraffes for 20+ years. They were the beginning of my addiction (better than sitting in a bar). Got the mother first as a birthday gift and then baby came at Christmas. For the longest time, I had nightmares of them being stolen because they are located at our property entrance, and my home is up the hill where I can’t see them from a window. Thank God we installed a gate to keep looky-loos out, and I can now rest in peace.
My low-volt lights add two things: light and art. Because during the day when they are not lit, they are just as beautiful. My advice about outdoor light fixtures? Get creative, shop around (these are from Stone Major Lighting). There is so much more being offered than basic "hat-style" lighting. All light bulbs now are LED and will last for a good 20 years or more.
Don’t get me started on solar lighting, which personally I wouldn't bother with. It is the number-one item I replace when doing landscape installs. Stick with low-volt wired lighting, and always buy commercial grade—which means from a commercial lighting store. You will thank me.
Just look what these red metal tulips do for this container!
Red is my favorite color. It is such a strong color that it immediately draws your eye to an area. Red is spectacular with chartreuse plants like the Berberis thunbergii ‘Aurea’, as well as with the cobalt blue, Lithodora diffusa and the pool bathroom's exterior.
Whatever the color, look at your surroundings before placing a piece of art and find where it compliments, draws your eye, and most importantly, puts a damn smile on your face.
Aunt Patti found this tulip art while on vacation in Palm Springs and brought it home to me. I love Aunt Patti.
I found Sneezy, Sleepy, Bashful, Grumpy, and Happy years ago at the Alameda Point Antique Faire.
Besides the 5 concrete dwarfs (not gnomes), I have found other great pieces at this fabulous monthly faire—which you have to see! It takes about 4 hours to walk the entire faire (no worries, they have great food trucks too), so it makes a fun full-day trip.
One day last year my BFF, Evelyn, told me about Snow White which she had found for sale on "Nextdoor" in Marin County. Of course she got her for me and even delivered her. I love Evelyn.
I found 4 members of the frog family (top of this post) at one of the vendors in the Antique Trove in Roseville. They're made of cast iron and are heavy as can be, but what sold me was the umbrella.
A different vendor (you'll find 100's there) had this 5th frog (behind the umbrella in top photo), and I knew it was meant to be. I brought them all home and sat them in a patch of Lysimachia nummularia Creeping Jenny with some Viola riviniana ‘Purpurea Group’ thrown in.
As you've guessed by now, I can't fit my garden-art addiction into a single blog post. Hurray for Miss Viola's future! Just remember to keep arms and legs inside while the vehicle is in motion.
Photos courtesy Sheri Lynn Burke. All rights reserved.
