Here's the pic of Kassandra that I said I would grab today.

Like I said, she's two feet across, so hard to realize how big she is with pics. She's a real winner...

I made these glass plate flowers this past winter. They are mounted on rebar so I can move them around as I see fit. The bottle tree was from collected bottles on a dead dogwood tree. I also picked up a tall, large birdhouse the neighbor had put out in the trash and plan to paint it and add to a new bed.

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I love all of your garden enhancements. Sure wish I could place some around, but I would be "written up" by the condo association.

DD

I feel like I am not thinking "outside the box" after some of these !

Garden art, I don't have much of it, but it's fun to see what others are doing. That peahen, Ms. Peacock, I want it!!!! Also, will take that partridge and the toad, too. I like the animals. LOL at Phil with the hat! So many fun (giant metal flowers!) and interesting things...

Question: So do they get left out all year long, or do you collect them all before winter and bring them in? If I add things like this, is it one more chore to do in the fall? I'm guessing the metal things (I want that fish, too!) can stay out, but what about the ceramics? The shrooms, gnomes, cherubs, animal statues, etc., do they stay outside all winter?

Artwork adds so much to a garden. It makes it come alive. Very nicely done.

I have Angels in the side yard.

Angel #2

Angel #3

I've got Zen in the back yard.

I like these stacked rocks. Very zen.

Raven, Love the bottle tree. I'm now on the lookout for a branch like that. And I must drink more riesling.

SandySlopes: I can only speak for myself of course, but because I live in a tough winter zone, I bring all my garden friends in for the winter. That's always a sad day. They don't like it indoors. Here they all are, staring out the garden shed windows, longing for the garden. So sad.

Hostanista- I love that picture! It made me laugh, reminds me of myself during the winter.

Linda

I put a couple of mirrors in the garden, and no I've never had a bird fly into them (as far as I know).

This one's made of cement, reflects yellow irises in the pond and ferns.

Basic (cheap) round mirror I painted and wrote stuff on.

Great pic, hostanista! You can just hear them, "Aw ma, can't we go out and play, puleeeese!".

tj

Hostanista, that picture of them made me LOL! They look like they're longing for spring when they can go outside again. I'm also in z 5, so I thought that bringing them inside might be necessary.

The few I have I keep on the deck with the potted annuals, so I have been bringing them in, but they don't get to look out the window like yours. Too cute!

The mirrors are pretty, but around here I know I'd have birds fly into them. I even have to put up reflective decals in some of my windows. But I like the reflection in that cement one. Pretty.

I have lots of garden art and this is one I place out for the summer. Lots of cement turtles and frogs a few copper flowers and a wind whirling catcher my daughter gave me. Fun stuff for some and some think it is just junk but if you like it , do it!

another with my wagon and copper flowers

Love those owls. I've started collecting a few owl things ever since a year and a half ago, an Eastern Screech Owl ended up stuck in the flue to our wood stove in the kitchen. He was saved, treated, and released by some kind of owl specialist.

Sometime live statues of Leo hunting squirrel

I was placing the little frog and set it in a frog bowl and then it rained so left it and call it the frog pond in the mini garden

I love the tin man...

Happy

This post was edited by unbiddenn on Mon, May 26, 14 at 14:11

A bat made of metal

My "friends" are varied, several frogs and turtles peeking around corners and hiding in the foliage. My favorites are the saints and each have a special story to go with them.

St. Fiacre #1

St. Joseph

St. Fiacre #2

St. Francis & St. Anthony

A young lad

St. Fiacre #3

just cleared out this area for these guys. They are about 3 feet high.
Now I just have to decide on the design to compliment the Band.
Anyone know where I can get a large H. Mariachi?

Look out for these from Don Rawson's lists!:
'Big HornâÂÂ
âÂÂBrass HornâÂÂ
âÂÂHarmonyâÂÂ
âÂÂMusicâÂÂ
âÂÂSalsaâÂÂ
âÂÂSummer FestâÂÂ
âÂÂSummer MusicâÂÂ
âÂÂSummer Music SupremeâÂÂ
âÂÂUnexpected SongâÂÂ

Your wish is my command, mbug...

Oh, sorry, it was a large "H" Mariachi. I'll keep looking.

Don B.

This post was edited by Don_in_Colorado on Wed, May 28, 14 at 17:00

I love this entire thread!!! I love garden "companions" because I feel they really personalize it.

Hostanista, the pic of your companions looking forlornly out the window cracked me up. I have a few companions-

One is this snail

One is this ball that I made out of clear glass gems from the dollar store

And my most treasured one is the statue I made of my beloved dog Seamus, who died of a brain tumor in 2010. I finished the statue last Spring, having started it before he died. And yes, the statue came inside for the winter too.

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And hostanista, this is for you- I made my dogs flying monkey costumes years ago. That is Seamus on the right...he was such a ham.

This thread keeps getting better with every post.
I'm into symbolism, so Tsuga's "Stream" is about my favorite. I like Kokopeli, same sort of stick figure which looks good in small tubing or small diameter metal. It would go very well with some of Van Wade's Native American hosta.
Like Navajo or Mascouten or Cherokee

The glass plate flowers on stems are brilliant additions. If someone had glass paint, perhaps they could be written on?
It is perhaps a good project to learn for the long winter months, thinking about your garden beneath the snow.

Here is a link that might be useful: Bette Midler The Rose live performance

Coll - what a great tribute to your adorable dog - love the statue - you did an amazing job!

And the flying monkey costumes.....LOVE! But I will have nightmares tonight. Thanks a lot.

Seamus!!!!!
Well done Coll!

Those Flying Monkeys are awesome...They are Boston Terriers?

Don B.

yes, Boston Terriers. Seamus was my first dog, not including my childhood dogs, and he was a very special boy...I was blessed to have ten years with him. I smile every time I see the statue. He always loved to be outside as soon as the weather warmed up. He loved to pose for pics. The Seamus statue has new companion plantings this year- will post a new pic in a week or two!

Colleen, I always love seeing your garden. Your hostas look great this year.

And I have to comment on what a treasure that statue is. You made that? You're very talented. That's a labor of love and a beautiful way to honor Seamus. He looks quite proud and happy to be showing off that flying monkey suit. The other dog in the pic,... um, looks a little embarrassed, haha.

sandyslopes, yes, hahah, the other dog is Mickey..who just tolerated my shenanigans...Seamus was always up for anything that got him treats. Yes, I made the statue out of a blend of concrete, sand and vermiculite. I've been doing projects out of concrete/hypertrufa in my garden and always knew I wanted a statue of Seamus out there. About six months before he died, I started by sculpting a clay version of his head, not having any idea he would be gone soon. So the statue is a combination of cast concrete- i made a mold from the clay sculpture of his head- and free sculpting over an armature. It's not perfect, but I'm happy with it because I think it captures him- he was such an expressive dog. Mickey is now nine and will get a sculpture too...but I hope it's not for a long time.

Here a couple of "in progress" pics of the Seamus statue

I first made a paper mache version to try and figure out how to constuct the body...because concrete isnt real forgiving

I cast a version of his head in plaster while I was building up the concrete over the armature
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Here is the paper mache/ plaster "mockette" next to the in progress concret version

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Love your Boston Terriers in cement. If I could buy it it would be for my niece because she has a cutey named Roman . You are very talented Coil

MBug, you are headed in the right direction to get a Mariachi. It is gorgeous, and seriously under utilized. I could not believe how wonderful it looked right out of the box.

Mariachi is a chimeral reversal of Guacamole. It is a Guac sport. Taken May 13, 2014

I got mine from Avalon Acres last year.
You might find Mango Salsa by Bob Solberg interesting. Perhaps Flamenco Mouse?

I'm finding inspiration aplenty in this thread. You guys put your hearts into the garden alright.

This is a great thread, so much fun. I have some garden 'art'.
First are the concrete items:
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This is a water feature when it is on :)
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This one is for my kids
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Easter Island dude
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I love my gargoyle
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Next are the metal items:
Armillary Sundial
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5' tall metal rose
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This one is hard to see but it is a wind chime which I have hung on one of the maple trees. It is made of spoons with a knife hanging in the middle.
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Also hard to see but this is the matching spoon 'flower'
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Crown
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I really like this guy, too. A Bug made out of an old meat grinder.
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I have mushrooms, mushrooms and more mushrooms but they aren't out yet. Too busy buying hostas!

Really great posts.
Moc....thanks for the Mariachi source and the other recommendations!

Colleen, thanks for sharing that process with us all. I don't consider myself much of a "crafter", so I had no idea where you would even begin on something like that. I think you have a birdbath or a water feature that you made with your concrete/hypertrufa that was something I always wished I could find in a store somewhere. How nice to have a useful talent, making things for the garden like you do.

Enjoying all the garden art, everyone!

PaulaB, the spoon work is delightful. I like your meatgrinder too. What great imagination someone has. Where do you find these, or the materials to make such entertaining items?

Coll, your skill is undeniable. You are definitely NOT a beginner.
Thanks for sharing your process.

Moccasin, I found them at garden shows and art shows. Local people make them.

Coll, I agree - your garden is outstanding.

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I am so excited! Today I stopped by a house where the current owners are moving and selling all of their garden items that they have been collecting for 33 years. I bought several items and the big purchase was a pair of bronze herons to use in a pond, they spout water. :)

I will take some pics tomorrow.

I am loving everyone's garden art! What a wonderful thread. Colleen, the sculpture of Seamus is amazing! There are lots of odds and ends decorating my garden. We've got bowling balls scattered about, struts from cars that have been painted, a metal dress form with a clematis growing up it, metal sculptures, a Lyman Whitaker wind sculpture, a gorgeous new bell that we just bought while on vacation, several bottle trees, rusty patio chairs, a rusty donkey sculpture, a cat sculpture, mushrooms, and I'm sure more that I can't recall at this moment. I will take some pictures of some things to add to the thread soon. Thanks to all of you for sharing your photos. I had never thought about mirrors in the garden before, and I really like it!

Paula B, you made the best selection right there. I've seen some herons which cost thousands of dollars, it is a classic for a garden. I cannot wait to see yours. I bet the homeowners were glad to see them go to a good home. I can feel uncontained excitement from here, honey. Congratulations

Thanks moccasin. The herons aren't set up yet so I will save that photo for later. I bought 2 very large pots and 2 old concrete urns complete with lichen. The photos of the garden art are below...
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Big Mac - apparently that is his name.
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Old wheel and shovel - there is an a part on the hub for grease. You can clearly see some of the construction zone in the background.
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Some sort of a flying bug :)