Art And Ornaments In The Garden

Take Your Time!

Deciding what garden ornament is right for you and your garden is sometimes more difficult than deciding what plants to buy. Don’t rush your decision. Spend some time working out where you might place an ornament and deciding on what type of ornament would look best.

Once you have decided what sort of thing you would like, take your time looking around for exactly what you want. Unless it is exactly what you want, don’t buy the first thing you see. You will regret impulsive buying when you find the “perfect” piece of garden furniture the next week, yet you have already spent your money. 

Style
Choose an ornament that suits the style of your garden. Don’t choose a classical Greek statue if you have a native bush garden. Likewise, a sculpture made from rustic timbers may look out of place in the middle of the lawn in a formal garden.

Size and Number
An ornament should be a focal point in the garden, drawing the viewer’s eye toward it. Too many different ornaments will look cluttered and detract from one another. However, multiples of the same ornament can make a spectacular statement.

Location, location, location
When positioning garden art, it’s all about the location. Think about where people are likely to be when they admire your garden art. 

• Consider such things as views from the house; views from seats in the garden, from outdoor living areas or from the entrance to your property.
• Ornaments or statues should be located where they will enhance such views. Ideal locations are at the end of a vista: perhaps framed by the view through an archway, along a path, or below the canopy of a large tree.
• Consider the effect of other things in the garden on an ornament. Overhanging branches may enhance, but can also obscure a view. The reflection of a statue on water or in a mirror set behind it can double the impact.
• A backdrop of dark foliage will contrast with a white statue, but may detract from the effect of a dark coloured statue.
• Changes in the seasons can also cause changes in the effect created by garden ornaments. Consider what something might look like before and after a deciduous tree has lost its leaves.

Statues
There are a plethora of statues available, including Nudes, Buddhas, Classical Greek/Roman poses, Fantasy (eg. Gnomes and Gargoyles), Asian, South Seas, etc.
They can be large or small; made of stone, ceramic, metal, timber or concrete.
You should think carefully about the size and type of statue that is appropriate to your needs. Even the most perfect statue can look inappropriate if it is put into the wrong garden setting.

Water Features
Garden ornamentation and water often come together in a sculptured pond, wall mounted fountains, bird baths and other water sculptures. With water, the ornament can be given the added attractions of sound and movement. 

 Other Garden Ornamentation
You can find garden ornamentation in all sorts of other forms. Think about the options, and when you decide on the need for adding a garden ornament, consider all of the options.

Containers
The pots we use to grow plants in don’t have to be drab black plastic. Lots of colour is available today in terracotta, concrete and plastic. Create your own mosaic designs, paint your pots in bright colours or recycle different containers (eg old wooden boxes, kettles). Why not visit your local tip shop - you never know what you will find.

Old Wheelbarrow
An old wheelbarrow can look great filled with cacti and succulents, or overhanging flowering plants.

Old Buggy/Horse Or Bullock Harness
Use as a feature or lawn ornament, or tuck into a corner and drape with flowering vines.

Old Tools
Old garden tools can be added to give a rustic feel. Attach old wheel rims to walls. Fill old manual concrete mixers with a blaze of colour. 

Metal Lacework
Lacework can be installed on a Fence, pergola, veranda posts, gazebo, garden arch and so on, where it can serve as an ornament in its own right or be decorated with climbing plants.

Plants
Many specimen and architectural plants can be used as ornaments. Accent plants such as Yucca elephantipes, Cordyline spp., and Agave attenuata work well. Weeping trees, standards, topiary, bonsai, and espaliers are other ways in which you can use plants as decoration.