Reflect on Your Garden's Mystery With Gazing Balls
Conjure a sense of magic with metallic garden spheres, which expand the view and your landscape's design potential
Amy Renea
August 16, 2012
Gazing balls, or garden spheres, have gotten a bad rap in the past few years — and I'll admit that I was one of the many that initially thought they were ugly and marred the face of a beautiful garden.
But lately I've started to appreciate these spheres for what they can add to a landscape. The trick is to conceal the balls and partially submerge the spheres, leaving a little to the imagination. A reflective sphere in the garden can add mystery and intrigue, but only if it is placed thoughtfully. Here are some gardens that have maximized the garden sphere as a mysterious and whimsical design element.
But lately I've started to appreciate these spheres for what they can add to a landscape. The trick is to conceal the balls and partially submerge the spheres, leaving a little to the imagination. A reflective sphere in the garden can add mystery and intrigue, but only if it is placed thoughtfully. Here are some gardens that have maximized the garden sphere as a mysterious and whimsical design element.
Gazing balls provide a quirky 360-degree view of the garden, opening up different views and creating new perspectives of your space. They can also be used to echo naturally reflective surfaces, such as water elements or the glints of sunshine off foliage.
Nestled between grasses, these globes show off the shoreline and add a little glimmer of light that echoes the reflective surface of the water.
Nestled between grasses, these globes show off the shoreline and add a little glimmer of light that echoes the reflective surface of the water.
Two points if you saw the gazing ball in this garden upon first glance.
It is perfectly placed as a little hidden surprise amidst the greenery. This singular ball offers a full view of the small and narrow garden, adding a sense of whimsy and space with elegance.
It is perfectly placed as a little hidden surprise amidst the greenery. This singular ball offers a full view of the small and narrow garden, adding a sense of whimsy and space with elegance.
Splashily colored, bright showoffs can take away from a landscape's blended textures and natural earth tones. But this particular design changed my mind. A bright blue ball amidst a bed of hostas reflects the sky the way a pool or a pond would. In the absence of water, a bright blue metallic surface is the next best thing.
You might think this garden sphere is breaking all the subtle rules of intrigue by being placed on a pedestal in full view. But this ball still fits into the design seamlessly because it works as a visual extension of the pillar and the stairway.
Instead of sticking out like a sore thumb in the middle of a vegetable garden, it creates a 360-degree view up the rock stairs and to the garden behind. What a wonderful way to begin a journey!
Instead of sticking out like a sore thumb in the middle of a vegetable garden, it creates a 360-degree view up the rock stairs and to the garden behind. What a wonderful way to begin a journey!
Did you know that these balls were once used to give servants all-around views of the guests they were serving? You might be starting to see why I've become a convert; they're quite magical.
Another favorite way to use metallic spheres is to simply place them in a pool to freely float. Partially submerged, they seem to belong within the confines of this rectangular pool yet reflect the wide-open views of the sky.
They seem to bobble along the surface of this water like a relaxed swimmer. Giving a sense of movement to a static feature, they beckon you to jump right in and join them.
Remember, the point of the ball is to offer a reflective surface to mimic natural elements — such as water and sun — to give a wide and distinct view of the garden and to add an element of mystery.
Using gazing balls in your interior space is an entirely different topic, but let's just say that I'm a recent convert to that concept, too.
Using gazing balls in your interior space is an entirely different topic, but let's just say that I'm a recent convert to that concept, too.
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If anyone is interested I have a great guide on Creating a Stylish Water Feature which should give you some excellent ideas - http://hometipster.com/how-to-create-a-stylish-water-feature/
Thanks for the post :)