Decorative ... Meet Functional

Every garden is as unique as the gardener who creates it. Mine has been lovingly planted with my own two hands and gradually designed with a few significant goals in mind. It is a peaceful place where I  toil and pause to center my soul. Most importantly, my family and friends gather here for events and holidays. Last, but not at all least, my garden provides an environmentally friendly habitat for Florida wildlife.

Bird feeding station in Central Perennial Garden

I've been feeding birds at various stations located throughout my garden for as long as I can remember. Watching them come and go to the feeders is amazingly entertaining. Hearing their sweet songs and calls is as delightful as sunshine on a cool day. Just knowing birds are happy in my garden is extremely satisfying. My family enjoys learning the names and specific antics of the birds that visit and nest among the abundant shrubs and trees at my house and surrounding conservation areas.

Bird feeder with Safflower seed next to Circle Garden.

Florida-Friendly plants blend with Florida native plants in my garden to form an ecological  habitat that supplies cover, safety, food  and water for wildlife. My style is naturalistic, yet cohesive. My garden is made up of large, sweeping beds (most under clumps of mature oak trees) connected by meandering pathways between specified garden areas with only a small patch of lawn remaining in the back garden.

One thing I had not added to my garden is yard art. I've not been much of a fan of random yard art.  At least not in my garden. Yard art in some gardens looks like it belongs, much like well appointed furniture and accessories.

In mine? Not so much.

In my mind, any notion of whimsical additions would have to be kept to a minimum and yet should be significant enough to make a statement that complements the maturity of my garden spaces. I am a big fan of seating areas and functional spaces. I've used decorative cobalt blue pottery containers with good plant combinations to dress up particular spots throughout. That's about the extent of it. Until now.

Three new birdhouses in my back garden add a bright spot of whimsy and function.

Inspiration from a fellow-gardener motivated me to envision decorative birdhouses for a spring spruce-up in my garden. I hired help to install them on 4x4x8 posts cut to different levels for my design. The birdhouses are large. Each one is at least 24" tall or more. Hopefully birds will actually use them since they are decorative and functional.

Birdhouses from the side angle.

They are situated in a curving pathway between the privacy berm and the sunny cottage border in the back garden.

Birdhouses in the morning light.

Drainage holes were drilled in the bottom and small doors on the back or side allows for clean out when necessary. The openings are the proper size for small birds to nest.

Birdhouses in the late-afternoon light.

Who knows? Next I might just break down and get one of those blue bottle-trees that are starting to appeal to me. I must be getting old. :-)

Which whimsies do you have in your garden?
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