I am an inorganic gardener. Now, before you get your knickers in a twist, hear me out. I’m not talking about bug spray and pesticides and all that stuff. I just mean that my garden isn’t only composed of organic – that is, living – things. It also has inorganic components to it. Namely, my garden décor.
My mother says that decorations “make” the garden – and I tend to agree with her. Visitors to my garden always “ooh” and “aah” about the garden stakes, wall hangings, bird houses, wind chimes, and whirligigs that brighten my little yard.
Think about all that decorations can do to accent your garden. You can:
- Break up the visual line of a fence or wall.
- Add motion with spinners, mobiles, and flags that move in the wind.
- Invite birds with bird houses, bird baths, and bird feeders.
- Provide height with ornamental stakes before plants have fully grown in, or in areas where the plants grow low.
- Supply color when certain plants are not in flower.
- Enjoy music with the addition of wind chimes or bells.
- Bring a smile with a touch of whimsy!
You can buy garden décor, repurpose used items (for example, turn old silverware into a wind chime), or create your own decorations (I just created a garden hanging made of beads, shells, copper wire, and a branch that had been worn smooth over time).
Fun little hedgehogs sit on my path
Here is a decoration I made out of leftover beads, shells, and wire.
Flags add color, movement, and height to the garden bed.
My armillary sphere has provided height and a focal point to my garden bed for over a decade.
Birdhouses attract little friends, like this wren.
An old metal wheel provides a backdrop for the first flowers of spring.
Have fun with your garden décor … you can create any mood you want – elegant, woodsy, folksy, whimsical – the choice is yours. Enjoy being an inorganic gardener!
