Spring has arrived and once again the endless regiment of weeding and spraying, and mowing and planting has taken over our every leisure moment. While I join the rest of you in laboring to have a well-manicured lawn and weed-free flowerbeds, my true joy each spring comes from bringing my yard art out of storage. Yes, “designing” your yard to express your individual personality is a growing trend and one that is easier than you might think.
Start with what you have on hand. Your garage may hold garden treasures you have not considered. Old galvanized buckets, tubs and watering cans, step ladders, iron beds and even the drawers from an old dresser can be turned into great outdoor decor. For some clever ideas for repurposing your treasures visit Pinterest. I found more than 50 ways to use a simple flowerpot — who knew?
Set aside a day to visit an architectural salvage yard in the area. The trellises, urns, bird houses, lattice work and unusual architectural pieces found here have been reclaimed from demolition sites and tend to be one-of-a-kind. East 10th Street here in Indy is home to two buildings full of great garden ideas: Audrey’s Place at 3228 E. 10th and Tim and Julie’s Another Fine Mess at 2901 E. 10th. Allow plenty of time to explore these shops as they are packed with hundreds of unique finds.
Antique malls abound with ideas for your porches and gardens. Throw away the rule book on this one. What about an old iron gate for a trellis, a bridge lamp skeleton to hold a hanging plant, or a small wheelbarrow turned on its side and filled with dirt to use in place of a flower bed? Porch pots, wicker and iron furniture, old porch swings, rockers, and screen doors in “gently used” condition are also common stock items and can often be found for a fraction of the price you will pay for new.
Pop-up markets are growing in popularity and are a wonderful source for garden items and DIY projects for your yard. The Johnson County Market in Franklin at the fairgrounds, Market on the Pennsy on Bonna Avenue in Irvington, Indy Arts and Vintage at Clay Terrace in Carmel, and Indy Urban Flea in Broad Ripple are some of my favorites. You can learn more about each by visiting their Facebook pages.
There exists a fine line between an eclectic look and “Wow, those people need to clean their yard.” One way to set a theme is by starting with a centerpiece. From the serenity of a Victorian angel to the Gothic appeal of a gargoyle, statuary makes an excellent choice. If statues are not to your taste, try a birdbath or a fountain. These provide a contrast in texture to your plants while providing a cool drink for our little feathered friends during the hot summer months.
The best gardens are those that are shared. Years ago I sat an old park bench in my backyard flower garden. My husband retreats to that old bench to read. It has been the resting place for several teenage suitors while they waited for my daughter to finish “getting ready” and my grandsons love to sit on Grandma’s bench to watch for the bunny rabbits and butterflies that visit the garden. Benches, gliders, and small iron bistro sets incorporated into your yard invite others to stop and enjoy the beauty of your handiwork and the peace that can only be found, in the garden. Until next time . . . Linda
Linda Kennett is a professional liquidation consultant specializing in down-sizing for seniors and the liquidation of estates and may be reached at 317-258-7835 or lkennett@indy.rr.com.
