Show us your garden decoration store bought or recycled found items?

I would luv to have this gal mowing my lawn.


This is in my garden …

 

At first I found the sculpture of a lady pushing a lawnmower very creepy. Like seeing a ghost... However now I think this would be an excellent scarecrow, that won't even deteriorate due to weather.

As for other garden decorations, well, I've often thought about it. But never bothered to install any that would match my taste, (as many who would see it and might take offense, as they'll fail to catch my particular type of humor)...



But you've got me thinking now. So I'm wondering how useful such decorations would be, if they could be made to serve a dual purpose - Like having hidden security cameras installed in it, alongside other electronic sensors.

Here's one example of it that I found on YouTube.



And here is another.

 

Now those ideas with cameras on birdhouses or inanimate objects are great ideas. Much like a security system. .

If fact I just recently bought a bird feeder cam for hummingbirds . At first I really liked it, but soon the chipmunks figured out how to climb on them and actually began drinking the sugar water meant for the hummingbirds. The camera also caught mice drinking the sugar water at night. The camera has a motion detector which notifies me each time a critter has approached the feeder thru a computer program . Also catches any one else in the background of the garden that also sets the motion detector alarm notification off . Even the wind set it off. I had hundreds of notifications . I finally took it down. They are similar to the trail cams I had set up when tracking deer in my garden.

A couple funny pics from the cam feeder.

 

I also have garden decorations made by my son who likes to weld. It’s dark now and will get pics tomorrow. I have a few interesting cut out of horses done by a process called oxy-fuel cutting metals is process that use fuel gases and oxygen to weld or cut metals.
Also shovels that had a broken handles with cut out letters thru the metal that says “Bloom dam it” ! I can’t find.

 

This is the garden decoration I was planning to make, in half inch thick steel, (so it would last a lifetime). I plan on improving the design by adding 2 eye bolts, one for each shoulder - So that way it would be easy to suspend in the air by chains.



Noise issue can also be controlled by this technique below. By repurposing old tyres.

 

Plz add your garden decorations.

Horse welded together from scrap metals



Just something to plop on a cut off tree trunk.

 

Here are most of mine. Most are 2-3 decades old or older, a few are newer. I am a sucker for symbolism so many mark times in my life, memorial occasions or milestones. Most are not very big and hide in the garden only to be discovered by sharp eyes. There a a few more but they were hiding too well.

 

Jewell you have stuck to you theme with garden decor. They add so much character in a garden.

Some concrete small water fountains - women gathering water at the river statues.water for the birds.
Raccoons, deer…


Side view.

 

I love water in the garden. My other house has several small ponds and I throughly enjoyed them. Have considered having something here but have settled for three bird baths in different locations in the garden. Miss the gold fish and water lilies. Don’t miss the maintenance. Still too much to do to make more work for myself

 

Ponds are also a delight mine around the other side of the garden brings in a lot of dragonflies this time of year. It’s 3’ deep , stocked with carp, with a bio filter and a small waterfall.

The water featured above is not a pond really it’s only 2-3 inches deep. Designed for birds to use. Every day at certain times I noticed when I first moved here that many different species of birds drop by for snacks in the fields. The idea was to attract them to the large oversized water feature with fountains and running water where more than one bird can cool off/ splash. It seems to be a fav pit stop now for several species thruout the season.

 

Your garden estate is quite unique and wonderful. I have been to many private turned public gardens throughout the Puget Sound region. Several still had owners living in their homes on the properties and it was an honor to meet them and hear the stories of their home gardens, home they developed and the processes of becoming public from the creators. The enthusiasm of the volunteers and staff that maintained the gardens was always a joy. Others were old mansions with gardens in various stages from perfect venues to early revitalization. Yours is definitely in the same class as any and though many had water features none like yours. Thank you for sharing your estate.

 

I feel that mine are a bit underdressed compared to you folks, but they are what they are. An allotment is by nature an area where one throws things second or third hand together for a new purpose. I do not have many decorative items.

First of all, these cut firewood chunks acting as a pedestal with some simple sculptures we made at a Cousins’ Day that we hosted. There is also a bit of Peruvian earthwork.


Then, an old clock that we bought at a goodwill store. It may have chipped paint and is rough around the edges… and it keeps good time.


Third is the little cherub that holds up a birdbath. Can you see him peeking from behind the Astrantia?


I am saving the worst for last— a wrought iron stand. I have had to add a pole with a platform to support it, as it has lost a leg to the ravages of rust. Its oxidising frame is pitiful to see, but so far holding the second birdbath steady.


The string keeps it secure, we wouldn’t want it to go walkabout.

 

@Jewell thank you for your kind words and comparisons to gardens you have seen in the Pugent Sound area.
This time of year is always a treat to visit different gardens in the area. I guess you could say you called a spade a spade, because your garden is what I would describe as tour worthy . Lots of trees , shrubs annuals and perennials all combinations displays in a well thought out plan. And you’re still going , like the ever ready battery bunny there an’t no stopping creative thinking or plants that need a new home.

@Sjoerd enjoyed your display of garden art . Most creative ideas from found objects is always setting off the enduring mood of any good well accomplished garden and gardener. So fun to see your creativity at work matching different objects are an expressive language only gardeners totally understand. Beautifully rusted objects are essentials in garden art in my neck of the woods.

Garden art - a vinyl concrete leaf made from a garden rhubarb leaf.


Or gifts - solar lights up the night garden.



A simple ball placed on a table post.

 

I have some of these placed in the garden



We're actually in the middle of redecorating the garden, and I plan on getting more decorations. Also, I want to change the furniture in the garden. We have wood, but I'm thinking of rattan sets, something like this: https://www.gardencentreshopping.co.uk/sapcote-6-seater-round-dining-set-natural-rattan. Do you have experience with rattan? Is it hard to maintain?

 

@Patricia R. nice to have you join us. Very nice to see celestial attendants minding the garden . They add special touches to any area around the home garden. Cute lil faces always brings smiles .