Garden Decor

Not for bowling over those obnoxious gnomes, either!  Unless, of course, you’re really ready to do that.  Then by all means, go right ahead!

Then you’ll have a space for this lovely little focal point right in the midst of some of your favorite flowers.

Check at a bowling alley and ask for old balls they are throwing out. You just might wind up with a bright colorful one!  Otherwise, you can paint it, or decorate it by glueing on flat marbles or sea glass or tiles, to create a work of outdoor garden decor art.

It’ll be your own designer unique garden decor!

Nobody’s home style but your own!

Not too happy with the outdoor garden decor available commercially? Or maybe you are up for an adventure - a project. Beautify and personalize your own garden with things you made yourself.

Create a concrete garden ball around a beach ball. Then deflate the beach ball and pull it out.

Not only are round objects interesting outdoor garden decor, but there is also the challenge to have it come out looking great.

Design a mosaic on it with glass or tile. If you are artistically gifted, you can etch drawings onto your concrete garden balls. It’ll be a conversation piece at your next lawn party; and unique garden decor for you to enjoy during quiet times alone.

     Unique garden decor can come in all shapes and sizes. Especially lawn and garden decor balls. You can find them made of glass, resin, metal, and other materials. 

     You can make your own unique garden decor balls of concrete. Of course they will be rather heavy, so you’ll need to have a space planned to construct it where it can be left to harden a few days, then be rolled into your garden.

     That said, we can look at some creative ideas for these unique garden decor concrete balls…

     Planters?  Sure!  Make sure the opening is directed so maximum sunlight is goes inside. Set another planter on top, and grow a flowing vine to tumble all around your concrete garden ball.

     How about decorating them like those fun garden stepping stones we’ve been exploring in previous posts? Concrete can be or imprinted with handprints, footprints, leafprints.
They can be painted, or embedded with sea glass, coins, marbles, etc. to create your own personally designed unique garden decor!

     Your backyard can be a sanctuary for mental and emotional rejuvination. Accessorizing with lawn and garden decor makes it possible to build your own unique and personal space.

     An arbor or trellis laden with vines is an irresistable invitation to the outdoors on a pleasant summer day.

     Take off your shoes, and tread over your whimsical garden stepping stones and gather clusters of grapes from the vines. Or lounge on your garden bench near your favorite garden statuary, admire your spectacular gardening results, and just daydream!

    A good way to give your garden easier access is by adding garden stepping stones.  This will give you solid footing while you work in your vegetable or flower gardens.

   Also, a series of garden stepping stones is a path for your feet, and a good way to keep your shoes clean and dry when the soil is wet from rain, or while watering your garden.

   Garden stepping stones can be very decorative, adding beauty and style to your garden space.  Garden stepping stones are available in many creative shapes and designs, from which you can select to best complement your landscape.

   One common, and durable, material for a garden stepping stones is concrete.  You can even make your own garden stepping stones and design them with your choice of colors and shapes.  A great way to make them special is by putting hand prints of your children or grandchildren into your garden stepping stones!

     English gardeners seem to have a real knack for growing beautiful herb gardens. But you don’t have to be English, or live in England for a successful herb garden. Herb gardens grow in almost all climates.

     Some herbs actually grow better in poor soil and dry conditions. These types tend to have more concentrated oils, making them a tastier and more aromatic plant.  Most herbs have incredibly wonderful fragrances. Don’t you find it delightful to run your lawn mower over a patch of mint? Add garden stepping stones, and you can step about your garden and just exult in the aroma!

     They’re also beautiful. When I was a new homeowner and totally novice at gardening, I arbitrarily bought and planted a variety of herbs. After a few weeks my place looked like a regular rain forest!

     Strategically placing a few garden stones around can give your work of art a very designer look!

   If you plan to build your own unique birdhouses you will need to find some good birdhouse construction materials.  Wooden birdhouses are much better insulated against the hot midday sun than metal birdhouses. Select wood that is at least three quarter inches thick to maximize its insulation and help keep the temperature comfortable for nesting birds.
  
   Properly treated wood is very durable and weather proof.  It is ideal to use a wood that is more decay resistant, such as cedar, redwood or bald cypress, for longer durability.  A less expensive wood such as pine works very well also.

   In a previous post I discussed using barnwood and other recycled wooden products for building wooden birdhouses.  Your decision is of course subject to your own taste and budget.

    When deciding to build a wooden birdhouse, choosing which type of wood to use can be important.
   Weathered wood works well for birdhouses. If you have access to boards retrieved from old buildings or packing crates, you have a wonderful recycling product!  Second hand wood is a great source for creating unique birdhouses and decorative birdhouses.
For finishing, using a wood stain or semitransparent colors will allow the beauty of the wood to highlight your creation!

   Since tastes vary widely, you will come across garden statuary and garden sculptures in different materials,  ranging from the more costly bronze garden statuary and marble sculptures, to more affordable garden statuary.  Stone is a favorite material for garden statuary and ages well.  The best material for replicating old world statuary is probably concrete.
 
   If you have a water feature, such as a pond, a garden fountain or a waterfall in your garden, you can enhance it by adding water related statues.  Stone or concrete frogs, turtles, or fish, or even animal garden stakes such as Crane Gazing ball Garden Stakes,  will give your garden a more lively atmosphere.

      A garden gazebo is often added to outdoor landscaping as a focal point as well as a place to sit and enjoy the outdoors. Lattacework or trellises offer a place for vine plants or flowers to grow, providing greenness and some coolness to your gazebo experience.

     Hang gazebo-style decorative birdfeeders not far from your own gazebo, and enjoy bird-watching while you’re enjoying your back yard!  Living lawn and garden decor!