Yard art adds beauty, ambience to home
By Mark D. Moody
North Forty News
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We may appreciate some of the best weather on the planet, and that means
spending more time in our yards enjoying the outdoors. As a result, we
employ extraordinary measures creating an environment that is both comfortable
and serene.
The Greek philosopher Plato stated that art should imitate nature, thereby
setting into motion an entire industry of garden art to better commune
with the outdoors
The Romans sculpted marble visions of gods to adorn the gardens of their
villas. This may have been an inspiration of the much-admired Greeks.
Europe in the 18th and 19th centuries expanded the notion with formal gardens
of fountains, courtyards and statuary to further integrate architecture
with nature.
Gertrude Jekyll, the English horticulturist and garden designer of the
same period, wrote extensively about creating an attractive outdoor environment
employing not only her beloved roses but also wooden trellises, wrought
iron and stone.
History seems to have provided good inspiration for today's marketplace.
Much of what is available today will have the appearance of granite or
marble but will be made in precast concrete or composite materials. Amazingly
versatile, this method provides us with the birdbaths, fountains, statues,
garden benches and much more. This process of fabrication does not limit
the styles available. Shopping locally provided examples of not only period
pieces but Oriental, ultra-modern and religious figures.
Looking back need not be confined to the classical or Victorian age. Nostalgia
still is a powerful influence and we can still recall the gazing globes
of our youth. These brightly colored glass balls are making a comeback
in wide varieties of sizes and finishes. Sold separately, the pedestals
can be made of various materials from terra cotta to wrought iron.
Pottery may not be the first notion one comes up with to adorn the back
yard. It may be that kind of contrast with growing things that makes an
idea interesting. Theresa Rose of Cache La Pottery displays several of
their creations out of doors. The LaPorte potters witnessed an interesting
art critic last summer as an inquisitive bear got his head stuck in the
graceful neck of a tall clay vase. No worse for wear, the green colored
creation still shares the yard with the rest of nature.
The sources for garden ornaments have never been more numerous. Every big
box store, nursery and grocery store will stock their share of garden gnomes
and flamingos. Antique pieces are readily available through a wide range
of outlets, but architectural salvage yards, flea markets and antique stores
always have plenty of choices. The wrinkles, dents and rust that result
from years of use reflect the character today's manufacturers strive to
duplicate. It is that patina that links us with the past as if that bird
bath had spent its long life in your backyard.
Durability should be a consideration in selecting garden art. The ornaments
for your yard should stand up to the wildlife and the wild weather of Colorado.
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