by Becky Lane

Created on: March 08, 2009

Designing an artistic garden is much like designing a home. For example, I once had a friend who spent plenty of time, money and energy decorating her home, but still it was somehow lacking. Once, after visiting this friend, my sister said, "That house looks just like a magazine ad." Finally, I knew what was missing. The house had no personality. There was nothing in it to tell you about the people who lived there. So, just as with home decor, the main purpose of garden decor is to tell visitors something about the gardeners themselves: their sense of style, their sense of color, even their sense of humor.

Another reason we add ornaments is to create atmosphere. Perhaps you have a theme in mind: you wish to create a cottage look, a Tuscan look, a tropical look or an Asian look. Plants are a good place to start, but to really pull it off, you need to add accents that summon up whatever mood you are trying to create. It's not necessary to be historically accurate, though. If you want an Asian theme in your garden, feel free to mix a Chinese stool with a Japanese lantern. A third reason for ornaments is to create focal points. They can stop the eye from wandering around the garden, create a destination at the end of a path, or direct attention to something special. For instance, by placing a birdbath or bench near a striking Japanese Maple, you will draw the eye to it as if by magnet.

Now that you know why we decorate our gardens, let's talk about what to use. If you want your garden to be unique, you can't limit yourself to shopping for accessories at the same couple of stores where all of your neighbors shop. You need to branch out and explore the local antique stores, flea markets, estate sales and auctions. You must be able to look at an old enamel baby bath and picture it planted up or filled with icy sodas on your patio, or see a wrought iron headboard and visualize it as a trellis. I'm also in favor of using container gardens as ornaments. Just evaluate your outdoor spaces to determine how the containers can serve your needs. Do you have an empty space that needs filling or something that needs to be screened? Perhaps you want to warm up an uninviting space, or add some needed height. To avoid the cluttered, confetti look resulting from too many disparate small pots, scattered all about, keep to one style or color, and, to get the most bang for your buck, try clustering an odd number of larger containers together in one, dramatic grouping.

Finally, let's talk about how to pull it all together. Take a walk around your garden and look at it through the view finder of your camera, paying special attention to the primary areas you will be seeing from your windows or patio. Compose the different views as if you were going to paint or photograph them, and make them more interesting by insuring that each one has all the necessary elements of a pleasing composition. One way to create these "photo-ops" is to use a technique called framing. You can frame an inviting scene or a piece of art with an arbor, a pergola or with plantings. For an ornament to be a true focal point, it must attract attention from a distance, so avoid placing it too low. Smallish items will benefit from being placed on a pedestal and brought to eye level. Last, but not least, consider lighting. Whether it's a strategically placed up-light at the foot of a statue, or just some twinkle lights outlining a tree's branches, there is nothing quite like lighting to add drama and magic to your garden. Now, take some time to sit back, relax, and enjoy this work of art you have created.

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