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Many statue pictures on the Outdoor Garden Statue blog are for decoration, instruction and/or enjoyment of what others have done. Picturing them here does not necessarily mean they are for sale by either Outdoor Garden Statues or any of our other affiliates. |
I’ve been noticing many people using garden plaques in their landscaping schemes. They bring an interesting focus to an otherwise bare wall and make an ordinary home a conversation piece. On a recent walk I took some pictures to share some of the neat ways they are being used.
This picture doesn’t do this house justice. It is located on a main street in my housing development and is more or less a landmark. The sun plaque is so attractive and fits their color scheme so well that everyone notices it. Here’s a closeup of the plaque.
When you see something like this, it tells you that the owner takes pride in their home and is working to keep it nice. Being an older development, most of the houses were built in the 1970s, we don’t have a formal homeowner’s association forcing people to comply with a standard appearance. Seeing people accenting their homes suggests the neighborhood will continue to age gracefully. It’s a good place to live.
Here is another home where they have grouped smaller plaques to create a larger emphasis. Although not as impressive as the first one, they still liven up a dull wall and cause you to take a second look at what they have done.
I have more pictures to add to this category. If you would like to know when I post them, just sign up for either the email list or the RSS reader on the right. I really enjoy sharing these garden ideas. If you have something to share, leave a comment so others can read it too. I know gardening is often a seasonal endeavor but by peeking into someone else’s yard, you often get great ideas for your own.
 I’ve read more and more instances of garden statues being stolen. If they were made of a metal like copper, they can be melted down and sold with no one able to trace them. Otherwise, people steal the statue that you so lovingly bought and resell it someplace like Craigs List or a fleamarket. With the economy the way it is, don’t put anything near the street that you can’t afford to lose.
Conversely, if you install an expensive statue or fountain, you might want to take some security measures as well. It never hurts to have additional lights, cameras and a fenced yard. They might not stop someone from raiding your landscape but they will help the police recover what you have lost. If your statue happens to have a serial number, make sure it is recorded and kept in a safe place. If not, you can engrave your Social Security or license number in an inconspicuous place so that you can prove ownership should the statue be stolen and recovered.
You put a lot of thought into choosing the right statue or fountain for your landscape. Complete the job by providing for its safety.
I read a great article about a lady named Patrina. Her small home was cozy but hard to arrange. Once she examined her lifestyle to determine how she needed the space to function, everything came together. Now she has a home that she and her guests enjoy. She is using the same out of the box approach to her gardening. Although she hasn’t written out a garden plan, she has thought about what her outdoor garden should be like. Now she is recreating her landscape to match her inner witness of what is right for her. Along the way, she is finding ways to affirm her family ties and make room for the next generation. Her religious statue has special meaning for her.
While the mostly shaded bed along the back fence is planted with more hostas, monkshood and, to fill in the temporary spaces, annuals such impatiens, the focus is the large statue of St. Francis of Assisi.
“It was a gift from my mother,” Petrina explains. “My father died on St. Francis of Assisi day. My father had the character of St. Francis: he was a gentle caring man.”
Petrina illustrates an appreciation for childhood with other statuary as well: fairies hidden in the middle bed where her newly acquired grandchildren can see them if they are looking. She is also in the process of creating a secret garden for these little ones at the end of a path through the shrubbery. “I think it’s important to create beauty for children, and foster their imagination,” she says, obviously taking as much pleasure in its creation as they in the discovery. (From Finding new ways to live in her older home by MARG HRYNIUK, for the Leader-Post, August 27, 2009)
This article spoke to my heart because it encompasses so many of the teachings we share here at Outdoor Garden Statues. It is so important to figure out what you need from your garden space before turning it into your little spot of Heaven on Earth. Otherwise, you will keep adding stuff trying to achieve a balance but never quite finding it. My last article called Finding the Key to Your Outdoor Garden spoke to this. By defining exactly what you want from your garden, you have an achievable goal to work toward.
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
Every year my garden starts off neatly raked and ready to go. By August, the almost daily Florida rains have everything growing so fast that if you blink the weeds take over. Look at my poor tree garden. Mowing is getting hard because I can’t tell where the garden starts and the lawn ends. We have had a lot of rain with hot muggy weather. It didn’t make me want to do anything outside. To make matters worse, my husband’s sliding glass office doors look out onto this mess. With a tropical storm making its way up the gulf side of the state, we have a little drier air. I decided to grab some yard time while I could. Here’s what it looked like after a few hours of dedicated weeding.
Ahhh, much better. It just goes to show that the weeds can overtake the best of intentions. You couldn’t even see the bricks before. Now I keep walking by the door and looking out because it makes me feel so good to see it cleaned up. I guess I am going to have to tackle the gardens around the edges of the yard next, but only if Hurricane Bill misses Florida next week. If not it will be time to batten down the hatches and ride it out. :0)
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