December 21, 2005

Gardening is more than having something pretty to look at. Creating a garden puts us in touch with nature, nourishes the soul and brings out our creativity.

Use garden décor and art to bring your garden to life. Add a touch of imagination to turn an empty expanse of yard into a thing of beauty. Do you have a low-lying area in your yard where the earth is always moist, or even wet? Create a bog garden to bring a blasé part of your landscape to life.

Bring the essence of life into your garden by adding a fountain or water pond. Not enough space? Turn an old bathtub, washtub or wringer washer into a water container garden.

Create a focal point and plant your garden around it. If you’d rather not have a wringer washer in your yard, use something else. This could be something as complex as a gazebo, arbor or rose pillar, or something as simple as a bird bath or feeder. Statues or a wind sculpture also make great focal points, or maybe your prefer some type of architectural ornament, like a metal dollhouse that’s been painted with rust proof paint. Take a look around local antique shops, garden shops, flea markets and garage sales to find out what is available. Don’t rush into making a decision. You’ll know which focal point is for you as soon as you lay eyes on it.

Use lighting in your garden to accent a feature or light up a tree. Buy solar lights and brighten up the path to your door, or buy a motion detector light that will welcome visitors but keep intruders at bay. Want a bit of enchantment in your garden. Use solar lights to light the pathways under trees or near garden ponds. While walking there at night you will be able to imagine the fairies dancing in your garden.

Do you have a wart in your yard – an eyesore like a stump or an unwanted view? Camouflage these eyesores with vigorous climbers such as clematis, ivy or climbing roses. Plant moss, clematis, ivy and climbing roses around that decaying stump for a natural look, or install an arbor, obelisk or trellis to block that unwanted view.

Create an area for entertaining. Lay cobblestones or interlocking brick to create a patio area. Add a patio table and chairs and install a pond or water garden nearby to bring relaxation to your guests with the soothing sound of water. Hang lanterns to bring light to the area, burn candles or string clear mini lights for a look of enchantment. Add several containers of fragrant flowers to bring the summer breeze alive with the aroma of nature’s perfume.

Install a garden swing to bring back memories of childhood. Add lounge chairs and other comfortable seating. If there is a large tree in your garden, put up an old fashioned rope swing with a board seat. This will give your garden an air of innocence.

Combine food, shelter, space and water to draw wildlife to your garden. Any space from very small to extra large can be landscaped to bring animals, birds, butterflies and insects to your garden. Plant flowers, shrubs and trees to provide nesting areas. If your space is small, plant hollyhock, delphinium, larkspur and other tall blooms close to your house to provide shelter for birds and insects. If possible add clematis, ivy or climbing rose to create a natural look.

Add enchantment to your garden with whimsical resin creatures such as rabbits, squirrels, skunks and other wildlife species. If you have a garden pond, add a floater or a resin frog to the edge of the pond.

If wildlife isn’t for you, pick a different theme, such as angels or fairies to bring a magical atmosphere to your garden that you will be able to enjoy for many years to come.