Gardens may be enhanced by a variety of ornamental features: a sculpture, yard art, garden furniture, an unusual fence or gate or a water feature. Whatever the adornment, it should blend with the landscape so it enhances rather than competes with the garden. It's fun to make a bold statement now and then, though, with something really dramatic or whimsical. Pots and urns, especially large ones, work well as ornaments, with or without plants inside. If you live in a climate that's prone to hard freezes, determine before you buy whether the pots you're considering must be brought indoors to prevent cracking. Even small pots can work wonders, especially when they're filled with flowers. Garden furniture has become enormously popular in the past decade, especially benches made from exotic wood such as teak. They aren't cheap, but they last many years, even when left outdoors year-round. If you shop around, you'll find benches and chairs made of cedar, which in time will weather to the same gray color as teak and which sell for a lot less. Another popular trend is to transform dead trees into garden sculptures. Given the right artistic touch, they can greatly enhance a landscape. Some kinds of garden sculptures are expensive, but concrete figures are affordable and available in many interesting shapes. Few ornaments add more interest and beauty than water features. The design possibilities are endless, and water features aren't too expensive either. Glazed clay pots make beautiful miniature water gardens, and they can be rigged with fountains or left unplumbed and adorned with a few plants. Even a simple pond can make a landscape come alive, especially if it includes a waterfall or a fountain. If you wish to install an elaborate pond, complete with waterfall, plan to spend a few thousand dollars unless you do the work yourself. Growing plants in a pond requires some skill, especially if they must spend the winter elsewhere. The choices are many and include both foliage and flowering plants that peek just above the water's surface. The addition of goldfish or koi completes the water garden, and fish are relatively easy to care for if the water is kept clean.
| 
)
)
)
)
)
