Coastline Treasures

One can easily take the humdrum yard and make it exhilarating.  Take a few minutes and examine your yard.  When entering your yard, what do you see first?  What’s next?  Do you have any accent items such as stepping stones, benches, birdhouses?  Do they make an impact?  Are they too small or too big where they are placed?  These are just a few questions you should ask while exploring your yard.  Once you take inventory you can create a plan to make changes.

Sometimes it is best to remove the items that you have and start over or you may choose a few items to keep and discard the rest.  Be sure that where ever you place your items, they can be seen and make an impact on the area. Things to consider are; their size in relationship to the plants, competition with other decorative items such as stones, water elements, pots and so on.  Groupings will make an impact as long as they have elements in common such as texture or color.  A favorite item to include is metal yard art as its texture lends a nice contrast to plants.  Whether you like shiny metal or rustic aged metal; both will look spectacular when transforming your yard.

Like most gardeners, I’m quick to take credit for my green thumb when in fact my true talent is for organization. It took me a while to figure out that no matter how gorgeous your blooms and blossoms might be, the effect is wasted unless you know how to arrange them artfully. I like to plant complementary colors and styles in the same vicinity of the garden.

On top of that, I like to further organize the garden area with some metal yard art. Without these stylish accents, observers don’t know where to look or spend time in the garden. The key is to create a natural line of sight from one landmark to another with the flowers serving as a continuous presence along the way. Over the years I’ve had many guests over to the house and in the spring and summer they are always complimenting me on the garden.

The Sandpiper is abundant in North America with their population in the millions.  These small birds are a familiar scene running along the seashore and in mudflats.  These wading birds have long legs with slender bills to forge their food in the sand or mud.  They mainly eat insects, small crustaceans and mollusks.  These migratory birds fly to both North America and South America in large flocks.

These birds are so common upon our shores; a trip to the beach would be incomplete without them.  I love watching these small birds as they run around looking for food.  If you are lucky you can see them as they nest in local vegetation as they incubate their eggs and eventually care for their young.  Bring home a memory of these special birds with pictures, souvenirs or metal yard art, to name a few.

Why is it that we are fascinated with the flamingo?  They are tall and statuesque with long legs and a long neck. They often stand on one leg; quite a balancing act for sure.  They often tuck their head under their wing making them look as though they are headless.  What about their oddly shaped beaks, which are specially adapted to separate mud and silt from their food which is uniquely used upside down!  Depending on what they eat, their feather color varies from a light pink to a deep red in color.

These amazing, yet a bit strange creatures draw us to them.  You can’t go to the zoo without visiting the flamingos.  You read about them in books, see them in pictures, and display them in your yard!  Having a set of metal yard art flamingos would bring tribute to these unique creatures not to mention add a bit of fun.  Surely, they would add a smile to your face every time you see them.

Metal yard art comes in all shapes, sizes, and colors.  So, how do you know which to pick?  Brightly colored metals will add life to your garden while softer colored metals will seem more like silhouettes.  Copper-metal yard art is also very common.  Made to look more natural and rusted, copper art will provide a more natural and look to your garden.  The copper will also catch the sunlight and give your garden a beautiful and vibrant glow.

When choosing metal yard art you must choose between formal and informal styles.  Formal art would be that which you purchase from a manufacturer and has a proper finish.  Informal art is for those who want to add a more personal touch to their garden.  While it can be purchased, informal art is more often hand made from recycled materials.  Whichever you chose, metal yard art is a great addition to any garden.

 With spring here and summer on its way, it is time to take a good look outdoors.  Has it been a while since you took a stroll through your yard?  Take a moment and look, really look. What plants need trimming?  Which ones need to be replaced?  What about the grass?  Now is the time to trim, feed, replace plants, check sprinklers or irrigation systems. 

 Use your imagination.  What else can you do to enhance your yard for summer enjoyment?  What about a fresh coat of paint on the settee?  Add a few decorative pots with water wise plants?  How about some metal yard art to add a dash of fun?  Taking the time to add a few extras will really go a long way in making that outdoor summer BBQ more enjoyable.  The weather is nice so get outdoors and enjoy.