Yard Sculptures Archives – Page 2 of 3

Yard Sculptures Fun Activities DIY: Projects Gardening

Topiaries Art & Sculptures

By JM PerezFebruary 18, 20142 min read1.5K views

The weather is beautiful, Spring is nearing and I am so excited. My entire property is now 100% weed free as of last Sunday. The Mini Pergola is up and by next weekend we will begin building a Dry Creek Bed next to the structure. One of the many good things I did in my backyard was use shrubs as well as entertaining areas as dividers for different sections. With the weeds gone it’s easier to look at the backyard and imagine the possibilities for landscaping and designing since that’s where most of the magic is waiting.
This Spring, I will be creating a Mosaïculture piece of artwork (also known as Living Sculpture) which I know my kids will enjoy. For the first project I will be starting with something fairly small and simple using Chicken Wire to form a shape. My backyard is ready for the next stage in its evolution.

Mosaïculture, according to Mosaïcultures Internationales de Montréal, an international Mosaïculture competition held in Montréal, Canada, is a refined horticultural art that involves creating and mounting living artworks made primarily from plants with colorful foliage (generally annuals, and occasionally perennials).

I love Living Sculptures. They are inspiring and incredibly beautiful thanks to the talented Gardeners who work hard to nurture and shape them. Out of everything I have seen so far, I love the Garden Bed Topiary best.

Easter Island Heads, Montreal Botanical Gardens. Image Credit: Deanna Young — *Easter Island Heads, Montreal Botanical Gardens.*
*Image Credit: Deanna Young.*

*Mother Earth, Montreal Botanical Gardens. Image Credit: Guy Boily.*

*Montreal Botanical Gardens. Image Credit: Guy Boily.*

Owl Topiary. — The Giant Flower Owls In Nantou County, Taiwan.
Image Credit: Ernesto Huang.

'Sleeping Chicken' by Claude Ponti, Jardin des plantes, Nantes Image Credit: InTheSideCar.com — *‘Poussin Endormi (Sleeping Chicken)’ by Claude Ponti, Jardin des plantes, Nantes*
*Image Credit: InTheSideCar.com*

'Monsieur et Madame Génie', Claude Ponti, Jardin des plantes, Nantes. — *‘Monsieur et Madame Génie’, Claude Ponti, Jardin des plantes, Nantes.*

Just like growing Moss, growing and maintaining a living sculpture is time consuming and requires dedication. In the end, the hard work which consist of preparing and shaping the soil, growing the plants, pruning and training them to give shape to the desired art is a rewarding work of art to any gardener.

Click here to learn about creating your own living sculpture.

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By JM Perez

Yard Sculptures Parenting Garden Decor Children Education Inspire Family DIY: Projects Flowers Shrubs & Trees Gardening High Desert

Our Kids-Friendly Garden

By JM PerezFebruary 6, 20143 min read246 views

When we inspected our Home a few years ago prior to putting in an offer, I fell in love with the backyard as the numerous structures on the lot broke the land into sections. As I looked onto the side of the house, I spotted a semi-shady corner which was ideal for a Playground and/or a Kid-Friendly Garden.

Five years ago, I started by creating a tiny corner garden and added a decorative wrought iron border fence around the garden as well as some color changing solar globe lights along the borders. The selection works well, as it provides a specific learning and playing area for our children. I added two comfortable sitting areas for them to sit still and enjoy conversing, enjoy the day, or for us to relax and watch them play. I have Garden Benches and Patio/Bistro Sets all over my garden as the yard is huge and it can be quite exhausting walking around sometimes. I enjoy retreat areas. Besides, sitting areas in a yard, if placed correctly, create attractive focal points.

A few years ago, I was given a beautiful hand made miniature vintage Mexican clay couple as well as a tiny Puerto Peñasco Pottery Vase. They are now resting underneath one of my Scotch Broom shrubs.

The fairy wind spinner is a purchase from Collections Etc., and a gift to my daughter who adores anything fairy and ballerina. It’s a beautiful addition to our front yard as it attracts hummingbirds and twirls in the breeze.

Somewhere in my backyard, we created this cute little area in memory of our wonderful neighbors and parent figures (one of whom is no longer with us). The picture features their wedding wine glasses, vintage 1960’s spaghetti porcelain poodle dog figurines and a porcelain ornaments box. The huge rustic fisherman metal art was a purchased from Horseshoe Art by Don Henry in Lucerne Valley, CA.

*1960’s Spaghetti Porcelain Poodle Dog Figurines.*

We love our Woodland babies!

The toy frog was a favorite of my son. He placed it himself among the daffodils when he no longer wanted it.

Geckos Metal Wall Art

The children at play figurines were also a purchase from Collections Etc.

Some Jim Shore garden stakes.

The balancing love birds stake is in the front yard, next to the water fountain. It gently swings back and forth in the breeze. The Angry Gnome is one of many in our gnome collection.

These Gnomes on a Ladder are eager to find out what is growing in my daughter’s planter.

The stone mushrooms were the bases of chain linked posts that were dug up, flipped up side down, and buried. We spray painted them red/green and added white spots.

The Conga Line Dog Silhouettes were so hilarious that I decided to get one. The Children Chasing bugs are adorable too.

*Conga Line Dog & Children Playing Silhouettes.*

One of my daughter’s favorite statues is the Little Girl Gardening statue below. She found a use for the tiny planter.

Every time I shop online, my kids look for an opportunity when I step away to add a few favorites of their own in the shopping cart. The Ladybugs are beautiful and the Bunnies are just perfect for Easter.

The Fairy and Deer Friend Shadow Garden Stake is one of my favorite.

*Fairy and Deer Friend Shadow Garden Stakes.*

There are unlimited ideas and ways to encourage kids to go out …

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By JM Perez

Yard Sculptures Fun Activities DIY: Projects Gardening

Moss Art & Sculpture

By JM PerezOctober 2, 20132 min read1.6K views

Green. Such a vibrant color which makes most things beautiful and gives a sense of Hope. I love this color.

According to Empower Yourself with Color Psychology, green is the color of balance and harmony, creating equilibrium between the head and the heart. Green is also the color of growth, the color of spring, of renewal and rebirth. It is an emotionally positive color, giving us the ability to love and nurture ourselves and others unconditionally. The color green is also associated with jealousy and envy.

What is it about Moss that makes it so appealing? It adds simplicity and charm to the area it’s growing on.
When I was five and a half years old, we moved to a one acre property surrounded mostly by tall trees. There was a forest right next to our house and I enjoyed watching all the “green” growing heavily on the tree trunks. At one point I convinced myself that it was an enchanted Forest. Each time I see Moss, I get reminded of that Forest.

Imagine waking up every single day to a gorgeous low maintenance evergreen lawn that requires no mowing, no fertilizers, no pesticides, little to no weeding and less watering once established. How about waking up to a beautiful sight within your backyard? Moss will do the trick and tolerates drought longer than grass.

Sculptures from The Lost Gardens of Heligan

Grey Lady by Susan & Pete Hill. Lost Gardens of Heligan. — *The Dreaming Girl by Susan & Pete Hill. Lost Gardens of Heligan.*

The Giant's Head by Susan & Pete Hill. Lost Gardens of Heligan. — *The Giant’s Head by Susan & Pete Hill. Lost Gardens of Heligan.*

*Mud Maid by Susan & Pete Hill. Lost Gardens of Heligan.*

What about the Moss Couch below? I find it quite charming and what a great idea! It will look awesome in my backyard. Click here for a step by step tutorial on Moss covered chair for your garden.

Moss Couch, Memphis Botanic Garden. — *Moss Couch, Memphis Botanic Garden (My Big Backyard).*

Bruno's Art & Sculpture Garden. — *Bruno’s Art & Sculpture Garden.*

Abandoned Car covered in Moss. Image Credit: Fine Art America. — *Abandoned Car covered in Moss.*
*Image Credit: Fine Art America.*

Six years ago when I first saw the pictures above, I knew it would be a wonderful idea to create one of those sculptures in the backyard. We quickly realized that we didn’t have enough shady areas at the back and this fact alone made it difficult to grow Moss around here. It was quite a disappointment to say the least.

Growing Moss in the High Desert is possible provided a shaded area. Maintaining it however, might be challenging and time consuming as we have hot, dry and humid weather in the High Desert. Not only must one plant Moss in shady areas, but the soil must constantly be kept moist (which will increase water bill costs).

Click here to learn about growing Moss.

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By JM Perez

Yard Sculptures Garden Decor Home Decor DIY: Projects

Statue Reconstruction

By EPEngineerAugust 25, 20132 min read654 views

Five years ago, my wife found a beautiful Female Statue (Danza Del Flori by Giorgio Ceragioli) and knowing how much she loves statues and seeing the wonderful job she’s done surrounding our Home and Garden with relaxing zen sculptures, I agreed to get it for her. We paid for it and as we were about to load it into the back of the car, it collapsed and broke to pieces. After picking up all the pieces, we returned home with the promise to reconstruct it in the next following months. So days turned to weeks which turned to months and years went by. About three years ago, I glue some of the major pieces, but that was all about it. Finally on Friday, I decided to resume the restoration process.

Statue Reconstruction. — *Female Statue Reconstruction (Danza Del Flori by Giorgio Ceragioli).*

Materials/Tools Needed:

Brushes
DAP Cement filler
Clear Tape
Paper
Scissors
Hacksaw with metal-cutting blade

Putty knife
Wire brush
Loctite Epoxy Resin
Dremel
Diamond bits

How to proceed:

Clean the pieces you plan to glue.
I used Loctite Epoxy Resin which sets in 5 minutes to glue it together. It holds up to 3,000 Psi and worked for my statue.
I position the pieces and check that they fit together. I use clear packaging tape to hold the pieces together before gluing them.
Once I had a big section done it gets added to the overall pieces which is where I am currently.
The arms will be the last to be added and then I will fill in the cracks using DAP Cement filler.

Once the pieces have been glued and filled in I will spray paint the statue and place it at a location of our choice.

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By EPEngineer

Yard Sculptures Birds Garden Decor Inspire Nature

A Fun-Filled Day

By EPEngineerApril 27, 20132 min read1.5K views

Today we decided to cross some items of our to-do list and ran some errands in the morning. Once done and with a full day ahead of us we took to sight seeing around the Victorville area. After much curiosity, we decided to stop by World Concrete Precast on Mariposa Rd in Victorville, CA to check out the beautiful concrete pieces we have only been able to see from the freeway while driving in the area.

The selection of cement/concrete creations is amazing to say the least. If you can think of it; they probably have it or know where to get it for you. I will let the picture gallery speak for itself as you can probably spend a whole day checking out each item. The detail on each piece is amazing and the items that come painted are done really well. I fell in love with the brown five tier water fountain.

Once home, we decided to eat out in the patio and enjoy the beautiful weather and lack of wind that we were experiencing today. After a couple of minutes we heard the chirping of baby birds and decided to try our luck and try to catch them with the camera. As you can see below, we where successful. They are so small.

They seemed to be in between meals and every time we step out of the patio the mama bird flies away to draw the attention off her babies. This is the second year she uses this nest since she put it up about a year or two ago. We can not wait until they start to fly around on their own.

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By EPEngineer