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Garden Delights
(by Alexandra Heath - May 29, 2007)
A garden in bloom is a delight in itself. But, oh boy, what fun it is to decorate the garden with things of whimsy and motion! There is always a delightful surprise waiting to be discovered as you amble down the garden path
My garden is filled with such things. A tall statue of Kwan Yin, the Buddhist goddess of mercy. A merry fountain of copper bowls powered by the sun. A funny little figure of Ol’ Sol with a fringe of rays around his smiling face and stubby legs. Windsocks and banners and chimes of all varieties.
Recently I visited someone else’s garden and enjoyed finding rusted metal figurines scattered among the shrubs and flowers. Here a pair of stone frogs with jaunty hats, there a bear cub sitting in the midst of a patch of Spanish lavender.
My particular joy is windsocks and banners. The more twirling, fluttery things the better! If you enjoy windsocks as well, check out the catalog at www.intothewind.com. They’ll even sell you a fabulous kite if you feel in the mood.
Statues are wonderful additions to the garden. Be sure and choose ones made of concrete rather than plaster if you are planning on leaving them outdoors year round. Plaster will begin to deteriorate in the rain. Resin statues are durable, but the colors fade in the sun. The spray-on faux stone finishes work wonderfully on concrete statuary. Be sure to get the clear spray sealant to complete the look. The one I used on my Kwan Yin figure lasted for about a year and a half before I had to do some “touch-up.”
Windchimes create a varied soundscape in the garden. Look for ones strung on tough nylon line or metal chain rather than cotton string, which will deteriorate in the sun. Restringing such a dismantled windchime is tedious.
If you have a wall or building in or near your garden, decorate it with wall art. In Oroville, the Galleria Mexicana on Huntoon Street has some wonderful, even exotic wall art that would complement any garden. I am especially drawn to the big, blazing suns in mutli-colored metals. Occasionally I even find ceramic, metal or resin suns in second-hand stores. Check out local yard and garage sales for interesting additions to your garden.
Recently I’ve become enamored of garden stakes. Some even have twirling pieces that spin at the slightest breeze. How can you be anything but happy in a garden decked out with this delightful eye candy? I will admit to even having a pair of pink flamingoes in the flowerbed with the geraniums.
Solar lights complete the embellishments in my garden. I’ve topped each t-post with a light and have angel and flower solar lamps scattered around. Even when the sun goes down, the garden glows!
Summer brings out the child in us. Let that child-like quality increase your enjoyment of your garden by opening yourself to “play” with the design elements that make it uniquely yours. Discover what others are doing in their gardens. Pick up a few gardening magazines and see what the “professionals” are doing. According to landscape designers we Westerners are erasing the line between inside and outside in our homes. Many see their backyard as an extra room. Think of your garden as your “playroom”; then go out and decorate to your heart’s content!
Note: I will soon be debuting my website—Alexandra’s Garden—with pictures of my garden along with garden tips, a schedule of classes, and garden projects. Keep posted to this column for updates and the URL at a later date. I look forward to sharing my garden with you!
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