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Yard Ornaments Galore!- Part 3GOING ‘A-I-P’ WITH ANIMAL DECOR Hillbillies had the right idea. A yard littered with hounds required little upkeep. Enter the flamingo and things began to get very busy. Hounds were out of the loop, unable to compete with such elegance. The flamingos smelled better too. Like a spark richoeting from one patch of dry grass to another, the flamingo idea drafted other animals into the yard-foal. Concrete lions began to appear, precariously stationed on pedestals of entrances leading to homes. Life-sized deer sprang up in herds across the land, in twos and threes, as bucks, as does. These were much safer than the real thing, practically non-threatening to a moving vehicle.
Frogs in all sizes, shapes and colors began appearing next to ponds and pathways. Massive butterflies in vibrant primary colors hit the market in full force, usually ending up being tacked to the front of a garage, to the left of the basketball goal. There was no longer a need to travel to Texas to catch a glimpse of a big bug. Ladybugs mocked the following, big and red with black spots. Owls also became popular, guaranteed to frighten away garden predators such as real birds. Very decorative rubber snakes come in all sizes and colors, resembling everything from curly rubber snarls to the most venomous variety. A rubber replica of a black mamba is just about guaranteed to keep away the most determined of crows from your garden. THE GNOME PHOENOMEA The Webster’s Dictionary defines a gnome as an ageless and often deformed dwarf of folklore who lives in the earth and usually guards precious ores or treasure. In the world of outdoor décor this additional definition could be added: Renown throughout towns and villages as cool yard decoration. Usually found in babyboomer’s yard. May be found in the midst of Gargoyles, life-sized plastic deer and flamingos. CUTE CUTOUTS These yard decorations are crafted from wood. Reindeer seem to always be in season. Dress one up in your mother-in-law’s turquoise hat and coat and that should be enough to scare any burglar away. Other popular cutouts include geese, pigs, sheep and cows. The delicate neck of the flamingo makes it an unlikely candidate for cutout creation. SAINT JOSEPH The first time I heard about Saint Joseph it took me two hours before I could close my mouth. It’s a growing trend, a guaranteed trinket that will sell your home for you. Saint Joseph even comes with instructions on how, where and when to plant him. There is a warning with your purchase; if you don’t follow the instructions to a tee, your house will probably not sell. A LIST OF VERY HONORABLE MENTIONS Grim Gargoyles, Wishing Wells, Thermometers, Weathervanes, Fountains, Garden Trellises, Fencing, Water Gardens & Ponds, Star Balls, Romantic Arches & Arbors, Smart Sprinklers, Whirly Gigs, Chimney Decorations WHERE DO I BEGIN TO FIND THESE TREASURES? Seek out local hardware stores, building centers, and garden shops. Some very good choices include: Pier 1 Imports, The Home Depot, Wolf’s Nursery, Calloway’s Nursery, Michael’s MJ Design, Garden Ridge, K-Mart, Target, Sears, Wal-Mart, Dollar General and your local mom and pop shops. Don’t cross out pool and spa companies, stone crafters, thrift shops, and garage and estate sales. There are always treasures to be found. Also check out your local library which generally has books on how to build decks, small ponds and craft objects. Your local bookstore should also have good selections. I would highly recommend reading the following: any Burpee Catalog & Seed Book, Outdoor Décor: Decorative Projects for the Porch, Patio & Yard by the Editors of Creative Publishing International; Outdoor Furniture for the Backyard Builder by Bill Hylton; Landscaping With Wood – The Practical Guide to Building Outdoors by Scott McBride; Making Twig Garden Furniture by David R. Montgomery and, Earth-Friendly Outdoor Fun – How to Make Fabulous Games, Gardens, and Other Projects from Reusable Objects by George Pfiffner. Your local Department of Agriculture can offer some very good suggestions on plants for your area. They are generally equipped with pamphlets that will help you beautify your yard while lending a hand to conservation. The truth has been unveiled and what’s to follow, no man knows. Could our yards become more festively decorated than the inside of our homes? There’s definitely a market being tapped in this area. How much is one willing to spend on yard trinkets? Some yard fountains can go for a few thousand dollars. That would buy a lot of flamingos! Yard Ornaments: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 |
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