Ornaments are a great way to add the finishing touches to your garden. Use them to add elements of color, shape, and texture that reflect your personal style. Whether whimsical or dramatic, garden ornaments don't need to be big in size to make a big impact. Even a small, thoughtfully placed ornament can be just the finishing touch needed to totally transform the look and feel of your garden space.
Many garden ornaments are both pretty to look and practical to use. When selecting ornaments for your garden, think about whether or not they can provide dual purposes. Used simply as accents, ornaments can be used to draw attention to a special plant, guide the eye toward a specific view, or to alert foot traffic to a set of steps. On the more practical side, ornaments like birdhouses, bird feeders, birdbaths, and fountains also serve to attract and protect wildlife. Large, structural ornaments such as arbors, gazebos, and pergolas provide shade, support climbing and hanging plants, and help define garden spaces. Benches and chairs offer visitors a place to rest and reflect, while sundials and weather vanes provide a sense of nostalgia and useable information about the time and weather.
Just about anything that can endure weather has the potential to be a garden ornament. In regions with cold weather, however, outdoor ornaments have to stand up to alternating freezing and thawing over several months. Materials made from wood, concrete, and metal can remain outdoors for the winter. Items made from a porous material like ceramic or terra cotta should be brought inside to prevent them from freezing and cracking.
About The Author: Ellen Brown is an environmental writer and photographer and the owner of Sustainable Media, an environmental media company that specializes in helping businesses and organizations promote eco-friendly products and services.
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