Outdoor Garden Statues » garden statues

Finding the Key To Your Outdoor Garden

Gandree — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 13:30:51 +0000

When you’ve spent a lot of time on your garden, it’s nice to see it taking shape. Sometimes everything may be growing well but something still seems to be lacking. Maybe your outdoor garden looks nice but lacks character. Buying a statue or a fountain can help but before you go to that expense, why not take a step back and figure out what kind of garden you really want.

Looking at what someone else has done is a wonderful way to find what you like or don’t like. This might be a good time to visit a public garden near you. Don’t just wander around. Use your camera and actually take notes. Think about how you feel in each area of the garden – restful, just want to walk through it, romantic, etc. Once you identify it, figure out what makes that area feel that way. Once you know that, you can bring it back to your own garden.

I found an article that demonstrates this. It’s in the New York Times called Land as Canvas, Plants as Paint By DOROTHY SPEARS Published: August 21, 2009. It talks about known artists who turn their creative talents to their gardens and bring forth something special. Their showpieces were in the Hamptons but their ideas are timeless. One of the artists they covered was a photographer called Dianne Blell. Here’s a quote.

During a recent visit there were fresh buds on her roses. Her “Intellectual Ladies Grid Garden,” with its cement-and-grass checkerboard pattern, appeared lush and green. And her “Melancholy Garden,” where, she said, “every tree and plant is weeping,” was also thriving.

Ms. Blell bought the property in 1993. After excavating 6,000 square feet of concrete from her back yard, she began gardening from scratch. Now green ivy grows up the cedar shingles of her house to an octagonal sleeping porch, where she confessed, “I have this fantasy of letting my hair down, like Rapunzel.”

See what I mean about the different areas of her garden having themes and evoking feelings? The important thing is to determine the theme you want your garden to portray and carry it throughout your landscape. It doesn’t take much to bring your garden from ordinary to spectacular and you will be glad you did.

For more ideas on creating your perfect space, I recommend reading:

Before You Landscape Determine Your Basic Theme (Parts 1 & 2)

Outdoor Garden Fountains In Your Landscape

Large Garden Statues Require Careful Consideration

Gandree — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 13:30:53 +0000

Wood Nymph Garden Statue on Tall Octagonal Pedestal
Anyone considering the purchase of a large garden statue is going to think long and hard before they make their purchase. If it is really large, it won’t fit the United Parcel Service guidelines and will have to be shipped by common carrier. That added to the initial cost of such a large purchase means you will definitely do your homework before placing your order. It goes without saying that you need to purchase through a reliable dealer with a solid guarantee. They should also be able to lead you through the different materials today’s statues are made from and what you can expect from each of them. Use and care instructions should also be included with your purchase. Look at it this way, any reputable dealer selling large garden statues knows the typical concerns of their customers. If they can’t provide proper support, find someone else.

Large statues are by nature, their own focal point and have to be treated that way. Giving careful consideration to their use and placement maximizes their effectiveness. Adding them to an area that is too small or crowded with other distractions only dilutes their impact. That is why you need a garden plan to showcase your centerpiece.

When planning the display area for your new statue, include spot lights. Even if your statue isn’t on display after dark, well placed lights draw your eye toward it increasing it’s visual impact. Other well placed garden lights increase safety without being a distraction.

You should also plan adequate seating near the statue. It’s human nature to want to linger and appreciate a fine work of art. Adding benches or other types of seating will allow your visitors to pause without obstructing traffic flow. Benches also give parents room to rest with their children while keeping them away from your statue. Such thoughtful touches create a welcoming atmosphere that increase returning visits.

Regarding traffic flow, well constructed garden paths do more than look great. They keep visitors from compacting the ground in the planting area of your garden while directing them to the things you most want them to see. After all the time, money and effort involved, it is a sad sight to see large garden statues that have been poorly displayed or even worse, forgotten. Following these few tips will help you enjoy yours for many years to come.

Ready for Some Quirky Outdoor Statues?

Gandree — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 13:30:27 +0000

This post is a serious departure from what I usually post but if you like outdoor statues, it’s worth pursuing. I was playing with the search on my Twitter homepage and came across an entry for some unique statues. Warning, some of them are a little crass and make you wonder why someone would make that. However, there are some really wonderful ones. I particularly like the Mother swinging her child in circles. It really captures the essence of the motion in a stationary statue.

Why not take a break and check out the PictoVista: World’s Most Quirky Statues site? I think you will enjoy it.

OH and you can follow me on Twitter Here

Garden Statue Considerations

Gandree — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 13:30:38 +0000

If you are seriously considering adding a statue to your landscape, it pays to think about it first. Will your garden statue fit the current theme of your garden? Is it sized right so that it adds to the overall feel or will it distract? There’s nothing like a huge statue in a small yard or a tiny one lost on the lawn.

I recently read an article by Stuart Robinson that will give you a better feel for this. It’s called: Why Most Garden Statues Suck…And How To Fix Them. I especially like his take on a little girl statue reading a book. Happy reading :0)