Artful Gardening
/By: Kim Brewer- Bettencourt
I’m thrilled to write this month’s article on a topic cherished by many gardeners and one that personally inspires me—using art and architecture in the garden.
Recently, Bartram Garden Club members gathered to visit two gardens during a season when gardens aren’t always at their peak. What made these gardens memorable wasn’t just the clear care and nurturing they’d received; it was the artistic elements that truly brought them to life, adding a personal touch that set them apart.
There are many ways to incorporate art into a garden, often using treasures found while thrifting or scavenging. I’ve discovered unique, artful pieces along roadsides, in thrift stores, and even made some myself. Adding these elements can transform a garden into a space that reflects your unique style and creativity. Creating a theme for your garden is also an expression of your own uniqueness and creativity.
Some of the artistic elements featured in the photographs below include custom-made pavers, hand-built arbors, stained glass creations, and unexpected items like an old canoe, a wheelbarrow, rusty iron furniture, architectural plants with striking shapes, and cement garden structures and fountains. I even learned that old mailboxes make fantastic planters!
Please enjoy some of the photographs from last month’s Bartram Garden Club tour, along with some of the artistic inspirations I’ve included in my own gardens over the years.
Garden Pathways: Highlight inviting stone pathways by creating an image of a serene garden path surrounded by greenery. This particular pathway surrounds a beautiful butterfly garden.
“Just Restin”: An old canoe was repurposed to inspire fun and relaxation. This could also be an area with comfortable seating, like a hammock or bench, surrounded by lush plants. Adding garden props like the canoe or an old wheel barrow create a welcoming vibe.
Decorative Planters: Create a whimsical and fun space by using unique planters, water features and similar elements. This could show off the creative, playful side of your garden, with colorful flowers or unique arrangements in decorative pots.
Gravel Bed with Sculptures: Capture a minimalist, well-maintained gravel garden with accents like small statues or pottery planters. A stylized scene that balances simplicity with carefully chosen decorative elements works well.
Overall Garden Layout: Consider an aerial or layout-style illustration that showcases multiple zones, pathways, decorative areas, plant beds, and resting/sitting areas.
Mosaic Stepping Stones: Beautifully crafted mosaic stones create an artistic pathway, adding color and texture to the garden walkways.
Colorful Glass and Tile Art: Brightly colored tiles and glass accents integrated into the ground and vertical elements bring a playful, artistic vibe.
Decorative Posts with Glass Insulators: Uniquely adorned posts featuring vintage glass insulators and embedded gems create focal points and add a whimsical touch.
Pergola Entryway: A wooden pergola provides a charming entrance, framing the garden and giving it a sense of structure and elegance.
Lush Plant Variety: A diverse mix of plants and vibrant foliage surrounds the decorative elements, enhancing the garden’s natural beauty.
Thoughtful Color Coordination: The colors in the plants and decorative elements are carefully coordinated, creating a harmonious, cohesive look throughout the garden.
Inviting Pathways: Well-designed pathways guide visitors through the garden, making it accessible and inviting for exploration.
Birdhouse on a Tall Post: A classic birdhouse perched on a tall post provides a focal point, a backdrop and brings life to a garden.
Vintage-Style Garden Decor: The use of statues, pedestals, vintage-style plant stands, and an old rusty iron chair, add a rustic, vintage feel to the garden.
Lush Ferns and Spillover Plants: Strategically placed ferns and spillover plants, add lush greenery and visual interest.
Large Flowering Shrubs: In this case, a large Lime-Light Hydrangea bush creates a soft, romantic touch, contrasting beautifully with the surrounding greenery. Such shrubs are nice ‘statement’ additions to any garden.
Metal Wall Art: Bright, flower-shaped wall art in vibrant colors adds pop to an old garden fence.
Decorative Bird Bath: A turquoise bird bath adds a pop of color and serves as both a functional and decorative feature.
“Firefly Cottage” Flower Box: An old mailbox doubled as a flower box gives the garden a cozy, cottage-style charm, adding character and a welcoming touch.
