Accessorizing your outdoors adds an extra touch that can serve as conversation starters for guests or just make you smile when you step into your yard.
You can invest in a statement-making piece for your garden or spend a little on small items that still make an impact.
Kathleen Cody Guy, gift shop manager at the Atlanta Botanical Garden, suggested items to spruce up your garden, from those made by Atlanta artists to artisans across the world.
Sculptures
Atlanta-based sculptor Beau Smith’s copper frog pieces, which are on display at the Atlanta Botanical Garden, Thrasher Park in Norcross and downtown Smyrna, can be fun additions to private yards, too. Smith creates the frogs in small, medium and human-size versions, with all types of whimsical poses, from artists to instrument-playing amphibians to wine-loving frogs. Some are standing while others can sit on benches or porches. $275-$5,000. Available at Vinings Gallery, the Atlanta Botanical Garden gift shop and on Smith’s website, www.beautifulfrog.com.
Bird houses
Whether your yard is a haven for birds or if you just want a cute item for your patio or yard, felt bird houses may be the thing for you. The felted wool versions we’ve seen are made by fair trade artisans in Napal. $30-$40. Available at online retailers such as uncommongoods.com and overstock.com as well as the Atlanta Botanical Garden gift shop.
Eco-friendly planters and bowls
To add a green design element to your yard, these sustainable, handmade bowls, planters, pavers, trays and other items are created by California artist John Lamos. They’re made out of 60 percent recycled concrete mixed with resin. “They are the most unusual things I’ve ever seen. Some look like they’re carved wood. Some look like they’re folded fabric,” Guy said. $35-$180. Available at the Atlanta Botanical Garden gift shop.
Kinetic art
These sculptures are anything but stationary. They move with the wind, creating an ongoing flow of motion. Nationally recognized artist Graham Mitchell Sears’ metal pieces, made just for the Atlanta Botanical Garden, range from $300-$2,500.
For Home or On the Go
Firepit log
One of the more unusual items we’ve seen for firepit-loving folks is the Light ‘n Go Bonfire Log. Made from natural birch, the log can be placed on a flat surface and lit with one match, becoming a firepit or grill. The chemical-free log, by EcoForest, burns for 1 ½ to 2 hours, depending on the size. The makers say that when it’s done, it burns down with no mess and it can be tossed back to nature when it’s done. It’s portable, for camping or other away from home activities, too. $10-$15. Available at The Home Depot.
