Garden Design

You’ve got a mature garden, one you’ve tended lovingly for many years. Every available space is used. You’ve got beds of flowers which provide three seasons of color, maybe even four. Your trees and shrubs are mature, you have lovely pathways accented with benches for a relaxing moment, a ’secret’ garden for the kids and a well established vegetable garden, producing a healthy bounty every year. You’ve even got your garden to the point of requiring very little maintenance. How can you possibly improve on this picture? Garden figurines can be your icing on the cake, lending that final gourmet touch to your beautiful garden.

photo credit: breekp

Maybe your garden is still in the work-in-progress stage. You’re still adding and refining. You’ve just completed a pathway, leading to your secret garden, a place to relax or for kid’s play. Garden figurines should figure into your design of this area of the garden. Garden figurines and statuary can be as simple as a small, whimsical bronzed frog, seated at the edge of the bench, atop a small pedestal, ready to greet you as you sit down with a book and a tall glass of lemonade. Larger garden figurines, reminiscent of the lion statues flanking the steps of New York City’s Metropolitan Museum can add an elegant statement to your secret garden’s official entry. Religious garden statuary can create a soothing environment, placed next to a bench, or serving as a point for contemplation along a garden pathway.

Garden globes and sundials are other forms of garden figurines which can create a dramatic effect, given the right placement. Both of these are usually used as ‘centerpieces’, placed at the center of a circular brick or paving stone feature, or at the center of a formal herb garden. Garden globes come in a variety of colors, which you can use to coordinate with the colors of a surrounding bed of flowers. A yellow garden globe contrasts nicely with a bed of flowers in shades of blues and purples, providing a focal point which showcases the flower bed. Sundials, the first timekeepers, are fascinating garden additions, giving pleasure to both kids and adults.

When considering the placement of a particular garden statue or figurine, allow enough free space around the piece to be sure garden visitors can easily view it ” don’t hide it in a dense patch of ground cover! If the piece is small, ensure that there’s at least 6-12 inches of ground around it. Installing edging ensures that your figurine won’t become overgrown. Alternatively, set the figurine on a pedestal.

Nurseries and home improvement centers carry large assortments of garden figurines from which to choose, in a variety of sizes suited to every garden situation. There are also stores which specialize in garden figurines and statuary. You’ll find selections in stone, finished cement, as well as wood, bronze and other metals.

Garden figurines are a great way to add refinement and elegance to your garden. Go take a look at what’s available. One thing leads to another. You may end up with a collection!

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Beautiful Flowers for Gifts

photo credit: Patricia Figueira

Some people feel that giving flowers as gifts has been overdone and does not feel like anything special any longer. However, with a little bit of creativity they still make great gifts for the special people in your life.

For Mother’s Day, there is nothing as special as telling your mom thank you, and saying it with a bouquet of blooms and a box of goodies. You can get busy with gifts crafts and make your own gift basket with a little bit of material, ribbons and a hot glue gun, which can be used for decorating. When fresh blooms are not an option, consider baking some flower cookies; with some icing, script an “I love you” or two.

For your Christmas gift giving needs, there are many different ways you can incorporate a single flower or a whole arrangement into gifts for everyone on your list and you can always add a wine gift to the arrangement too. Poinsettia, mistletoe, winter whites, amaryllis, a Christmas cactus or holly are all well loved and appreciated symbols of holiday traditions. Deliver them yourself, or have a florist send your gift directly.

Another great way to use flowers as a gift is to cut out photos of events or people pertaining to the recipient’s life and mount them on magnetic sheets. Then put them on those sticks that florists use to attach the gift card and place them throughout the arrangement. Once the arrangement has died the recipients will still have some great pictures to put on the refrigerator or anywhere they desire.

The gift itself is not as important as the thought, so any extra touch or sentiment makes it that much more special. Don’t be afraid to experiment you may just come up with a great and unusual ways to give. Consider incorporating flowers in gift baskets for all occasions, especially a Christmas gift basket, even better if you have some nice home grown flowers to include with the gift. Also, shopping for gifts online may well provide you with a plethora of ideas.

Quite possibly the absolutely best reason for sending flowers is for no reason at all. Of course, Mother’s Day, Valentines Day and birthdays are all the “usual” times to send a floral arrangement and that is great. But, if you really want to surprise someone, then send one for no reason at all with a little surprise note attached. I guarantee it will be greatly appreciated.

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