Garden with whimsy to add the unexpected

GARDEN PATCH

Phyllis Webster earned a degree in journalism before embarking on a long career in public relations and marketing. A Granbury resident since 1998, she has been deeply involved in the community. She is an award-winning writer and photographer, as well as a Master Gardener. She has authored Garden Patch since 2001.

Whatever your garden style, reserve a place to add whimsy — something playful, fanciful or amusing. Your private outdoor space should make you want to smile. Whimsical items add an unexpected element to otherwise average landscapes. And they are a gardener’s reward for having spent many hours doing chores.

It’s easy to find inspiration. There are more than 900 “pins” for whimsical gardens on Pinterest alone — a social media bonanza. Do-it-yourself ideas abound, but never fear if you are not crafty. Retailers are fast to recognize a trend and stock accordingly. Do colorful metallic flowers capture your fancy? Maybe a giant armadillo needs a home in your back yard. You’ll find these whimsys along with gazing balls, art glass, fairy houses, bird baths and so much more by shopping online or in person.

A few do-it-yourself ideas include making the following: dragonflies from old silverware, flower borders from dishes, planters from bird cages, painted rocks, glass bottle trees and flower-pot people. Logs may be hollowed out as planters. Driftwood, strategically placed, adds a bit of natural sculpture to a garden bed.

A broken pot, tipped sideways, makes a perfect container for trailing plants. Old bicycles painted in bright colors create interesting focal points, especially if the bike baskets are filled with flowers.

Fantasy adds an extra dimension to any garden. Who doesn’t feel childlike joy in a fairy garden? A gnome village intrigues the grumpiest visitor as does a miniature railroad running through the landscape. Small ponds and water features allude to a grander vision, mimicking places around the world, such as Japanese tea gardens. Fantasy only requires a combination of plants, props and imagination.

Upcycling vintage items is a creative way to add character to gardens. Arts and craft fairs, as well as antique shops, second-hand stores, estate sales, flea markets and garage sales are fabulous places to source vintage finds such as old watering cans, wheelbarrows and bicycles.

Keep in mind that whimsical gardens require balance to be effective. Don’t be tempted to add too many cute elements. An over-the-top collection will lean toward cluttered rather than collected. To add “just a touch” of whimsy, consider mosaic stepping stones, a fanciful garden gate or a creative water feature, such as one made with an old-fashioned hand-operated water pump.  

Operating on a bigger budget? Outfit an elaborate garden shed, create an outdoor chess game or plant a topiary garden. Your imagination has free rein, so have fun!

For answers to your horticulture questions, please call the Texas AgriLife Extension, Hood County at 817-579-3280 or go online to visit lakegranburymastergardeners.org.

pwebsterco@gmail.com | 817-680-4849