Garden Design

Garden Design: How To Choose And Place Garden Art In Your
Backyard
By Deborah Boland

Your backyard should relax and refresh you, but it should also
delight you! Choosing garden art that reflects your personality
and makes you feel good is an important key to creating the
ultimate backyard.

Art can mean many things to many people but basically there are
3 types:

1. Formal Art

Think larger stately pieces that you see in more traditional
backyards, like a classic sculpture of a Greek goddess or a
stone angel. Heavy iron garden ornaments like obelisks and
sundials also work well with most backyard landscape designs.

These pieces create an old-world feel and lend a sense of drama
to the yard. Others might include columns, carved fountains,
birdbaths, and classical architectural salvage.

2. Semi-formal

This is the most popular type because it suits so many styles
of backyards. It‘s more relaxed in theme, a little more
nostalgic and decorative.

For example, light hearted sculptures of animals or children in
concrete, resin or bronze, contemporary metal sculptures of
flowers and insects, stained glass stepping stones, artistic
birdhouses, and hand painted garden pots, copper wind chimes.

3. Informal Art

I call this art “your imagination gone wild”. Everyday objects
are placed in the garden to create art that is fun, whimsical,
and even campy.

I‘ve seen all kinds of items used as garden décor like: old
rubber boots planted with flowers, a nostalgic wire bedroom
headboard , an antique window frame, an old-fashioned bathtub, a
dressmaker’s dummy, and fancy china plates.

Remember that the type of art you choose should be in keeping
with the feel of your backyard but it should also be an
expression of you.

The most important thing is that you should feel some emotional
attachment to your garden art.

Tips for placing Garden Art

In the garden, art becomes a focal point. Your eye is naturally
drawn to it and it commands your attention. So where you place
it is important. Put garden art:

• In a boring, bare part of the yard to add interest and
stimulate conversation

• At the end of a path to add drama

• In any area to add comic relief. I have a cute bronze frog
lying on a back on a lily pad beside my waterfall and pond.

• In front of an ugly spot to hide dead patch

• Directly in line with an unwanted view of the neighbour’s
yard to create privacy

• On a wall or fence to visually break up the long monotonous
line. I have a beautiful concrete painted face hanging on one
part of my fence and a mirror hanging on another to add
interest.

• In front of a colourful burst of foliage to punctuate the
space. My classical white bird bath looks gorgeous just in front
of my huge pink rose bush

• Hidden behind some greenery so it just peeks out a little to
create a feeling of antiquity. This will put plants in the
spotlight.

• Within the frame of a beautiful view to enhance the view even
more. My backyard is on the lake and the view is made even more
beautiful by a large fountain of Poseidan the sea God that we
have made part of the view.

• In a rock garden to create feeling of garden gallery. The
rocks are natural pedestals for the art and create a wonderful
playground for eye to bounce around in and land on art.

Don’t forget about the view from inside. Take a look out your
window to see where you might place art so that it draws you out
into the backyard.

Finally, less is more. Too much garden art will make your
backyard look junky. All you need is a few interesting pieces to
personalize your backyard and give it a sense of place.

Deborah Boland © 2006 All Rights Reserved

About the Author: Deborah Boland is the host of the popular
HGTV Canada TV series, Backyard Pleasures and author of Backyard
Pleasures: 7 Simple Steps to Transform Your Ho-Hum Backyard into
a Breathtaking Oasis. http://www.backyardpleasuresblog.com

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