Beyond Plants: How Garden Art Can Transform Your Treasure Valley Landscape
As summer begins to give way to fall in the Treasure Valley, our gardens start to change. Some flowers are finishing their bloom, annuals are beginning to look tired, the tomatoes might not ripen quite as quickly as they did just a week or so, and the landscape takes on a slightly different character as the days become shorter.
This is a wonderful time to take another look at your landscape—not just at the plants, but at the spaces between them.
One of the easiest ways to add personality and year-round interest to a garden is through garden art.
Garden art doesn’t have to dominate a landscape or make your yard look overly decorated. When thoughtfully placed, a statue, birdbath, metal sculpture, decorative stone, or even a simple garden ornament can become an important part of the overall design.
Think of Garden Art as Part of the Landscape
A common mistake is to think of garden art as something that is simply “put” in the garden.
Instead, think of it as another element of your landscape design, much like a tree, shrub, a perennial or a group of annuals.
A well-placed piece can draw your eye toward a particular area, provide a focal point, or add interest to a space that might otherwise be overlooked.
For example, a beautiful statue surrounded by low-growing perennials can create a peaceful destination at the end of a garden path. A birdbath can become a focal point among shrubs and flowers. A decorative piece tucked into a planting bed can give the garden something interesting to look at even after many of the flowers have finished blooming.
Choose the Right Size
Scale is one of the most important considerations when adding garden art.
A large piece can look wonderful in an open landscape but may overwhelm a small planting bed. Likewise, a tiny ornament can disappear when surrounded by large shrubs or mature trees.
Before purchasing or placing a piece, consider the size of the area and the plants surrounding it.
Stand back and look at the entire space. Garden art should be noticeable, but it shouldn’t necessarily be the first—and only—thing you see. Still having a problem choosing the right piece of art? Then ask one of our garden experts for their opinion.
Use Garden Art to Create a Focal Point
Every good landscape benefits from having places where the eye naturally stops.
Garden art can provide that focal point.
Perhaps there is a spot in your yard that seems to be missing something. Maybe it is the end of a walkway, an empty corner, or an area beneath a tree.
Instead of adding another plant simply to fill the space, consider whether a piece of garden art might provide a better solution.
A statue or sculpture can give the eye a destination and help make the entire planting area feel more intentional.
Don’t Be Afraid to Surround Art with Plants
Garden art generally looks best when it feels like it belongs in the landscape. I certainly recommend solar-lighted garden art. We have several items that project light at night and they look wonderful, lighting up the surrounding landscape as well as adding a little security to the area.
Rather than placing a statue in the middle of an empty lawn, consider surrounding it with plants.
Low-growing perennials can soften the base of a statue. Ornamental grasses can provide movement around a sculpture. Shrubs can frame a larger piece and help integrate it into the landscape.
The goal isn’t to hide the artwork. It’s to make the plants and the art complement one another.
Think About What Your Garden Looks Like in Fall and Winter
This is especially important for Treasure Valley gardeners.
We spend much of the spring and summer thinking about flowers and foliage. But our landscapes can look very different once autumn arrives and winter eventually settles in.
That is one reason garden art can be such a valuable addition.
A beautiful piece of statuary or sculpture doesn’t lose its appeal when the flowers stop blooming. It can continue to provide structure and visual interest throughout the year.
In fact, sometimes a piece of garden art becomes even more noticeable during the quieter months of the garden.
Concrete Statuary Can Become a Lasting Part of the Garden
For gardeners who appreciate traditional garden design, concrete statuary can add a sense of permanence and character to the landscape.
Henri Studio is well known for its handcrafted concrete statuary and garden pieces, with designs ranging from classic figures and animals to architectural and decorative elements.
The beauty of quality statuary is that it can become more than decoration—it can become part of the story of a garden.
A favorite statue may remain in the landscape for many years, becoming something that homeowners associate with a particular garden, home, or stage of life.
Less Can Often Be More
Perhaps the most important rule when decorating a landscape is don’t overdo it.
You don’t need a piece of garden art in every planting bed.
One thoughtfully chosen piece in the right location can have much more impact than several pieces competing for attention.
Walk through your garden and look for areas that could benefit from a little personality. Ask yourself:
Where does my eye naturally go?
Is there an empty space that needs a focal point?
Could a piece of art add interest after the flowers are gone?
Does the style of the artwork complement my home and landscape?
These simple questions can help you decide where garden art will have the greatest impact.
Your Garden Should Reflect You
Perhaps the best thing about garden art is that there are no strict rules about what belongs in your landscape.
Some gardeners prefer classical statuary. Others enjoy whimsical animals, colorful metal artwork, birdbaths, fountains, or more contemporary sculptures.
Your garden is an extension of your home—and it should reflect your personality.
As we move into fall here in the Treasure Valley, take a few minutes to walk through your landscape and look at it with fresh eyes. You may discover that the garden doesn’t necessarily need more plants.
It might simply need a little personality.
At Aloha Home & Garden, we believe a beautiful landscape is about more than plants. It’s about creating an outdoor space that you enjoy spending time in and that feels like your own.
And sometimes, the perfect finishing touch isn’t another flower or shrub.
It’s the piece of garden art that makes you stop and smile.
Aloha Home and Garden
By: Charlie H.
Idaho Certified Nurseryman
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