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GARDEN DELIGHTS
02/08/12
Kathleen Wilson
When the weather is warm we try and spend a lot more of our leisure time outdoors.
A good idea is to decorate your garden area with all the comforts of home -
just outside of home. A few touches will give your outdoor space a feeling of
welcome and a beauty all its own.
Color is certainly one aspect of the great outdoors that lends itself to limitless
ideas and possibilities. You can pick one of the most intense colors or bring
into play the lighter
less prominent hues. A white fence or gate will give eye appeal to bright, vibrant
blooms and it doesn’t even have to lead to anything in particular. Just
a piece of white picket fencing in a plush wildflower garden will have that
added punch of visual appeal and a
certain nostalgic feeling as well. If you have a screened in porch or area,
use beautiful hand-made quilts or throw pillows with bright, lively colors that
match or even contrast your flower colors.
Texture is also fun to play with. Smooth surfaces should be highlighted with
baskets.
A glass-top patio table lends itself to a basket of fruit, or flowers. Rough
fieldstone steps or walking areas show off their special features with smooth,
bright shiny accents. A porch swing, whether part of the porch itself or just
by itself in a fragrant array of flowers, is a joy to sit on and to take in
the aromas and eye-delights of this season. Colorful pads and side-tables add
to the appeal, as well as hold those pitchers of ice-cold home-made
lemonade.
A wooden gazebo adds so much to a garden without being too showy or prominent.
Potted plants that be used as accessories, as well as ornaments or metal colors
such as
bronze or gold. It is a special hideaway while you wile away the hours being
captivated by the blossoming beauty just surrounding this special place.
Fun objects such as butterflies, angels, little play benches, or bird baths
give a light touch to any area that is too serious or intense. Also using your
imagination can give visitors the impression that you labored just as hard on
the amenities as on the garden itself. If you should ever encounter one of those
old clawfoot bathtubs (retail shops, demolition area,
or even the city recycling center) you can have a very one-of-a-kind fountain.
Outfit your cast-off tub with a shower head, put it in a corner of your garden,
especially near a wooden fence with ferns or ivy and you have one terrific waterfall
that adds fresh water, the sound of a waterfall, and the appeal of “antique”
to your garden.
Store bought objects are fine in a pinch, but hunt down those discards or garage
dust-collectors and you have “original” accents. An old rocking
chair can be painted with weather resistant paint and cushions. Clay pots decorated
by your children or grandchildren add a light touch. Old buckets, stepladders,
watering cans or animal figurines are just so many colors on your artist’s
palette of ideas just waiting to be used.
There is so much fun to have in decorating your outdoors home-area. You only
need imagination, some bright paint or material, and a whole lot of enthusiasm.
There is never a mistake to be had - if you don’t like something - change
it. If you stick to inexpensive items, they can be interchanged at whim and
your garden will always have a fresh perspective. Show off your plants, as well
as your artistic talent!
ENJOY!
©Arleen M. Kaptur 2002 May
About the Author
Arleen Kaptur has written numerous articles, cookbooks, and the novel:
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