How-To

Incorporating Art into your Garden

Although a well designed garden is a work of art in itself, in the last decade more artists and craftsmen have been creating pieces solely for placement in the landscape. This being said, you don't have to spend a lot of money on a fancy sculpture to incorporate art into your garden. Gardeners have become more attuned to recognizing what a simple, well-placed structure or piece of art tucked into a "secret spot" can bring to their garden spaces. Challenge yourself to envision ways in which you can introduce elements into your garden that will stimulate as many of your senses as possible.

An arch positioned over a walkway and covered with an aromatic vine will please your sense of smell and sight as well as provide an entry way that draws a visitor into your garden's sensual sanctuary. A beautiful bird feeder placed away from your deck but within sight will bring endless entertainment and beauty to your patio. It is quite amazing the flurry of activity a little bird seed will cause in a backyard. A small sculpture or wind chime tucked away along a path or a larger, more dramatic sculpture used as an accent or focal point will draw the eye and beckon visitors to your garden.

It's not always necessary to go out and purchase something from a store to accessorize your space. People that do often end up with the same mass produced arbor or piece art as their neighbor. Be creative. Using an old bathtub as a planter works well. I have a neighbor who has a planting bed growing out of a brass bed frame! You can always get your kids involved in painting plywood animal cut-outs to hang on a fence or place in a secret location in the garden. Consider your primary and secondary focal points and consider what fits your particular style. Whatever you do, have fun!