IF GARDEN ART IS "OUT" ...BOY AM I BEHIND THE TIMES!

I was reading an article that stated that garden art is "out". Well I guess I will once again be called behind the times. My garden art is "IN" the garden and it is STAYING!

Who decides what is in and/or out? Some guy that has a chip on his shoulder, a famous (or not so famous) name and a computer? My opinion of this sort of decision is one of personal preference.

I think that a garden is a matter of personal opinion. Unless you are designing for a commercial space, it should reflect who you are, where you came from and what you like.

I have many pieces of garden art, that I have gathered together over the years. I have made most of it, and each and every piece is a memory that will stay with me for a lifetime. Every day that I water my garden, I am reminded of an event , day or special person. Here are some examples of my gardens and the "art" I choose so proudly to display.

This is an old water pump that my Dad pulled from the the old house on the homestead that I grew up on. Now don't go thinking that I am that old....My parents bought the old "Day" place, when I was a girl, and have torn down the old place long ago. My Dad ripped down the condemned old house, and fixed up the yard site. My parents have a beautiful yard. A huge yard, filled with gorgeous "art" and flowers, trees, and hiding spaces. My dad raises exotic birds and they are "art" of sorts too.

One day, my Dad arrived at my house with this baby on the back of his truck. I was thrilled! He had painted it gold for me, and I had the perfect spot for it in my yard. When we moved, we took it with us along with the greenhouse. This past year I made it into a fountain, so that the sounds of trickling water could relax those that are in my yard, and it looks like it was made to be mine!

This Bench (below) is my own creation! One day, as I was browsing around in the shops in the downtown of our city, I came across a shop that sells very high end benches. The one in the store was around $400.00! I almost passed out at the price! There is no way on earth that I would be caught dead paying an amount like that for something I could build myself.

Not having a cell phone with a camera at the time, and not wanting to look too obviously taking measurements, I used my body as a measurement. The top peak comes up to my boobs, the arm comes to just above the knee...you get the idea. I ran out to my car, wrote the "stats" on a napkin, and drew a quick diagram. I raced home, pulled the barn board that I had been saving for a special project out, and got to work! I made two of them...gave one to a lady that had become very special to me, and the rest is history.

The window, is one that I made out of old windows that I salvaged from a house slated for demolition. I have actually now made three of them. One for me, one for the lady next door, and one for a friend.

Look at my bird bath! I was looking in a magazine one day and saw one similar to this. I had to have it! It was very pricey, and they wouldn't ship to Canada, so I decided that I would make my own! I have made several now, and am always getting people who want one. The cup on the stick, is there as an accessory.

Like my Bike? I had always wanted a bike in my garden! Sadly the old ones are hard to find at this point in time. Apparently they are a hot item in this area! One day while my family and I were out on a garage sale tour, I spotted this old bike in a garage. I yelled to stop! I jumped out and ran to that bike! It was $1! SOLD! I got some really awful looks from people at the sale...there were lots of very shiny and newer bikes there...but I explained to the guy that I was using it in my garden. He was so happy to hear that as it was his first bike in his life and his wife wanted it to go to the dump.

We took the bike home, (did I mention it is not that old? And that it was a 5 speed?) I cut the bar off, I took all the decals off, and the chain and gears out. I scraped it all up to speed the rusting process and added a wire basket that is meant to hold household items. It looks great to me!

The milk can beside it....well that came from an old friend. It is a keepsake.

My white bicycle...my white bicycle...(ever heard that song by Nazareth?) This bike was a gift from my children for valentines day this past year....

The clock....tick tock...tick tock...was also a gift..

The big iron bike was a birthday gift a few years back... It was my first store bought art piece. I love the look of it.

This little bird house was made from the branches of the tree stump that it is sitting on! The apple tree died and I had wanted to try my hand at making a bird house. I didn't pull the trunk of the tree...so I mounted it onto the original base! It opens on a hinge . I guess you could keep a spare key in there if you wanted to..but we do not! lol

There are two window boxes hanging on the fence. These were hand made by me! I used old windows, and some barn board to put them together. I painted them up.... and there they are!

The ladder and the milk can are from a garage sale. I had a white ladder a few years back that I had planted in one of my flower beds. My dad had given me an old rustic looking ladder....and I loved it so much. Once it had had enough of the garden and was gone to ladder heaven...I found this one. I use it as a replacement to remind me of my Dad.

Does the iron on the fence count as art? If it does, then this is a piece I picked up at a local store here in our city.

The signs....well l made these too...and several others that I have given away. Yes...I do love my power tools! lol.

I know that too much "art" will ruin the look of my garden...and so I think I am cut off for now. But I love what I have and it will not be going away anytime soon...even if some guy with a computer, a chip on his shoulder, and a famous (or not so famous) name said it is "OUT"

Some day, I dream of having a garden that spans several acres, and sports all of my treasures and possibly some new ones. I want to have the type of garden my parents raised me to treasure. But for now...I will collect all that I can tastefully display here in my small city garden.

Until next time…hugs and smiles! Happy Gardening!

(¯`v´¯)
`*.¸.*´Glenda/Tootsie
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