In the next week or so, I’m taking a look at decorative items in the garden. Why? Because I think it’s important. A garden without any kind of decor is like….a little black dress without accessories. Sure, you can get away with it because the garden/black dress is awesome on its own, but I believe in a little somethin’-somethin’. So, today we gaze at the gazing ball, which originated in 13th century Venice, but gained popularity in Victorian-era English gardens. I’ve always loved them–in formal gardens, in xeric gardens, cottage gardens, anywhere! Here are a few of my favorites:
Look how this blue gazing ball echoes the globe-y shape of the barrel cactus–nice, right? This is in the garden of my friends Leah and Philip Leveridge, who have a cool Austin garden (in)famously called The East Side Patch.
Ah—one of my favorite gazing balls, but it’s not the typical sort. Instead of mirrored and reflective, it’s ceramic. Instead of 12″, it’s a giant beachball size. Instead of a solid color, it’s a Mexican tapestry. I totally love this, but I gave it to my friends Sherry and Jacque because I changed the concept of my balcony garden and it longer “fit.” But, also, Sherry and Jacque are fabulous friends with an even fabulous-er garden, and they let me take it over when we did a photo shoot for Moxie Magazine a few months ago, and I wanted to thank them by giving a gardeny gift. Don’t you wish you were my friend now?
My oldest gazing ball, a gorgeous mosaic one given to me as a gift years ago by someone very dear to me. This moves with me every time I move; I’ll always find a spot for this in any garden I have. I love how it nestles into the planter with those succulents spilling out around it, don’t you?
This combination is so breathtaking to me! Again, it’s from The East Side Patch. Do you think it was a glorious, happy accident or do you think Philip and Leah meant to tuck this burgundy crackled-glass gazing ball into the burgundy foliage of the Tradescantia pallida? I think the latter. These people are brilliant.
Yep, I know you can’t gaze into these wooden spheres, but on account of how cool they are, I was compelled to add them. They were featured in the Sculpture Garden at the San Francisco Flower and Garden Show 2010. The Sculpture Garden was provided courtesy of the giant talent of Greenworks Design from Lafayette, California. These people got guts.
So, as you can see, all the cool kids have gazing balls, and you should, too. And by “cool kids,” I mostly mean Leah, Philip and me, but if you have a gazing ball or eleven, you can join our reflective club, too.
Nice! I always picture a herd of cement animals and a bent over plywood figure with gazing balls. You’ve changed my image of the ball.
Hi Jenny.
Yes…gazing orbs…I cannot write the “b” word, when associating it with “gazing”, well, that’s just me.
Enjoyed your post, and I do promote the use of gazing “orbs” whenever I can. I have my balls…(ahem), elevated on old cedar carcasses (I like them like that)!….What? It creates a great dramatic effect!
They really do offer a punctuation point to a design scheme
Okay, I need to stop.
Thanks for the mentions.
ESP.