As you wander through a garden, large or small, you may suddenly be faced with a strategically place work of metal garden art.

Although puzzled at first, you move closer to get a better look and are surprised to discover that those are not ducks in the pond but bronze feet appearing to walk across the water!

As you continue on your adventure you find two dogs digging in the dirt, the upper half of one disappearing into his newly dug hole. But no, those are not real dogs. To your delight you discover they are bronze replicas perfectly capturing the dogs in their frenzied activity.

What other surprises will this garden reveal?

If you had explored the Royal Botanical Garden in Burlington, Ontario in the summer of 2009 you might also have discovered a 10′ wide rusted metal spider in his web, half-a-dozen giant metal men in tuxedos and a stylish bronze scarecrow. Each adding their own whimsical touch to an already inspiring garden. From small city yards to magnificent public gardens metal garden art can be used to charm and entrance.

Although most people will not have ponds with magical feet, there is a wide variety of wonderful metal garden art to suit every taste and budget.

Metal garden sculptures which can be found in steel, copper, bronze and even recycled metal are very popular. Place a metal cat on the fence or hide an alligator in the grass. The large red moose emerging from the bushes looks striking in the snow. A dancing bunny or grinning dog with his bone will add a playful touch. For an exotic feel hang a colorful metal gecko or tree frog on your fence. The possibilities are endless.

Another option is metal garden stakes which are easy to move around and can brighten up a dull spot. Garden stakes of large colorful flowers or crazy critters add a whimsical touch to any yard.

Exploring gardens is one of my favorite pastimes. I love all the beautiful plants, but I am equally thrilled by the garden art that I encounter on my journey. Embrace your inner artist and add some wonderful, whimsical metal garden art to your outdoor decor.

Kris Lessard, Nate Butcher, and Scott Askes snowboarding Downtown London in November. Video filmed and editted by Andrew Askes.

Pictures and examples of our Steel Garden Art and an upcoming event…

With patios increasingly becoming a natural extension of your internal living area , that old, weather worn concrete pad may need a bold makeover to meet  new demands . And a makeover of  your patio can often be one of the most cost effective home improvement tasks you can undertake and very often can add many  dollars to the value of your home.

A number of options are possible for remodeling or transforming existing concrete surfaces , depending on the state of the concrete , your budget , the amount of disruption you can tolerate and the materials you wish to use . For example, if the concrete is in excellent condition , then the concrete surface could be simply be stained, given a textured coating or a stenciled tile pattern applied. These options are generally not particularly disruptive and are typically applied by specialized contractors rather than being a do-it-yourself product .

If the concrete surface is basically sound , perhaps with only hairline cracks, then resurfacing with ceramic, stone tiles or flagstones is an option that could be considered. Ceramic tiles are available in a kaleidoscope of colours, styles, surface textures and sizes. Textured finishes are often applied to exterior tiles to reduce the danger of slipping under wet conditions.  You need however to check the tiles are suitable for your local conditions as tiles with high water absorption characteristics may crack in freezing conditions. Be aware that any existing cracks in the concrete which extend through the entire pad are likely to open further and eventually can cause any tiles laid above to crack.

Natural stone products such as sandstone, limestone, slate or granite are could also be considered but if using such tiles it’s a good idea to make sure thay are sealed against moisture or to prevent staining.

Another option is to use new or reclaimed bricks or clay pavers although the extra height can be problem in some situations, especially with outward opening doors . But bricks or pavers have the advantage that they are normally very easy to lay and do not necessarily need any grout to be used .

But perhaps one of the simplest, most cost effective and attractive options is to lay down interlocking deck tiles. These tiles also have the advantage that they can generally tolerate a certain degree of cracking of the concrete and will not experience problems if cracks in the concrete pad are likely to expand. These do-it-yourself decking tiles are typically available as 12″ x 12″ modules and are easily installed by just snapping the modules into place . The tiles have connecting tabs built onto the sides of the plastic base which keeps them firmly in place and avoids the need for any particular surface preparation, adhesives or other fixings . The plastic base is designed to allow water to flow away freely under the tiles and keep the wood clear of the sub-surface . A typical patio area can be fully laid in just an hour or so and is ready to use immediately.

Most manufacturers produce deck tiles in various designs, so it is possible to create borders, feature panels etc. to suit your individual preference. And they are now available not only in different species of wood but also in slate, sandstone, granite, porcelain , PVC, rubber  and composite wood. With some tiles you can combine interlocking tiles of different materials. So for example you could build a central patio area paved in slate or sandstone tiles where tables and chairs are situated , surrounded by wood tiles.

To complete the transformation , you could add some large pots or planters, a few well established plants and maybe a decorative item or two ensuring that your formerly drab patio will become a place you can again enjoy and be truly proud of.

If you ‘re looking for an excuse to go crazy on garden lights, throw a party.  Maybe you think it’s a bit too much work , but if it means that you finally have the ideal excuse to buy path lights, patio lighting and candle lanterns – then enjoy a legitimate chance to splurge .  Just visualize how wonderful it will be to see your night time garden in a whole new light  

You see, garden lighting is more than just beholding more distinctly .  Its a chance to craft a mood at night and transition from various sections of your property .  Is your yard built around the concept of garden rooms?  It’s a wonderful way to design small gardens to seem bigger than they are and I can use the same concept with lights , at night and create distinct spaces with a different style of lighting.

  To begin with you can use lighting to direct people . If you’re having a party or expect a lot of people , begin with  how you illuminate the path.  There are so many wonderful choices.   I am completely crazy about solar path lights. From my perspective they’ve come such a long way from early, boring lights that I don’t know why anyone would ever buy anything but solar .  But now you can also select between all-purpose white light – or  spot lights or solar lights that change color.  I’ll use white closer to the front of the garden and hide my new colored lights out back.

Path lights that can change colour are one of my favorites .  Not only can these solar powered garden lights switch from red to orange to yellow to green to blue and purple,  then back to red,they can stay at your favorite color so the possibilities are not quite endless , but pretty darned close.

  Yet another great choice are solar powered, color shifting globes that will feature on a little stand or just roll around the yard or ( check this out ) – they’ll float around in the pool.  This is terrific. 

  Of course, I’ll need lots of new outdoor candle lanterns.  I know they’ve been around for a while, but there are simply so many awesome designs to choose from .  Since I plan to set up them around  all the tables and hang some from  the odd branch, I can choose between iron and clear glass,  iron and mosaic glass and some simply wonderful pressed and crackle glass lanterns in fuchsia, amber, dark green and  turquoise.

  My garden is an important part of my home.   It means a lot to me and I’m happy to have this chance to show it off in a new light – no pun intended . 

Flagstone is a kind of natural stone which can come in different gradations and shades of color. It is a form of rock which is many times useful for building walkways or roofs, of which use is becoming a lot more fashionable as a technique to increase dimension to a real estate. As well as the valuation for the property which is increased anytime this kind of stone is implemented. It’s a exceptional retailing aspect for agents who prefer to report all the qualities that make a home on their directory far more appealing for a possible shopper.

In the masons viewpoint, flagstone patios tend to be incredibly useful since, every single stone can actually end up being chopped in two or layered for pathways along with patios. It is very effortlessly planted down since the builder or homeowner has the choice of establishing the rock with concrete, crushed lime stone or even rock debris. This is usually especially captivating as well as practical because one does not have make use of any kind of concrete between the rocks. Flagstone offers anyone deploying it the simple choice of selecting wherever you might like your walkway to point and next putting into action it.

Small walls meant for garden beds happen to be one other popular use intended for flagstone patio. Just about all one has to do is to search through almost any property or backyard mag to view the great thing about flagstone when it is set inside the garden. An individual can immediately admire the contrast among the vibrant and distinct blooms of flowers contrary to the various traces of colorings that the flagstone delivers.

Flagstones go back hundreds of years in numerous cultures once it was more popular to make use of flagstones for a construction resources to create a residence. Anthropology examinations demonstrate a variety of examples of humans utilizing rock such as natural flagstone to fulfill his any constructing need. We additionally find this through the utilization of flagstone within their headstones inside cemeteries throughout European countries and early America.

Assuming you have gone about checking out several model residences just for fun or even to research for a condo to purchase then you certainly have probably looked at flagstone veranda, porches or roofing. It provides an extremely attractive along with rustic look to the building. Several model properties have been sold with the power of the attractiveness of laying flagstone no matter if this be about the residence itself as an architectural element or outside as a backyard attraction. The above is without us even going in the property to experience the elegance associated with natural flagstone being utilized to create fire places, but in addition inside the cooking area around home appliances and also cabinets. Flagstone is a home construction substance to be appreciated.

Indoor kinetic sculpture in steel wire, aluminum and PVC, 96″ inch long. A complex and delicate armature responds to the plastic paddles’ movement caused by air currents, and feeds new motion back to the paddles. The range and finesse of motion is remarkable. Please contact the gallery at 415.495.6400 for sales information or commission possibilities for indoor or outdoor sculptures.

Topiaries, metal art, and mossed sculptures created by the Old Garden Topiary.

” whether you are looking for whimsical artwork, or beautiful, functional elements for your home, garden, cottage or business, Metal Decor & Fabrication will turn your imagination into metal”

just another one of my yard art projects.