by Anna Wildman

Created on: March 29, 2009   Last Updated: March 31, 2009

Decorating a full sun garden has a horrible pitfall: fading. Unfortunately that beautiful sun so wonderful for your plants leaches the color from your decoration making it faded and trashy looking. We have all had it happen. We buy a brightly colored garden object and just weeks later it looks sad and worn out. So how do you decorate a sun garden? Pick things that can't fade.

Firstly look for objects painted in fade resistent paint. If you are painting your own objects, use exterior paint not craft paint and give them a good coat of clear coat or shellac. They will still fade eventually but it will take much longer. Secondly look for items that aren't painted. Try statues, water fountains, and bare metal decorations.

Stone garden decor comes in a variety of styles. There are intricately carved faries and animals, religious figurines, bird baths and funny signs. Stone will not fade or wash out in the sun. It will age with grace and elegance. Purchase a nice stone figure and train ivy over it for a rustic look. Bare metal designs also come in many shapes from sculptures to stakes with various animal and fantasy designs. Choose some that fit your style and flair and leave them be. Metal will either rust or patina over time but you can prevent this if you don"t like that look. Just spray them with a rust proofing clear coat. Cast iron sculptures and figurines also do well in the full sun. You can find outdoor cast iron wall plaques and candle holders, plant stands and furniture, stakes and wind chimes. Take a look at copper rain bells. Not only do they not fade in the sun when it rains, but they create a pleasant bell like sound when the rain strikes them.

If you must have color in your decorations try stained glass. Stained glass decorations for the garden are more expensive then plastic or wood but they don't fade. You can find cast iron stakes with stained glass jewels. Or you can use stained glass suncathers and hang them from hooks or trees or garden stakes. Hanging prisms create a lovely rainbow effect when the sun strikes them. Gazing balls come in every color and style under the sun. small glass marbles mixed with gravel create a colorful outline for a garden path with the sun sending spots of color dancing through the marbles.

Consider installing a pond or water fountain in the sun. Koi fish add brilliant color in a small pond and a water fountain cools the air around it, which feels wonderful with the sun beating down. Use a bird feeder to entice birds of every color to decorate your garden. Adding plants that attract butterflies will also bring more color into the garden. There are many ways to decorate a sun garden; you just have to avoid colors and materials that fade like plastic wood and fabric.

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