Garden Sculptures

Mother Nature used to be enough. Flowers in a garden were considered so beautiful and expressive in 1865 that Lewis Carroll made them talk and sing in his book, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Times have changed. Artists have found new ways to bring life and spirit to your garden, and it's not in the flowers or plants, but rather in the garden sculptures.

A garden is a beautiful canvas for a work of art. With so many options, garden sculptures can appeal to almost any audience. Typically made from stone or concrete, garden sculptures are designed to withstand the elements of nature. They are also usually designed to be easily replicated. One type of garden sculpture is the garden gnome. Made from terracotta, the gnome is a legendary creature of small and robust stature. They are considered to be both wise and mischievous. They usually are portrayed wearing tall, pointed caps, and posing or participating in various pastimes such as fishing. Male gnomes normally have long white beards.

Some people prefer their garden sculptures to emulate those in European gardens, such as replicas of the statue of David, or more commonly, Venus de Milo. The Venus de Milo is an ancient Greek sculpture thought to portray Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love, beauty, and fertility. To the Romans, Aphrodite is known as Venus, hence the correlation between the two. Half nude, the Venus de Milo is one of the more sensual garden sculptures. Other similar garden sculptures may include various busts, torsos, or other figures.

Many garden sculptures call to mind a certain element of fantasy, or fairy tale. Could this be the effect that Lewis Carroll has had on gardens? Numerous garden sculptures portray cherubs or fairies, made of stone, to capture the imagination. Some people put gargoyles in their garden, though they are often represented as grotesque figures and may inspire fear in a guest unfamiliar with gothic garden sculptures. If gargoyles are your thing, don't let your guests stop you, it is your garden.

If you would instead like to antagonize your gargoyle-loving neighbors with innocence, there are always garden sculptures bearing the likeness of children and animals, such as frogs or ducks. These garden sculptures often seem right at home, playing or sleeping among the plants and flowers. There are also many garden sculptures of saints, crosses, or representations of Mary, for those who would prefer a religious presence in their garden.

And finally, I address those who love Mother Nature just for what she is, and would like a more natural piece of art. Garden sculptures are available that are designed with you in mind: birdbaths. Traditionally man-made from concrete, they are placed in a garden to bring the thirsty birds to your yard. Whether intricate in detail or not, this may be the nature-lover's favorite of the garden sculptures.

Whatever artwork you choose for your garden, Kahlil Gibran said it best: "Forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet and the winds long to play with your hair".