What a great idea for a thread.
Your bowling balls are great. I especially like the purple one with the purple clematis and the red one in the red garden. I have a blue one and several black ones that all belonged to my parents.

I'm wondering, do you varnish your balls, the red one looks especially shiny.

I call this my tropical garden. Not all tropicals, but just a little different look than my other gardens.
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My succelent sink:
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Love the bowling balls. I have two-one covered with glass crystals and one covered with pennies that was then sprayed with miracle grow to give it instant verdigris patina.

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Another art object is a green blown glass sculpture.
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A rather unusual birdbath that a friend gave me a few years back.

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Scattered throughout the yard are various hypertufa leaf castings I made a few years back as well as some hypertufa troughs.
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Love your clematis but it is not Etoile Violette. It looks more like Venosa Violacea to me. Etoile Violette is a solid dark purple clematis. See link below for picture of Venosa Violacea.

Here is a web address to the COTW listing for Etoile Violette:

http://www.clematis.hull.ac.uk/new-clemdetail.cfm?dbkey=26

Here is a link that might be useful: Venosa Violacea

Fun thread, Brenda. I have one bowling ball, given to me. It is green with black stripes and looks like a melon. It sits on a staddle stone from a house that used to be elsewhere on this property.

I can't think of any surprise that I've not displayed before. I've been out moving things around and planting out pots held through the winter, trying to make more interesting views, while the dog and cat were terrorized by He-who-mows. The mower, silent through the winter, was new to both of them.

Nell

Love this thread, thanks for the pics, love them all. I hope to see even more ideas of "unexpected" that I can blatantly copy! ;-)

I have finally made an album of my garden, etc. altho most pics are at least a couple of years old and a lot has changed. My computer crashed but I do still have several backup discs to check thru, might have some pics to add that are more recent.

I've done rhubarb leaf stepping stones, hypertufa pots, one glass gem bowling ball, and a lot of glass garden totems - sold about 2 dozen and I think I have about 10 in the barn waiting for the snow to go - you could say I have a "totem addiction". LOL Have a couple of old pics of some of those things on the link.

I like to leave my little red wagon somewhere in the garden for decoration and I think it's in one of the pics.

Here is a link that might be useful: luckygal's garden pics

{{gwi:642836}}From Huntingwood Garden Spring 2008

Oops, I forgot to write before I hit the button to submit. I love to see all these "grace notes" in your gardens. It's so much fun to visit a garden that has artwork. It gives it such personality.

ncvilledueds, I love your leaves!
gottagarden, your Etoile Violette is stunning. Clematis is one of my favorites, but it has a tough time here.
michelle zone 4, your succulent sink is such a good idea. It really shows off the plants. Who is the purple ruffly one setting down inside the bowl?

Etoile Violette must be the most-oft-used misnomer in the Clematis world. I have a paler mauve clematis that was labeled 'Etoile Violette' -- I just don't worry about what its name might be.

Nell

PFmastin, clematis do extremely well here in NC provided you choose the right ones to grow. I have over 130 in my garden, have over 45 or so growing from seeds right now and more that still have not germinated and have 6 or so scheduled for spring delivery. The type III clematis which includes the viticellas do extremely well in our heat and humidity. There are plenty of the US native species clematis that similarly do well. Stay away from the type II clematis as they tend to worse here than the type IIIs.

I don't worry about the names either Nell if I have gotten a mislabeled clematis. But if I have one that has been mislabeled or one that I don't know the true identity of, I appreciate it when someone can point it out to me and provide a possible identity. The identity gives you information as to how it should be pruned and other important cultural information.

Fun thread indeed. I am afraid I don't have anything whimsical at all! The only unusual thing I have done is to make a planter out of an old BBQ in the Bucket and another out of a rusted out coal bucket.

-nckvilledudes, love your hypertufa troughs!! I have been looking for something to make a water feature out of; this might be what I need to make! I noticed how smooth the inside was, did you hand form that part?
CMK

Cows? Just kidding, there is an electric fence between them and my garden just in front of them, though they have been directly in my garden as recently as last fall.
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How about my front gate posts?
Before...
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And After...
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Or do you have one of these for a trellis?
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Fun thread, Gottagarden!
MeMo

Look at that gate, I like it; and those are the prettiest bed springs I've ever seen.

Memo

That is inspiring. Fabulous!

Alright! Lots of fun things out there in the garden.

Nckvilledudes, great stuff! I love that glass sculpture, and the "bird" birdbath is very clever. I too have some leaf castings, but am not sure how to display them in the garden. Would love to see photos of how you have them arranged.

You are right - the clematis is venosa violacea. I also have Etoille Violet and just mixed them up. I have lots of clematis and have forgotten the names of some. Thanks for the correction.

Luckygal, I looked at your albums and you have a wonderful garden! The glass totems are pretty, and I love the plate labels, I've never seen them before, so unique.

pfmastin - great bottle tree! I've always wanted one, but don't know where to get blue bottles. It is quite a stunning centerpiece for your garden.

Memo that is a spectacular gate! Truly awesome! And I've never seen prettier bedsprings.

Keep 'em coming!

Christinmk, the bases of both of the troughs were made from old cat litter boxes of all things--a rectangular one and a circular one. The bottom portion of the circular one was a weird shaped clay pot that I lined with plastic to prevent the hypertufa from sticking and then siliconed to the top portion. I used the same clay pot to make a hobbit/frog house and siliconed seashells on top of it.

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Also took one of my leaves and attached a copper fitting on the bottom of it and use it as a small birdbath.
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Memo, fantastic arbor and gate. Quite an ingenious use for old bed springs. And of course I like the clematis growing on it.

One thing I forgot to mention earlier is that I have a wind mobile that I bought quite a few years ago that is unusual.

Gottagarden, I know what you mean about mixing up the names. I called my Blue Light Multiblue even though I knew which one I had until someone pointed that out to me. Easy to do when you have so many clematis. As for the hypertufa leaves, I prop them up around various parts of the garden as seen below. I also inserted metal hooks in the back when I was making the leaves and can hang them up on the walls of the house (inside and outside) and have given quite a few away as gifts to friends. In fact, the two troughs I showed earlier I kept for a few years and then gave away--one to my mother filled with sedums, and the other to another friend who had commented how how much she liked it.

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Memo, I love your gate and bedsprings. Wonder where I could find some cheap trellises like that? I may hit the habitat store next weekend.

Memo, I think your garden gate is terrific! ncvilledudes..I really like your wind "thingy".

ncvilledudes, you had replied about your clematis....mine are sort of "on their own" except for a good amount of organic matter added to the soil when they're planted and getting side dressed with it later. I live on the coastal plain almost to Z 8 and my soil is sandy. Since mine get very little additional water other than rainfall, I wonder if your Clematis might be in a friendlier growing environment. :) Rooguchi does well for me as does Madame Julia Correvon. Tangutica look like it just might get established this year. I do love them, though!

Pam

Pam, the watering could be the issue with your clematis. That is one thing that they seem to require to succeed so if you can't or don't give them additional water in the heat of our summers then that could prevent success with them.

I always get so excited to see everyone's gardens. I would never have guessed Brenda would have BBs in her garden, and they are so cute!

Memo.....I LOVE that gate! It is perfect!.....and I am so envious of the clematis growing on the bedsprings!

I have made a few of those leaves, but never have mastered the beautiful finishes that you have done on yours, nckvilledudes. I would love to stroll in these gardens.

As for me, I have something in my yard that NOBODY ever expects. It isn't available for the public to see, and is only viewed by invitation. Unless you are friends with my dogs, that is. This is it.

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I have a place to sit under our shade house...

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We built this shade house after we lost our only shade in the back yard. It has a flagstone floor, and a hot tub, and shades a lot of plants that would have a hard time surviving our summer sun.

The pond came because we were given some koi by my doctor. It was a hoot going to the doctor, and we would be back there talking about fish. We had to start over this year as we lost all our big fish last year. The big pump went out and warm water loses it's oxygen very quickly. Anyway, we are feeding the new ones and they will be big in about a year.

These pictures are not current, because we have some winter, and everything is cut back right now. But we have just planted 2 Traveler's Palms, 3 pygmy date palms, and 6 new and different hibiscus. It will be back good as ever in a month or two.

I love to take people to my back yard.

Janie

Thanks for all the compliments, everyone. I know many of you had seen the gate post pictures before but I figured that they are still pretty unexpected for those who haven't. The Rancher cut and set them. They are Western Red Cedar and are set in the ground about six feet deep. The bases are almost three feet in diameter. Unless they are struck by lightening, they aren't going anywhere for several generations! It was a lot of fun doing this project.

You are all so darn creative, so many beautiful things in your gardens! Hypertufa, beautiful bowling balls, cool wind twirler. Love it all!

Michelle, Love your succulent garden too. I have a huge, cement, two-tiered fountain that I'd like to plant in succulents like you've done. I'd also pay handsomely for a sink like your's if it isn't rusted out! ;)
And Janie, OMG! Your backyard is drop dead gorgeous. It's a true oasis to escape to in the heat of the day. It reminds me of a rain forest. How beautiful it all is!

Keep 'em coming!!!

MeMo

-Janie, LOVE your pond! It so wonderfully tropical! Do you have a pergola in back of the pond (in 2nd pic)? A happy jungle!
CMK

Janie, what a tropical oasis you have in your backyard. Just lovely.

nckvilledudes, your garden is full of lovely surprises! I'd really like one of those wind sculptures. And you've done a great job arranging the tufa leaves with the euphorbia. I'll bet your toads are happy with the house :-)

Janie, what a lush tropical getaway you have tucked away in your backyard. I'll bet all that water really cools you down in that Texas heat. I had a shade house when I lived in CA, and wish I had one now. Yours is fabulous.

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Bright yellow chairs. I think they are so happy looking. They make me smile:-)

They make me smile, too. I like them.

Michelle, what is the big leaf succulent that is in your sink? Are they actually planted in the sink, or in pots, set in the sink?

I have a sink like that, but had not thought of using it in such a way.

Pam, have you had any trouble with boys with BB guns shooting at your bottle tree? I showed your picture to my DH and told him I would like to move my BT to a sunnier place, and he told me the kids would shoot it with their BB guns. Not more than once they wouldn't....I don't think.

So many good ideas.

Janie

This has been fun for me to see all these wonderful gardens.
You are all very creative and I loved them all. I even spotted way off in a corner that little red wagon of Luckygals.

Janie, I put landscape fabric over the drain hole of the sink and planted right in the sink. The plant is echevaria x hybrida 'The Rose'

Michelle

A bevy of fairy folk in the hollow of an old apple tree's trunk.

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How sweet Schoolhouse!

MeMo

Most are gifts given to me over the years. I forgot all about the little princess who sits in the branches above them:

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Gotta Garden, do you still have your awesome purple chairs in your garden?
I love those.

ThreeOrangeBoys, It's very nice to see you here! It's been ages.

MeMo

Here's mine..What makes it more unexpected is that I live in a subdivison. My three hens (one is not in the pic) Hannah,Ginger, and Abby.
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~Meghan

Are they allowed in a subdivision? A friend of my has hens that lay eggs, and she is afraid her HOA will find out she got them, since it is not allowed.

Cute hens, Meghan :) I think every man, woman and child in the world should be allowed to have a hen if they want one. They are certainly good for the soul, not to mention the healthy benefits they provide.

MeMo

The only unexpected thing I can think of in my garden is a metal sculpture. It is made of thick, heavy construction grade rods and wires of various sizes. It is shaped at a twisted made, with large head. Wires make his thinning hair and at one time he had quarters for eyes. It's a very contorted, bizarre looking thing, but everyone who sees it pauses to look at it and smiles. After several years, I finally painted it white so it could be seen better in the garden.
It is life size.

I need to replace some of his "hair" and the coin eyes.
The only problem I have with it is that strong gusts of wind blow him over. I have taken to wiring him to something.
The rod was bent using high heat, probably a welding torch into an "S" shape, with the bottom coiled, rather like a snake. The coiled rod acts as the stand. All the rest of the body pieces were welded onto that rod.

It was the creation of a former Art student at OSU (Oklahoma State University). I found it in an apartment that my son rented when he started school there. No one came back to claim it after 6 months, so he gave it to me. It did not look right in my house, so I placed it out in the garden.

I move him around every couple of years. Currently he is wire to the arch at the entrance to the potager and stands as a sentry overlooking the garden near the entry gate.

Very unique looking and quite unexpected to find in a garden, I think.

Meghan, great hens! I want to get some of those too, one day. Building a coop is on DH's list, but the list is pretty long . . . .

fnboyd - such great bright yellow chairs, they do make me smile. I used to have purple chairs, but after years of being outside they rotted and were ceremoniously burned in a bonfire one fall.

Three orange boys - glad to see you back in GW land.

Schoolhouse - I have wanted to do a fairy garden for years, yours are very cute.

natalie- I don't have an HOA :O) sooo that's not a problem. My neighbors love them and think they're the neatest thing and even take care of them when I go away. I live outside city limits but called anyway to see if I was zoned to have them. They said not really because I live in a subdivison but said that since I only have 3 and consider them pets they didn't have a problem with them as long as they didn't get a bunch of complaints about them. I've had them for 3 years now. If you had a privacy fence your neighbors probably wouldn't even know you have them. Granted you don't have a rooster (you don't need them for eggs anyway) but they do make some noise after laying eggs but nothing disturbing by any means. If you ask about being able to have them make sure you call them PETS. I've read this can make a difference and it seem to work for me.
~Meghan

Gottagarden, your pictures are beautiful but I'm in Zone5 and it snowed a few days ago. I'm just getting back to this forum (which I love) but got so jealous waiting for warm weather.

I would love some egg laying hens in my yard! For now it's just a dream. Our HOA is so strict: I had to move my trampoline several times to satisfy them. Looking back - it turned out to be a good thing, because those two spots where trampoline used to be, became two flower beds (bermuda grass kinda died underneath of them, and it gave me an idea to create flower garden).
I LOVE everyones' unexpected in the garden! Keep them coming! Viva to your imagination and creativity!

~Natalie