The Meaning of the Details

Today I began a brick path leading to my gazebo. As storm clouds and thunder rolled in, I also outlined my gazebo shade garden with brick edging. The garden now has more definition. As I gardened, I began thinking...the beauty is in the details. Containers with pretty pots; a rustic wooden fence as a backdrop; stone paths; arches covered in vines; fairies tucked under hostas -- the details are what make the garden special. Beyond color schemes and plant varieties, the man-made elements of a garden call attention to the gardener's handiwork. I will finish out this season further defining pathways and tucking visual elements into the setting to put my stamp on my landscape. After all, showing our unique talents and viewpoints is part of what gardening is all about.

There is an area of historical study called "material culture." I was speaking to a friend about this yesterday. Material culture involves the study of the symbolism and hidden meaning of man-made objects. It involves looking at artifacts to determine what a culture or individual meant by the creations they left behind. One can examine a garden for its beauty. Or, one can dig even further and seek to understand the gardener through an examination of her style and the incorporated elements in her garden.

While researching my book, "The Gardener's Soul," I was especially struck by this method of understanding the gardener when I met a woman with very high end artistic taste. Her garden was tastefully peppered with fine art sculpture such as a bench by a well-known local artist. Tucked in one corner of the garden was a little gargoyle. He seemed out of place amidst the expensive stone artworks. He seemed an ordinary piece of garden whimsy. I wanted to know what this little piece of sculpture said about this gardener. Her garden was meticulous. The plants were in neat rows with neat pathways and few weeds. In conversation, I learned that this woman liked to feel in control of her surroundings and her life. Yet, I could feel that this deeply organized and image conscious person had a wild side that she kept close to her. When I mentioned the seemingly disparate gargoyle, she gave me a sly smile as if I discovered a little secret.

Faces on my trees; a sign that reads "If you are a fairy princess please come in"; a cat weather vane, Buddhist sculptures; curvy pathways -- all reveal different aspects of my personality. I wonder how people would read me if they ventured upon my gardens without a tour. Mom? cat person? Buddhist?

What secrets do your garden objects reveal about you? Or, are you conscientiously shouting a message to the world about yourself?

Garden Decoration

As the snow melts, my garden statues and decorative items reappear. I'll know that spring is here when my little bunny in the front garden is visible. The bunny was left by the previous owners and has become a friend to our family. He belongs more to this landscape than we do since he has been here longer. I often wonder what stories he can tell me. I wonder why he was left behind while the previous owner told us that her birdbath was coming with her and was not part of the house deal. Why was this little bunny discarded? Is he just a poor cheap bunny with which she never formed a connection?

Three garden statues came with me from my previous home. None of them were expensive, but they have all become part of our family. I have a geisha woman who is supposed to be hooked up to a fountain so she can pour water from a leaf in her hands. We attempted a pond at my last house by sinking a small one in the ground, but we never got as far as running the electricity. I also have two Buddhas, denoting my garden as a meditative space and welcoming visitors. We also have small new statues in my daughter's shade "reading" garden. We bought a little duck, bunny, and other child-friendly characters so she can talk to them or play with them while she is enjoying her very own quiet space. I"m sure she will grow attached to them as I've grown attached to my statues.

The snow has melted just enough so that now I can see the decorative, rusty metal wall hanging that I leaned up against a tree last year. It stands about 4 feet tall and next to my gazebo like a discarded used tire. Last year I decided to add more whimsy like this to my garden and move away from just "traditional" statues. I have tree faces (the latest public craze I think) -- two plastic eyes, a nose, and mouth hung on trees with nails. The four faces have definite personalities and we go check on them once in awhile. One is always sleeping with his eyes closed. And the one that looks like Granddad Bob with his tickly mustache always makes us remark on the fact that he looks like Granddad Bob...None of them ever answer our questions "How are you today?" Anything new happening in the garden that we should know about?"

My garden decorations are rarely planned in any meaningful way. I usually just say something like "Hey, let's go get some garden animals to keep you company!" or I admire something at a garden center and bring it home. I never really thought deeply about decorating beyond plants until last summer when I visited the gardeners for the book I am writing. From whimsy to fine art, garden decoration really set a tone for the gardens and reflected the owners personalities. Garden decoration is much like the decor for a room. The rooms in my home also contain things I've picked up through my life travels. I don't usually design my whole living space. I'll bring home a clock I love and find a place for it. Or, some pictures I fall in love with on vacation will come home with me and the room will be rearranged to fit them in. If I form a connection with it than it warms up my space for me.

At the beginning of this entry I've included some pictures of garden decorations I encountered last year. I'd love to hear about your garden decorations. Please leave comments and share ideas.