FanningSparks – Page 34 – A DIY and lifestyle blog authored by Peg Frizzell.

Summer Activities Roundup

Ah… the lazy-hazy-crazy days of summer! The sights and sounds of summer always bring back fond memories of sunny days spent on the family farm. But, to be honest, summer on a working dairy farm is anything but lazy! Nowadays, I have more time to relax and I’m grateful for lazy-hazy-crazy days. While thinking about the possibilities for this summer, I took a look back at some of the summertime stories and projects I’ve shared previously. Today’s blog post features a roundup of 12 outdoor activities for the season—a dozen ideas for summertime fun!
1. Float a Boat One of the joys of summer is spending time on or near the water. Floating a toy boat on water—whether it’s an ocean, lake, pond, river, stream or swimming pool—is the perfect way to bring back some childhood fun. I’ve shared a couple of posts, Simple Folded Boat – DIY Tutorial and A Landlubber’s Toy Sailboat – DIY Tutorial, which provide detailed instructions to make simple toy boats. This simple folded boat is suited to shallow waters…

…while this toy sailboat is better suited to water that is at least 1½ feet deep.
2. Have a Picnic What makes a good picnic great? A pleasant natural setting, agreeable weather, tasty food, cool drinks, a leisurely pace, a few key items for comfort, enjoyable company and amusing ways to relax. I’ve shared a few ideas for picnics in the posts: Picnic Under the Wisteria, A Colorful Backyard Picnic and Sunrise Breakfast Picnic.

There’s also a tutorial to make, what I’ve dubbed, “the ultimate picnic blanket”. This picnic blanket provides a protected place to sit while keeping moisture, bugs and pokey things at bay. Plus it’s durable, easy care and machine washable. The design of red-and-white gingham check with white daisies is bright and cheery. Check out The Ultimate Picnic Blanket – DIY Tutorial.

3. Watch Birds According to All About Birds, birdwatching is more challenging in the summertime. Many baby birds have fledged by July and the adult birds are keeping a low profile while they molt. Ironically, although the birds are more difficult to find, there are actually more of them because of the influx of young birds. I’ve shared a few blog posts about birds including From Feeders to Quilts, 15 Bird Photography Tips Starring the Osprey, Catfish for Dinner?, Stately Swans and their Surprising Stories.

4. Enjoy the Forest Whether it’s called Shinrin-yoku, Forest Therapy or Deliberate Dawdling, a slow stroll along a quiet forest trail is a great way to get immersed in the healing powers of the forest.

5. Stack Stones   Try building a stone tower by balancing rocks one on top of another. Experiment with size and form. Try piling stones into the shape of human figures (called an inuksuk). See the post Heaps and Stacks of Stone for some ideas.
6. Hunt for Sea Glass   Stroll a shoreline and look for sea glass gems. Check out the tips for a successful search in the post In Pursuit of Sea Glass.

7. Indulge in Shutter Therapy Seek out an interesting destination and focus on taking photos. Find the diversity and beauty of the surroundings. The blog post Shutter Therapy in North Rustico shares examples from a day of shooting photos in a fishing village. Strive for the perfect shot while experimenting with subjects, angles, focus, composition and light.
Seek out the beautiful natural light of early morning or late evening.   See the blog post, First Light at Peggy’s Cove, for more information about magic and golden hours.
8. Learn about Sea Turtles In the post Turtles Racing to the Sea, I shared my experiences attending a Sea Turtle Conservancy Tour de Turtles event and a sea turtle nest excavation. Consider learning about sea turtles, or other wild creature of interest, to help preserve and protect wildlife.
9. Chase Butterflies Seek out habitats and gardens dedicated to butterflies for the best chance of seeing these winged beauties. The habitat at Butterflies and Blooms in the Briar Patch in Eatonton, Georgia is a great destination. Check out my post Chasing Butterflies for lots of pretty photos from my visit.

10. Admire a Lighthouse In the post, Beacons of Light, I share stories and photos of lighthouses I’ve had the opportunity to visit. Most of the lighthouses were located in Prince Edward Island, Canada but the neighboring provinces of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick also make an appearance. Lighthouses, which are associated with strength, guidance, hope and safe harbor, always have a story to tell.

11. Visit a Local Attraction Thanks to the miracle of COVID-19 vaccines, local travel is possible once again. I’ve shared several of my visits to nearby attractions including:
. A Bridge of Oconee County shares a visit to the Elder Mill Covered Bridge in Oconee County, Georgia.
. Crowing and Clucking in the Barnyard documents a visit to the free-range chicken yard at Hundred Acre Farm in Madison, Georgia.

. Counting Buttons Instead of Sheep shares the quirky story of the Button King from Bishopville, South Carolina.
12. Learn a New Skill Summer is a good time to learn a new skill. How about learning to juggle? Check out the blog post Felt Juggling Balls with Pouch – DIY Tutorial for instructions to make a set of juggling balls.

Or how about making a lucet and learning to make cord? Check out the post Lucet Cordmaking – DIY Tutorial for detailed instructions.

Or check out the post Weaving Lavender to learn how to weave lavender wands.
That makes 12! I hope today’s post provided some new ideas for summertime fun.

More Info

The Cornell Lab’s All About Birds website is a great resource for birding.
You can learn more about Sea Turtle Conservancy events on the Tour de Turtles website. The Amelia Island Sea Turtle Watch website provides information on sea turtle nest excavations.
You can learn more about Butterflies and Blooms in the Briar Patch in Eatonton, Georgia on their Facebook page.

Today’s Takeaways

1. Make the most of the summer season with outdoor activities.
2. Consider trying a summertime activity from today’s post.
3. Happy Summer!

Asia Gardening Japan Nature Plants Travel

Growing Carpets and Coats of Moss

Moss, those small, puffy cushions of rich greenery at your feet, are easy to overlook. Moss can be as short as 1/16 of an inch and is often hidden away in shaded areas. Moss doesn’t have true roots, it doesn’t have stems, it doesn’t have leaves and it doesn’t have flowers. Yet, in the right circumstances, moss can be quite impressive.
Japanese gardeners have known this for centuries. Moss is included in the Japanese garden as a symbol of harmony, age and tradition. Here are a few examples from some of the fabulous Japanese gardens I’ve had the privilege to visit.
In this beautiful scene, at an ancient garden in Kyoto Japan, moss serves as a ground cover. Its velvety surface is the perfect complement to the aged, grey stone.

This pretty stone path is surrounded by a rich, green moss carpet in the gorgeous Kyoto Gyoen National Garden.

Moss isn’t limited to the ground. Over time, moss can attach to stones, walls and structures. It is able to attach with its anchoring systems (called rhizoids) and is able to survive by absorbing water and nutrients directly into its plant body. In contrast, other plants move these elements through a vascular system of roots, stems and leaves.
This breathtaking scene at the Kyoto Gyoen National Garden features an ancient stone bridge. Notice how the sides of the bridge are cloaked in a coat of moss.

In the below photo, moss caps the beautiful stone lanterns at the UNESCO World Heritage Site Shrines and Temples in Nikkō, Japan. It was early March when I visited and there was snow on the ground but the moss was still green. Moss photosynthesizes year-round and is evergreen.

Here’s another example from the Nikkō site. This is a tsukubai which is a traditional washbasin located at the entrance to a holy place for ritual cleansing. Notice how the bronzy-green moss coat enhances the harmony of the setting.

Japanese gardeners are not the only ones to enjoy moss gardening. The use of moss in public and private gardens has been gaining popularity. Recently, while enjoying a local tour of private gardens in Georgia, I noticed the gardeners had incorporated carpets and coats of green moss in their gardens. In one garden, this beautiful stone path was nestled in a bed of moss.

In another garden, several carefully-selected planters were topped with cushion mounds of rich green moss.

Intrigued… I decided to do a little research on moss gardening.
How to Create a Moss Carpet
Turns out, it’s not difficult to add a patch of moss to a garden. The biggest challenges seem to be growing conditions and patience. Here are the primary steps I gleaned from my research:
Prepare Planting Area
. Select an area away from direct sunlight such as under a shade tree.
. Prepare the area for the new moss patch. Clear the area removing all weeds. Create a shallow layer of soil and pack it down. Use a rake to gently scratch the surface.
. Ensure the soil’s acidity is appropriate for the selected moss. The easiest way to do this is to use soil from the area where the moss is currently growing. If that’s not an option, test the soil for acidity and amend as needed. Most moss prefers acidic soil with a pH between 5.0 and 6.0.
. Soak the new area with water for about a ½ hour—the soil should be visibly moist without any puddles.
Collect Moss
. Most experts recommend transplanting moss from an existing patch. However, beware, it is illegal to remove moss from protected areas such as state and national parks and public lands.

. It is possible to collect and plant moss at any time of the year but fall and spring are recommended. The ideal time is during the early spring immediately after a rain.
. To avoid overharvesting, take only small amounts of moss from the source patch—ideally no more than 3” squares from each square foot of moss.
. Lightly loosen the moss squares and keep them flat. A wide putty knife or an old kitchen spatula can be used.
. Keep the collected moss damp.
Plant Moss
. Transfer the collected moss to the new planting area. Place the moss on the soil and press firmly to remove any air pockets. The objective is to establish close contact with the surface of the soil. Some experts recommend pinning the moss in place with landscaping pins or small rocks.
. Mist the moss to keep it moist. One expert recommends using a spray bottle to mist the moss twice a day for the first 3 weeks. Other experts are a little less rigorous and simply recommend keeping the moss moist for the first few weeks.
Maintain Moss
. Water consistently to keep the moss slightly damp. Moss should not remain soggy.
. Remove fallen leaves and other debris preferably with a leaf blower.
. Pull out weeds and unwanted plants.
. One expert recommends always walking on the moss after watering it to help set the rhizoids. Another one recommends limiting foot traffic to stepping stones or paths. I assume the right answer is somewhere in the middle—walk on the moss sparingly.
. Wait. Experts predict growth should be visible within a few months and the patch should double in size within a year or so. An expansive carpet can be achieved within a couple of years.

This same technique could be used to transplant moss from an existing patch into a large container such as this lovely blue vessel which I spotted at the Chelsea Flower Show a few years ago.

How to Create a Moss Coat
A different technique is used to grow a coat of moss on a rock or brick structure. Here’s a great example of moss-covered garden stools spotted at the Singapore Botanic Gardens.

Prepare Surface
. Select a rock, brick or concrete surface away from direct sunlight.
Make Moss Slurry
. Collect moss in the same way described above.
. Make a moss slurry with moss and buttermilk. Experts differ on the specifics of making this mixture. One recommends making the slurry in a blender with approximately 1 handful of moss and 1 cup of buttermilk. Another recommends combining about 2 cups of buttermilk or yogurt with 1½ cups chopped moss in a bucket. The mixture should be spreadable; add more moss to thicken or water to thin.
Apply Moss Slurry
. Paint the moss slurry onto the targeted surface. A paintbrush can be used.
. Mist twice daily until new growth appears.
Maintain Moss
. Water consistently to keep the moss slightly damp. Moss should not remain soggy.
. Wait. The moss should begin to grow vigorously within 6 weeks.
I don’t know how long it took to establish the moss and ferns on the below garden jar but I think the wait would be worth it. This beautiful scene was spotted at Fern Paradise in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Although, moss is typically grown on stone, brick or concrete, I have seen it planted on some unusual surfaces. The below upholstered easy chair, which I spotted at a private home in Madison Georgia, is a case in point. I don’t know how the gardener accomplished this but I think this chair is amazing!

More Info

Moss is classified as Bryophyta. Some moss grows vertically and resembles strands of hair while others grow horizontally in a close-cropped manner. In total, there are approximately 12,000 species worldwide. The iNaturalist website and their Seek app are very helpful tools for identifying moss.
The following two reference books about moss gardening were mentioned frequently in my research:
. Moss Gardening by George Schenk
. The Magical World of Moss Gardening by Annie Martin. See her Mountain Moss website for lots of great information.
To learn more about the gardens mentioned in this post, check out the following links:
. Kyoto Gyoen National Garden in Kyoto, Japan
. UNESCO World Heritage Site Shrines and Temples of Nikkō in Nikkō, Japan
. The RHS (Royal Horticultural Society) Chelsea Flower Show in London, England
. Singapore Botanic Gardens in Singapore
. Fern Paradise in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
Garden tours are a great way to view private gardens. Check out these FanningSparks’ blog posts for more garden photos and ideas.
. Spring Into a Garden Tour
. Madison in May – 15 Favorite Fotos
. A Virtual Stroll in Ticehurst
. Sculpture for the Home Garden.

Today’s Takeaways

1. Moss is included in the Japanese garden as a symbol of harmony, age and tradition.
2. Consider adding moss to your garden by growing a moss carpet in a shady area…
3. …or creating a moss coat on a stone or brick structure.

Artists Make Repurpose Southeast Travel USA

Counting Buttons Instead of Sheep

“Quirky” was the first word that came to mind when I started to write today’s post. It’s the story of the self-proclaimed “Button King”—a man who spent over 25 years of his life sewing and gluing buttons to everyday things. Paying homage to his unusual accomplishments is a small, unassuming place called the Button King Museum in Bishopville, South Carolina. In fact, it’s so low-key I had to turn the lights on myself when I visited. Some people may find it hokey—but I found it rather charming, fun and… well… quirky!
It all started when the Button King, the late Dalton Stevens, wasn’t able to sleep. He’d been plagued by insomnia from the time he was a child. It was so bad his employer gave him early retirement due to the safety factors of chronic insomnia. This was in 1983—back in the early days of sleep medicine in the United States.
Newspapers report Stevens tried all the usual remedies like counting sheep and drinking warm milk as well as some unusual ones like doing housework. Then he decided to pass his sleepless nights by sewing buttons onto a pair of his blue jeans. Some nights he would sew on only 10 buttons, other nights he’d sew on an astonishing 200-300 buttons. Over the course of the next 2+ years, he also sewed buttons onto a matching denim jacket and cap. When he was finished, he’d added 16,333 buttons and 16 pounds to the suit. This unusual suit is on display at the Button King Museum.

Next the Button King moved on to his guitar. Apparently, he switched from sewing buttons to gluing buttons at this time. He glued over 3,000 buttons on his guitar.

Then he glued 517 buttons on his shoes.

According to the biography of Dalton Stevens, “When I completed the clothes, the guitar and my shoes, I went to the newspaper in Sumter, SC and then to our local paper, the Lee County Observer in Bishopville. They gave me quite a write-up. Soon after, I went to a television station in Florence, and they aired my story too. From there I was featured on CNN and my story went worldwide.”
Numerous newspaper clippings are displayed at the Button King Museum including one that appears to be that early Lee County Observer article with the headline: ‘Button Man’ Turns Hobby Into Area Notoriety.

I got a kick out of all the button related puns in the various news articles. For instance, the article shown above closes with: “The Guinness Book of World Records is next on Steven’s list, he said. Just a matter of pushing the right buttons.”
The exact sequence of events is a little unclear but Stevens went on to cover a number of different items with buttons including his car! Nearly every surface of the 1981 Chevrolet Chevette is covered with buttons!

Strangely, the Button King also covered a hearse…

…and a coffin in buttons.

He even covered a toilet and an outhouse structure in buttons.

Meanwhile, his notoriety grew. The author of a 1993 article titled “Cute as a Button” shared this insight. “Some folks may think Stevens is kind of strange, but others realize there’s a method to his madness. They’ve seen him cruise down Main Street… in his button-covered ’81 Chevette. They’ve seen him in parades, too—75 at last count. And they’ve seen him singing and picking his button-covered guitar at state fairs and shopping malls.
The Button King ain’t no fool.
“It runs into a good bit of money for a poor person like me,“ says Stevens … “I’ve made $250 in a day, and in a lot of places, I’ve made $750.”
That’ll buy a lot of buttons. But The Button King is so popular; he doesn’t have to buy buttons. Individuals and companies keep him well-stocked in buttons and glue. …he’s been on the Johnny Carson and David Letterman shows, and with Regis and Kathie Lee, too. People magazine has featured him twice, and his photo has been splashed in nearly every supermarket tabloid.”
It seems the reporter was right: “The Button King ain’t no fool.”

As I looked around the Button King Museum, I was reminded of something a seasoned collector once told me. She said “The most insignificant object assumes importance if you have a lot of it.” (See the post Decorating with Collections). That’s exactly how the Button King achieved his goal to set a world record. He was included in the 1990 Guinness World Book of Records for the largest button collection. It’s quite the inspiring story!
Now where’s my button stash? I have a pair of jeans that could use a little boost!

More Info

You can learn more about the Button King Museum in the article Five Wacky and Delightful South Carolina Museums on the South Carolina Tourism website.
Unusual and obscure travel destinations such as the Button King Museum are catalogued by Atlas Obscura. Check out the Atlas Obscura website for more curious and wondrous attractions at your next destination.

Today’s Takeaways

1. Sometimes the story behind a situation is more uplifting and entertaining than the situation itself.
2. The most insignificant object assumes importance if you have a lot of it.
3. Consider seeking out and visiting an unusual or quirky destination.

Gardening Nature Southeast Travel USA Wildlife

Stately Swans and their Surprising Stories

Few birds enjoy the reputation and prestige attributed to swans. Swans have inspired art from ballets (eg Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake) to fairy tales (eg The Ugly Duckling by Hans Christian Andersen). They are a luxury status symbol often associated with royalty. Swans exemplify beauty and grace. I recently had the opportunity to observe these regal birds at the Swan Lake Iris Gardens in Sumter, South Carolina.
As the name suggests, the gardens showcase both swans and irises. The gardens are “home to all eight known species of Swan (Cygnus) and some of the most intensive plantings of Japanese Iris (Iris ensata) in the United States.” At the heart of the 150-acre garden is a large cypress swamp complete with buttressed bald cypress trees and mysterious, murky water.

Japanese Irises thrive in this environment. They were in full bloom when I visited and the flowers were spectacular.

The irises were particularly lovely along this lakefront path…

…which leads to the garden’s showcase sculpture, Recovery, by Grainger McKoy.

According to the plaque: “This sculpture represents the right wing of a pintail duck in its recovery stroke. This theme evolved from a wing position that is considered the weakest in bird flight. Yet in the artist’s eye is the position with the most beauty and grace. All of us are in recovery somewhere in our lives, as is our environment, of which Swan Lake is a unique part.”

As if the setting, flowers and sculpture weren’t enough, the gardens also host an assortment of waterfowl. There are geese, ducks and, of course, swans! The various swan species can be viewed from a ¾-mile walking path around Swan Lake. Signs warn visitors to observe without disturbing.

It’s the perfect stage for these beautiful birds. Shown below is a Trumpeter Swan (Cygnus buccinators) gracefully gliding over the dark, murky waters of the cypress swamp.

Trumpeter Swans are known for their haunting, deep-voiced, trumpet-like calls. They are reported to be the loudest of all swimming birds.
Shockingly, Trumpeter Swans were at risk of extinction not that long ago. Around 1933, fewer than 70 wild Trumpeter Swans were known to exist. They had almost died out from over-hunting for their down, skin and eggs. Luckily, aerial surveys discovered a population of several thousand in Alaska. Through strict protections and careful reintroductions from conservation organizations like the Trumpeter Swan Society, wild Trumpeter Swans were gradually restored in North America. In 2010, the population was over 46,000. It’s heartening to know this kind of turnaround is possible.
Another swan species, the Black Swan (Cygnus atratus) originally from Australia, were quite visible at the gardens. The photos below show a Black Swan with its adorable cygnet.

Interestingly, before 1697, Europeans were so convinced all swans were white that they used the expression “black swan” to describe something that was impossible. After the first Europeans witnessed the black swans of Australia, the expression morphed to represent the fragility of any system of thought. Nowadays, the term “Black Swans”, as defined by author Nassim Nicholas Taleb, has evolved to represent events which are rare, have extreme impact, and have retrospective predictability.
Here’s a pair of Black Swans sharing a feed of aquatic plants.

Similarly, a pair of Whooper Swans (Cygnus Cygnus) is eating vegetation from the water’s surface.

Swan Lake Iris Gardens is, of course, a managed habitat so the swans aren’t solely dependent on natural vegetation. This “floating food dish” was a popular spot.

I learned from the book Swans and Other Swimming Birds that “Swans spend a lot of time preening. When swans preen, they use their bills to straighten and rearrange their feathers. They use their bills to remove any insects from their feathers. And they use their bills to waterproof their feathers. How do swans waterproof their feathers? A swan has a gland at the base of its tail that makes oil. The swan uses its bill to spread this oil over its feathers. The oil waterproofs the feathers.” I’m guessing that’s why this immature Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) was doing these amazing gymnastics.

The Mute Swan, by the way, is probably the most recognizable swan species. Sometimes called the “ornamental park variety”, its knobbed orange bill is quite distinctive.

The Mute Swan is also known for its graceful pose while swimming. The exaggerated S-curve neck and the arch of the wings are unique to the Mute Swan.

There’s an interesting story concerning Mute Swans and royalty. Many people believe all Mute Swans in the UK are owned by the Crown but, according to a 2017 Smithsonian Magazine article, that’s only part of the story. The article explains: “To protect swans as an exclusive commodity, in 1482 the crown ordained that only landowners of a certain income could keep the birds. Ownership of swans was recorded by a code of marks nicked into the beak of the bird… Only those who owned the right to use an official swan mark could own swans, and marks were restricted and expensive to purchase. Any swans that didn’t bear a mark were automatically the property of the crown. This effectively meant that only the monarch, wealthy landowners and some large institutions like trade guilds, cathedrals and universities could afford swan ownership.” The article goes on to describe the annual tradition, known as “Swam Upping”, whereby the Queen’s Swan Warden, counts all the Mute Swans on a 79-mile stretch of the River Thames.
The British monarchy is not the only one to treat swans as a luxury status symbol. Swans and swan motifs are often evident in the historic homes and palaces of royalty and wealthy individuals. One such example can be seen at the National Palace, in Sintra Portugal, which was home to the Portuguese royal family until the end of that monarchy. The ornate ceiling of the Sala dos Cisnes (Swan Hall), thought to originate from the 14^th century, is covered in elaborate paintings of swans. At one time, this grand room was used for banquets, musical soirees, public receptions and religious festivities.

Here’s a closer look at one of the painted swan ceiling panels.

Swans, it turns out, are not only beautiful but also the subject of many interesting stories!

More Info

UPDATE June 21, 2021: Check out my new Pinterest board—Swans – FanningSparks Favs—which is dedicated to swans and packed with inspiring ideas to incorporate these regal birds into your next creative project.

The Swan Lake Iris Gardens are located in Lake Sumter, South Carolina, USA. You can learn more about the gardens on the City of Sumter South Carolina website.
The Trumpeter Swan Society is a North American, conservation organization dedicated to assuring the vitality and welfare of wild Trumpeter Swans.
You can learn more about the Black Swan Theory on Wikipedia.
The book Swans and Other Swimming Birds is available on Archive.org.
The 2017 Smithsonian Magazine article, The Fascinating, Regal History Behind Britain’s Swans, explains the aristocratic bird’s legacy as a luxury status symbol.
The National Palace, also known as the Palácio da Vila (The Town Palace), is located in Sintra, Portugal. You can learn more on the Sintra Portugal Tourism website.

Today’s Takeaways

1. Swan Lake Iris Gardens are a beautiful destination in South Carolina, USA.
2. Concerted efforts to conserve and protect wildlife can be very successful.
3. The stories surrounding a particular bird can be as surprising and entertaining as the bird itself.

Decorate Exteriors Gardening Nature

10 Ways to Add Personality and Style with Garden Art

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.

Artists Decorate Exteriors Gardening Make Nature

Sculpture for the Home Garden

In the same way a beautifully-crafted piece of sculpture can complement the natural setting of a Sculpture Park, a carefully-selected piece of 3-dimensional art can add personality and style to your home garden. Today, I’d like to share some examples of small-scale sculpture that can be displayed in the typical home flower garden or yard.

Summer Activities Roundup

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Today’s Takeaways

Growing Carpets and Coats of Moss

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Today’s Takeaways

Counting Buttons Instead of Sheep

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Today’s Takeaways

Stately Swans and their Surprising Stories

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Today’s Takeaways

10 Ways to Add Personality and Style with Garden Art

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Today’s Takeaways

Sculpture for the Home Garden

Making Art with Nature in Nature

Securing Love Under Lock and Key

The Scoop on Deluxe Floral Cones

Jim Gibbs Dreams Big

Roses are Red, Violets are Rarely Blue

FanningSparks Completes 7th Lap