Garden Ornaments

~ By Gardening Committee Members ~

This month we decided to have some fun and so our discussion focused on Fairies, Gnomes, etc. and how they relate to Gardening from our own individual perspective.

We shared thoughts regarding these areas, the reason we feel attracted to placing various ornaments amidst garden/container treasures (or not); what meaning, if any, they have to us; how we feel they enhance our growing areas, etc. We also considered aspects of not wanting to decorate with Fairies, Gnomes, and other figurines and are sharing some "cropped" comments of our overall discussion for your reading enjoyment below:



Kythera Ann ~ "I especially associate "fairies" with things that grow. Anybody see the Tinker Bell movie that came out? It is fabulous and tells all about Pixie Hollow where Tinker Bell comes from and how the fairies help to make every thing grow! I love it!

Anyway, I have always believed in unseen energies and beings so adding fairies and angels to gardening areas seem a natural thing to do. It is, for me, part of an honoring of Spirit in all its manifestations. Whether I have a lovely statue of Saint Francis (which I do in one area) to angels (which I have in a meditation area) to fairies and their homes (which are scattered throughout the property) they all not only add beauty to the areas, they act as a quiet reminder that we live in a magical world filled with much more than we know or could possibly comprehend. Yet all of it is wonderful and beautiful and should be honored.

Much like talking to plants has been scientifically proved to increase the growth of plants, I think our paying attention to areas through decorating and honoring the beauty of nature helps also."


Lady Kat ~ "I personally do not like gnomes or cutsey things in my flower beds, as I feel that they detract from the beauty of gardens.

The only concession I have made in my own planting beds is an Angel Statue in my Mother`s Memorial Garden. Sort of a Guardian Angel to bless my gardens."


Julie ~ "Oh I believe in fairies and gnomes and fairy rings etc. always have done as well as angels and that they live at the bottom of the garden. Fantasy has always played a big part in my life. My relationship with fairies began when I was about 5 when my Nan bought me my first Enid Blyton book. It was a book of nursery rhymes with the most beautiful magical pictures.

I used to read Enid Blyton books so read all the Faraway Tree books. When the wind whistles it's really the little folk or the trees talking to each other. I can't remember the names of the films I have seen relating to fantasy and make believe.

Who wouldn't believe that the fairies in the bottom of the garden don't tell the plants to grow and wave their magic dust on them? Not to have this imagination in my life is unthinkable."


Gardnbee ~ "My attraction for Garden Ornaments stems from early childhood and by this I mean that for as far back as I am able to remember not only did my parents employ their use, but neighbors and other yards displayed them prominently in and around their lawns and gardens.

Some had practical uses like deterring birds, squirrels and other visitors that would interfere with growth, production and harvest. Others were simply displayed for sheer enjoyment while yet again perhaps some unknown reasoning contributed to their use.

Today I have lots of little ornaments in and around my flower beds like fairies, elves, gnomes, squirrels, toads, frogs, rabbits, ducks, geese and even turtles to name a few. Each and every one of these does hold significance to me beyond the fact that I just love their presence as points of interest dispersed amidst the beauty of flowering plants that surrounds them. It just seems so natural for me to include my "ornaments" with flowers."

         

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