Some landscape design dilemmas can’t be solved by adding more plants. Towering trees may throw dense shade, creating an inhospitable environment in which weeds can’t grow. Narrow gardens are usually cursed with inadequate soil in addition to imposing limitations on the diameter of any plants which may be squeezed into the space. Then there are the gardens which just do not have a focus. Your special garden artwork pieces are too small to be noticed, and you are not sure you want to invest tens of thousands of dollars on a custom metal sculpture.

But what will you use when adding plants won’t work and there is no room for a large scale water feature? Glass artwork might be exactly what you need. Often lightweight, easy to install, available in a myriad of colours and at all price points, glass features something for every taste and every budget. It won’t rust or need refinishing, and smaller glass art pieces may be moved to different areas of the garden as you pick.

Personal Garden Coach

There are times when we need that wow element. Colorful flowers and leaves are certainly amazing and make a pleasing tapestry, but consider opaque glass artwork such as these colorful fiddleheads from Barbara Sanderson of Glass Gardens NW for additional drama.

Bright chartreuse, orange and turquoise pieces put a vibe which no plant could achieve — and these ferns do not need watering. They also won’t rust or rot like wood or metal, might be moved onto a whim and may be tucked into the smallest of areas, no matter how inhospitable the dirt. What is not to adore?

Le jardinet

Make your garden pleasure for kids of all ages.

Wind chimes can be made from several materials, including bamboo, glass and metal, each having its own special tone. Mixing materials like metal and glass, as shown here, creates a beautiful fugue of glowing metallic notes and thicker tinklings of glass.

Visiting kids like to run their hands across the dangling strips of the chime shown here in order to create their own melodies.

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The dense canopy of big conifers can throw considerable colour. Unlike where there is dappled light beneath deciduous trees, all these spaces do not invite lingering. Yet as I strolled past this mature deodar cedar (Cedrus deodara), a sudden splash of color caught my attention, and I just had to investigate.

There were a few of these glass nuggets hanging in the branches overhead, encouraging me to explore this bejeweled cavern I could otherwise have avoided.

Glass artwork does not need to be large or expensive. Simple chunks of colored beach glass wrapped in aluminum wire are a simple endeavor to test at home.

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A duo of beautiful containers by Le Beau produces a striking focal point in this garden. The larger of the two features a gorgeous glass mosaic by Seattle artist Jesse Kelly in colors of blue and lime, while the bigger kettle is a bubbling fountain, on the surface of which floats a glass ball.

Place features like these in an open area in which the sunlight can shine through the translucent glass and the beauty is going to be magnified a hundredfold. Concentrate a spotlight on the glass sculpture, and you could also enjoy the glow in the day.

This glass is safe to exit all winter in the temperate Seattle area (USDA zones 6 to 8). Consult your vendor or artist for recommendations.

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These blown-glass decorations resemble colorful birds, craning their necks to see the skies.

What really caught my attention, however, was that the means by which the homeowners have resisted the deep reds of their annual black-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia sp.) From the glass. This shade connection gives the art a feeling of place. These are not random pieces of sculpture, but rather a strategic design statement that highlights these summer flowers.

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We use yellow and lime-green foliage in color gardens to bring some light, but what else can you do? Tuck a colorful, glistening looking ball among leaves for a fun surprise and a means to introduce new colours.

Notice how the iridescent pink and blue glass highlights the same colours in the adjacent coral bells (Heuchera sp) and Paper food, also known as giant rhubarb (Gunnera sp.) . Because this sphere is so shiny, it bounces the light in such a way as to throw a spotlight into an otherwise dark area.

The smooth glass surface additionally produces a fascinating counterpoint to the abrasive oversize foliage.

Alyson Ross Markley

Mirrors are often utilized in the garden to reflect surrounding plants, providing the illusion of a much larger space.

This homeowner chose that notion a step further, however, by using a mirror to draw focus to some vignette. This beautiful sculpture is less than 18 inches tall and might easily have been missed among the foliage. Yet as light bounces off the surface, you detect not only the plants, but in addition the well-placed figurine.

Where to purchase glass garden art. Once I am on a treasure hunt for a special piece of glass, I attend art and garden shows which include work by local artists. Nurseries also frequently have screen pieces which may be bought; it might also be possible to find out the contact details for the artist so that you can go over the creation of a personalized item right. And thrift stores are a terrific source for old glass and mirrors jewelry which you might be able to repurpose for garden artwork.

Notice: Before utilizing any glass on your garden, carefully consider if it is safe for your loved ones, particularly in the event that you have young kids or animals.

More: Locate glass garden art in the Products section

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