Sorry but I do think you CAN have WAY TOO Much.Like people with a hundred cement animals in one bed,or items that just don't match each other all sitting around together.I haven't reached my limit yet but I've just gotten into the forum about a month ago but I'm sure I'll reach a limit.Oh and I did buy one of those cheap metal fences that I hate,I call the old lady fences but it keeps my dogs out of my veggie patch.

NEVER TOO MUCH!!!! LOL!! I love it all and can't imagine getting to the point of not every buying/creating more! Toomuch... please post pictures of your progress.

I also live in town and have a small yard.I have a lot and1/2 I fenced part of the back seperate from the rest so I could plant my garden and the rest is my flower gardens and garden yard junk. I have a gnome garden and a fairy garden and a boy-girl garden. I finally got a bed soooo I'm going to make a bench to set under my arbor

Toomuchglass, I have a very small backyard and sideyard. I've managed to find spots for 13 totems, four bowling balls, one tipsy pot and numerous wooden cut out critters and signs. I don't think it's overcrowded yet--but getting close! LOL

Luvs

Well - see ! Garden Junk is like Jello - there's always room for more ! LOL

Busdriver --- I agree with you . No one wants a "junkyard" for a yard . I would draw the line when my yard started looking like an abandoned house ... but tactfully placed art - in my mind - is awesome !

Toomuch- I have a small yard.It's wider and not very deep I took out about half the back grass a couple years ago. I have it set up so as you walk through you see diferent "junk". If you look at it straight on,you can't see all the stuff. I have taller plants on the perimeter.
I am trying to gussie up my shed, too!!

I'm adding to my front, but it's more open, so I'm about done there ( a bench,fountain, old chair and a tipsy pot!)as far as junk. Might slip a few more things in when I see how it looks planted

Maria

My property is small compared to the "back 40" I've seen on some of ya'lls pics but it's plenty big for one person to take care of and I try to keep it neat and presentable. I don't have too many spots to put Garden Junk/Treasures so I do my best with something I've found or made and as long as I like it, I'm pleased. I like the night light from putting out several garden tiki bamboo lights. Especially like the lower ones in the flower beds which light up the plants in those spots. Sometimes I have just put tealights in small clear glass candle holders and placed several around my backyard at night time. It's a great ambiance look and I enjoy sitting back there with my tea and radio tuned to some relaxing music.

well don't ask me that question. I always find room for more junk(-: I am sure it could be to crowded with junk at some point though. Then I would have to get rid of something...lol

I envy those of you with wonderful organized gardens... I am one of those people Crafty refered too! LOL! We have 14 1/2 ac. But only 2 of it is 'yard'. We are doing a veggie garden again this year, only tomato plants sooo far. But pretty much I just have foundation beds. If it was up to me I'd tear out all the grass/weeds. and plant all flowers but DH loves lots of grass. And the previous owners didn't have any trees around the house. I need more flowers so I can have more junk!!

We have 3 acres and some of it is still wooded. I thought you could never have enough, too and then came the weeding and work to keep the beds looking good! LOL We started out only needing one yard of mulch for the yard and we went through that yesterday and need another one and then DH and I are planning another project that means a few more! LOL

The other thing is I don't have room to store the art in the winter! It I leave it out, I end up fixing everything again come spring.

I'll probably never have too much. Although DH did come home one day and comment the front yard looked like a flea market,so I had to go ahead and put things where I wanted to keep them,and sell some of the others.

I used to think a yard full of little animal statues was so tacky....and I still do.
I have 8 acres....but keep the yard art close to the house. my kids requested I not make anything too visible from the road.... so I put a bathtub at the mailbox and a carousel horse in the front yard. they all did the happy dance when a tree came down on the toilet...

{{gwi:140243}}

ha ha ha ha!!! Painterchick! Too funny!!!! I LIVE to wierd out my kids!!!

Painterchic....LOVE the bathtube... It is alot of fun to wierd them out Jane!!
OOps ... we're supposed to weed!!!LOL!

It's all about rules -- and you make your own rules.

My general rule is, the different types of junk shouldn't be able to 'see' one another. The cement bunny can be in sight of the brass butterflies on metal posts, but if I had gnomes, they wouldn't be seen if you were looking at the bunny. The tiny memorial garden cherub with the broken wing can't see the fairy who's behind a tree with the little animals-dressed-like-people figurines. Discovery is part of the joy of garden junk, both in finding junk and allowing visitors to discover your treasures in the garden

Another rule: two is not a collection. If you're going to have pink flamingos, you need a flock. If you've not a flock, then you need two flamingos, an alligator, a lighted fake palm tree and some of those frogs who play musical instruments for a sort of Florida meets the swamp display. Various elements just need a common theme.

Rule three: Neatness counts. The bestest junk needs a beautiful garden around it. Pick up the empty flower pots and pieces of lumber. Uh, maybe some of you should drop by and help me move some stuff and mulch some beds? ; )

It's all fun. Make your own rules. Enjoy.

Nell

I like your first rule Nell. I think that is what bothers me about some of my stuff. I have the old western look in part of the yard in full view of the modern stuff. I need to figure out how to hide it from each side, like you said, to be a surprise.

I can alway find a spot for more :)

I think Nell said it best for me. There really is an art to displaying it well. I've seen yards full of junk and thought to myself just how awful it all looked together...yet individually, the pieces were likable. I agree, a theme is necessary to help make it all work together. Personally, I like one unique item all on it's own, or a collection of 3-5 of the same type of thing. What I really don't like is so much stuff that it takes away from the gardens. I like my junk to be partially hidden by foliage, so that it is a discovery when you come upon it. We have an acre, and it has been a challenge to create that intimacy that I really like. I know it's always a work in progress, just wish my patience was better....LOL.

I think Nell has good rules. When I brought home my wringer washing machine, it was free and white with a little rust. DH gave me this shocked look and said "You're NOT going to put THAT in your garden!!" (My theme is a kitchen garden-NOT with herbs and salad stuff, but with kitchen stuff.) I told him to give me a couple of days. I spray painted it shiny navy blue and placed it beside a tree in the shade. He didn't notice it for 3 days but I caught him smiling when he finally did. I plant it with white petunias to look like soap suds. There is a fine line between too much and eye-candy.

I also have a junk decorated sun porch. Hmmm, maybe I'll post some pictures of that.

Magpie

Some good "rules" mentioned, but I think its more a case of beauty is in the eye of the beholder. If you enjoy having a lot, enjoy eclectic or some sort of theme, or whatever, just do what makes YOU happy in your garden.

Karen