The Well-Seasoned Nest Blog

The promised glimpse of the sun through the heavy cloud cover will be a welcomed sight this afternoon after several, yet again, dreary, rain-soaked days.  The eagerness I feel for a little warmth and the opportunity to “play” in the garden is pretty intense!

I’ve been working on my garden journal whenever I can sneak a few minutes.   That helps, but it pales in comparison to “the real thing” -  the therapeutic, thoroughly enjoyable, task of digging in the dirt and actually setting up the Spring Kitchen Garden.

A few weeks back, on an unusually mild March day, we brought home a rusty old anchor with attached chain that had washed up on the rock structure along the beach here.  It was quite heavy but I couldn’t pass it up, a fine piece of garden art!  It’s placement in the garden scheme is yet undecided, but I know it will find an appropriate home here among the other salvaged treasures I have “discovered” in my jaunts out and about.

The Etsy website is full of great discoveries in just about any genre you can think of.  Art for the garden is no exception.  While checking out some birdhouses the other day, I came across a number of great shops that specialize in garden-related goods to enhance and give the garden that added panache!

Alice from MyGardenGoddess (love that name!) has a professional background in the commercial sculpting industry and holds a BFA degree, with a major in Sculpture.  This training is evident in her work, a line of pieces that share her aesthetic and style for anyone looking to adorn their garden with something unique.

The creation of a terra cotta spiral sun design is strong with symbolism. The spirals are representative of evolution and the cycle of life. The emanating rays of the sun, alternating wavy and straight, signify heat and light. Together the spiral sun is symbolic of growth and change…….two attributes important for any garden.  Lovely!

Self-dubbed a junk metal artist, Dwayne of DBulla believes that with the right “junk” and a little imagination, one can turn “Trash into Treasure”.  I completely agree!   Salvaging items destined for the landfill, he combines old world blacksmithing and new world welding in creating unique items for the home and garden from old tools and discarded metal.  He has a fun array of  critters, home decor and jewelry creations all created from “junk”.  Dwayne’s drill bit dragonfly is a great example – his listing of materials for this critter is “auger bit, ball bearing, cut nail, rust, steel.”  Gotta love it – and I do!

  A fellow bird enthusiast like myself has found a way put a fresh, new, wonderful spin on bird feeders.  Not only that, Jenny from RedYellowAndBlueInk donates a portion of each of her bird feeder sales to the National Audubon Society or The Nature Conservancy.  Her unique bird feeders are made from recycled, upcycled, traffic signal lenses made of a thick durable plastic.  She utilized stainless steel cable, upcycled rubber washers, and various hardware to build the feeder pictured below . The “s” shaped hooks that connect the base and the roof are upcycled used brass chain.  I love the look of these unusual feeders and, judging from her photos and video, the birds love them too!  What’s not to like?  Very cool!!!

And what’s a garden without birds?  A sweet little ceramic bird created by Amanda of OrganicCeramic will never leave his nesting place!  Hand-sculpted of stoneware, the sunshine sparrow perches upon his own little swing. The little bird was painted with yellow slip before being finished with a custom honey glaze.  Copper feet were made from recycled house wiring that was stripped and cleaned. The feet will patina over time giving the bird an antique feel.  Whether you give the sweet little guy a home indoors or out in the garden, he will enchant!  When you’re browsing through Amanda’s shop, be sure to check out the “cream of bird” teapot, too.  Delightful in every detail! 

As is done in interior spaces, using pieces of artwork in the garden are a way to personalize the space and give it a unique character.  Our gardens need style, too!  Haven’t you noticed how a garden takes on a personality, or so it would seem? 

For some, the garden is perfunctory.  A few bushes here, some marigolds there.  But for many, and the number is increasing, the garden is seen to be an extension of a person’s interior living spaces.  Much forethought is put into the planning of the space for both utilitarian and aesthetic purposes.  And so it should be! 

If you are looking for some additional ideas on ways to DIY adornment of your garden spaces, check out the book ”Garden Junk“, by Mary Randolph Carter, dubbed the “ultimate guide book for people who love old stuff, bargains, and the thrill of hunting for the perfect whatchamacallit you didn’t know you needed until you fell in love with it at a tag sale.”  The book is loaded with great photos….and ideas!

Three websites I’ll post before leaving for a lot of good garden decor inspiration ….. to peruse on the next rainy day.

http://www.easy-outdoor-decor.com/garden-art-from-trash.html

http://s91.photobucket.com/albums/k302/sangaree_KS/Garden%20Junk%20Inspiration%20Albums/For%20the%20BIRDS/

http://www.gardensandcrafts.com/gardenjunk.html

As always, I’d love to hear from you!   Have you any sources to share, or just want to join the dialogue?  What’s your favorite piece of garden art?  Jump on board….