Some of my garden art

I showed you a few pics of part of my yard. Part of what I love about gardening is having a unique little retreat . I try and create different "rooms" in my yard and use art to help me do so. I make most of my art, I use concrete and various mixes, mosaics, ceramics etc. I made a concrete casting of a gunnerra leaf, and several spheres using glass light fixtures for the shape. This is in my front yard, I am trying to get different types of grasses to grow in the area so there will be lot's of texture, Cindy

I have made several benches using various types of concrete mixes, and stained glass or tiles to create a pattern. I often have a little figurine of some sort perching on them, This is a mexican styled bench I created, I had it in a rock garden area with succulents and spiky sort of plants
Cindy

I also like to carve little figures out of concrete mixes, I thought a little mermaid would be cute in my small pond, so made this little three piece gal, which I called Lola, in her hands she holds a marble.

I have made lot's of bird baths. The birds don't seem to like the mosaic ones too much. Perhaps they think they are too bright. I used a broken ceramic bird bath to cast a new concrete bird bath for a metal stand I had, then mosaiced it, added a small mosaiced bird as well, it brightens up a perennial area.They seem to like the leaf ones quite a bit more.
Cindy

Cindy, I'm very impressed with your garden art. You're very talented, and creative. That's a fortunate combo for your garden! Beautiful !!

I noticed you don't have your hardiness zone listed. Here's a link for the Canadian hardiness zones, so you can figure it out.
http://sis.agr.gc.ca/cansis/nsdb/climate/hardiness/intro.html

Christine

I love your garden art Cindy....you're very creative.

This has reminded me that we've had a lot of thefts of garden ornaments around our neighbourhood this year. We haven't lost anything because all of our creations in the front yard are just made using rocks but others have had to move everything to their back yards if it hasn't already been stolen. They did catch somebody but he'd already sold a lot of things to buy drugs so most people didn't get their stuff back. Have you ever had any problems with theft?

Sandy

Cindy
Love your garden art,you do great work.
I too have made leaf casting from my elephant ears, hosta and rhubarb. They made great gifts.
This year I bought a gunnera and hope to make a leaf casting of it next year.. sure hope it winters here, I will mulch it to protect it, as you know how cold it gets here in Wpg.
This year I was into gazing balls made out of bowling balls,
I have pictures poisted in this forum but way down the line, if you would like to see I can repost for you..
Thanks for sharing you garden with us..
Wilma

I have never had anything stolen Sandy.I had lot's of things in the front yard when I lived in Calgary in a newer subdivision, and it was fine also. I have an RCMP officer across the street now, and an elderly neighbor who keeps an eye on things. I made a couple of things to give to one of the guys at work, and when he came to pick them up, she came over to make sure he wasn't taking them. He's a very large man, and she's a tiny little senior, so I don't know if she really should have done it for her own safety.Wilma, I think you will have to really mulch that gunnera, you will be really pushing it out of it's zone.I'd love to see your bowling balls, I have done a few of them, and they look so neat.Here is a 4 piece fountain I made, with a colored tufa mix, the water comes out of the sphere at the top, and dribbles to the basin.
Cindy
Cindy

Christine, thanks for the link for the zones, I now have mine.
Cindy

Thank you for sharing these pics Cindy. You're a very creative gardener! --Ginny

Cindy
I love your cement art!! and am very inspired to try some too.
Do you have any special tips that you have learned over time?
I especialy like the Gunnera casting and the bench.!
Do you bring any of it in for the winter or do you leave it out? Do you put any protective finnish on it?
Any advice would be wonderful.
Ann

Cindy
Here is one of my gazing balls it is a large steel ball painted copper
Love the water fountain..
Wilma

This message was edited Oct 8, 2005 9:42 AM

Cindy
here is the one that I made using a bowling ball
Wilma

Wilma, I love both those balls, is the first one mounted on a ceramic insulator?
I don't bring any concrete things in for the winter, but would tuck the mosaic bird baths in the garage so they don't crack during a freeze thaw cycle. I seal some of the items with thompsons water seal, or any concrete sealer around, I am not too fussy. If I have to repaint something in a few years I am okay with that. Ann all I can say is give it a try and experiment, you will soon have some treasures.
Cindy

Cindy, I love the art. Do you do it just for yourself and for pleasure or do you sell some of your work? I'm sure you could go into business and be successful if you wanted to.

Ann

hiAnn, I do sell a fair bit of my work. That's probably a good thing as it supports my gardening habit, and otherwise I would have far too much in my yard. I do comissions for people, or just sell through word of mouth. I have had garden art sales in my yard with good success. I work lots at my regular job though, so it is really just a hobby for me at this point.
Cindy

Cindy
Yes the first one is mounted on a ceramic insulator.
well that is really neat that you do sell some of your garden art,
Have to support the gardening habit.
I had really allot of fun when I did my leaf castings and so nice to see that we can do more that just leaves,,
Thanks for sharing your great garden art with us,,

Wilma

Cindy, how much would you charge for, say, one of the verdigris leaves, please...you can e-mail me...........Elaine

Love your leaves Cindy. Was going to try some this summer but NALS & lilies generally got in the way. Maybe next year.

Will really HAVE to visit Nanaimo next time I come to BC>
Inanda

Cindy, you certainly have an artistic bent. Love them all.

Joan

Wilma, I like your artistry also. Gee, now I'm thinking of getting my hands into some concrete next Spring. ;•)

Joan

Greetings,

Cousin of DH lives on the Island - up Parksville way. Must make a note to look you up next time we are out that way. Since DD#2 lives in Vancouver, we do make it west once in awhile.

Ann

Great job, Cindy. I really like your little character sitting on the bench.
:) Donna

Lovely garden art; I'm somewhat addicted to the stuff and since I don't have the artistic bent I buy way more of it than I should. They should have rental agencies for garden art too so that we could change our looks every couple of seasons without acquiring a warehouse full of stuff.

You do a fantastic job on those sculpures. Good stuff!

You're making some wonderful garden art.

Hi.

I must agree with everyone and tell you that your garden art is really nice and interesting.

Sadly, I am not so artistically inclined. However, I cast this stepping stone from a petasites japonicus giganteus leaf (38 inches X 29 inches) out of cement. At 4 inches thick, it's strong enough for me to walk on. There is wire mesh inside the cement, so it will definitely stay outside this winter. That bed has petasites and astilboides tabularis (large leaf theme).

Sylvain.

Hi Cindy...do you take orders and what are your prices like please? Your work is fabulous. I am sometimes in your area Nanaimo, could I see your fantastic garden in person??
Cheers, Solomon.

I am fine with a visit to my garden Solomon. It of course isn't the best time of year for it, but my brugs and dahlias are still looking pretty good. I really don't have anything for sale currently. My mom passed away a couple of months ago, and Dad hasen't been well. Consequently I have made just a few things for my self and friends recently. I plan to produce some things over the next few months, so in the new year should have a few treasures...
Cindy

Oh dear, Cindy...........we both lost our moms this summer........sorry for your loss.......Elaine

Sorry to hear of yours as well Elaine. Every day I think of my mom, and try and focus on the positive memories rather than letting it get me down.My Dad isn't doing wonderfully, and I have to try and keep him going as best I can. Making garden art is very healing for me, I just have been so busy as I have ended up being executor for Mom's estate, and Dad's been in and out of the hospital so much also.If I didn't work full time it would be easier ,,, oh well. I am sure things will improve.
Cindy