Summer sunshine and warmer temperatures entice us to spend more time out-of-doors. They also entice us to spruce up our outdoor spaces with flowers and plants. Whether it’s a charming hydrangea, a sweep of ornamental grass or a bed of ferns, summer’s lush green foliage provides the perfect backdrop for garden art. Garden art can be purely decorative or it can be integrated into functional items and garden features. I’ve been exploring options for my own flower garden and would like to share some ideas with you today. Here are 10 ways to add personality and style to your outdoor space with garden art.
#1 Create a Focal Point with Sculpture
This first option is perhaps the most obvious. Install a free-standing piece of 3-dimensional art to serve as a focal point. The brilliant metal sculpture, shown below, is by artist and sculptor Matthew Leavell. It would make a stunning focal point in any home garden. I shared several more examples of Sculpture for the Home Garden in a previous post.
#2 Install a Sculptural Garden Gate
Consider incorporating art into the garden’s structure. Garden gates, as shown, are one example. Fences, walls, arches, pergolas and arbors are others. The beautiful garden gates shown below are metalwork sculptures by artists such as Eric Strauss (floral black gates – top left) and Andrew T Crawford (Sunflower Gate – top right).
#3 Add a Unique Water Feature
Flowing water adds movement and sound to the garden. A simple water feature, such as a bubbling fountain, is one of the easiest ways to introduce water to an outdoor space. Choose a unique container, submerge a small pump and set up your own bubbling fountain. Here are a few examples of unique water features.
#4 Use Statement Seating
Every outdoor space needs seating. Whether its intended for a quick rest, alfresco dining or a companionable chat, outdoor furniture provides an opportunity to incorporate artistic details. Here are a few examples of statement garden seating. The Roots and Rock Bench (bottom right) is by artists Berry Bate and Jeff Payne.
#5 Tuck in Beautiful Pottery
There’s something magical about the contrast between lush, green foliage and sleek, smooth ceramics. Add in a striking color, such as the gorgeous aqua hue shown below, and the combination is perfection. Outdoor pottery is available in a variety of sizes, forms and finishes. It can be left empty or hold plants and flowers. As shown in the photos below, a large, empty vessel can add considerable drama.
#6 Give the Birds a Stellar Bath
I’ve been pleasantly surprised by the amount of action taking place at the birdbath in our flower garden. I’ve seen numerous birds, including cardinals, finches and titmice, sipping and splashing. It’s quite entertaining! I’d definitely recommend adding a birdbath (or two) to the garden. If you choose a birdbath with an artistic design, you can achieve two aims at once—be kind to the birds AND add personality and style to your garden.
♦TIP: I’ve noticed birds appear to prefer a shallow birdbath. This was confirmed when I checked the National Audubon Society website; they recommend a birdbath be no more than 2 inches deep.
#7 Support Plants in Style
A pyramid trellis, or tuteur, can support climbing vines or towering plants while adding height and interest to a garden space. The basic form of the pyramid trellis is pretty well set but the design, color and materials can vary greatly. A pyramid trellis is a great DIY project requiring only basic woodworking skills. In fact, I made the magenta-colored one shown below (top left) and shared full, step-by-step instructions in a previous post DIY Pyramid Trellis Tutorial.
#8 Add Something Old
Interior decorators often recommend mixing new and old to achieve a timeless style. It seems to me this advice is equally applicable to outdoor spaces. Vintage garden tools and equipment can add interest and nostalgia to a garden area. Granted it can take some effort to find a great vintage garden item. But a truly unique find, like those shown below, can make the hunt worthwhile. Pictured are a wood and metal wheelbarrow (top); a metal lawn roller (left); vintage shovel, fork, scythe, and other tools (center); riveted metal well bucket (bottom center); and a hand-push plow/tiller (bottom right).
#9 Light Up the Night
String lights are very popular at the moment. The appeal is understandable; sitting outdoors in the dark surrounded by soft sparkling lights is magical! Shown below are a few examples of garden lighting that go beyond string lights. The vintage candle holders hung with metal pulleys (top left) and the vintage oil lamp (bottom left) add personality and style. But hanging a massive, elaborate outdoor chandelier from a large tree (right) must be the epitome of outdoor decorating!
#10 Hang Great Wall Art
This final suggestion, to hang great wall art, may offer the most possibilities. Interesting pieces of outdoor wall art are available in a variety of materials, styles and subjects. Shown in the photo below are a natural twig wreath (top left), metal sculpted deer head (top right), carved wood Odin (a god in Germanic mythology) (bottom left), swirling metal and blue glass work by Jenny Pickford (bottom center); and a terracotta lady’s head (bottom right). As shown these pieces can be hung on walls, garden gates, stone fireplaces, fences or even trees.
I hope these suggestions have inspired you to add garden art to your own outdoor space. Keep in mind, it may take a little time to find a great piece of garden art. Most of the examples shown in this blog post are one-of-a-kind pieces so don’t expect to find the exact same items. You may want to check out your local, full-service garden centers. I also recommend shopping at art and craft shows, farmers’ markets, art galleries and thrift stores.
More Info
The FanningSparks’ post, Sculpture for the Home Garden, includes several examples of 3-dimensional art suitable for the home garden or backyard.
A pyramid trellis, such as the one shown in Idea #7 Support Plants in Style, is a manageable DIY project. Check out the post DIY Pyramid Trellis Tutorial for step-by-step instructions.
Today’s Takeaways
1. Garden art can be purely decorative or it can be integrated into functional items and garden features.
2. Garden centers, art and craft shows, farmers’ markets, art galleries and thrift stores are all potential sources for garden art.
3. Consider adding personality and style to your outdoor space with garden art.
Pictured below is a splendid Gulf Fritillary (Agraulis vanillae) on a purple coneflower. It is sometimes called the “Passion Butterfly”—I assume because the passion vine (Passiflora) is its host plant.
And another shot of the Gulf Fritillary from a different angle.
This is the spectacular and much-loved Monarch (Danaus plexippus) on pickerelweed.
Three of these charismatic faces now inject a jolt of personality inside my clothes closet. They could, of course, be installed in any number of places and be used for a variety of purposes…in a bedroom to hold belts, bags, hats or jewelry…in a bathroom to hold robes or towels…or by the front door to hold bags, keys and face masks. Why not scan today’s DIY tutorial while you think about the perfect spot for your own Sassy Lady Robe Hook?
Step 3. Drill Wood Head Mark the 3 spots—1 in the hat and 2 in the bead necklace—to be drilled by indenting them with a sharp-pointed tool. Remove the paper pattern and the painter’s tape. Use a pencil to label the back.
