Whimsical Garden Decor | Whimsical Lawn Decor

Looking to add some new whimsical decor to your garden? Why not try a whirligig! A whirligig is a device that is moved by the wind causing it to whirl and turn on a pivot. Many whirligigs are simple, but there are some that are exceedingly complicated. A whirligig has two universal characteristics regardless of size or shape, it has been created for the fun of it and it gives pleasure to those who see it.

Whirligigs can be made from solid wood or exterior plywood and are finished with a high quality exterior paint and they have brass or stainless steel hardware that the whirligig will last for years. Whirligigs are a great way to add fun to your garden, and if you want to bring out your creative side some more, take out some paint and make it personalized!

Since winter can make some yards dreary and bland, it is a perfect time to add some color! A great way to add color and help nature is to put up bird feeders. Bird feeders can attract many different colorful birds. The good thing is, you will be seeing a lot of them. With the berries frozen and the worms buried under the snow, the easiest way for the birds to get food and nourishment is through a bird feeder. There are many different types of bird feeders:

Wood Hopper Feeders
Wood feeders, sometimes called hopper feeders, are probably one of the first feeders you will buy. The natural look of a wood feeder blends in nicely with the outdoor surroundings. A well made kiln - dried cedar feeder will last many years.A wood hopper feeder is convenient because you just open the top, pour the seed in and it is fairly well protected from the weather such as rain and snow. A good sized feeder can also mean less trips to refill the feeder and that can be an important consideration on the colder winter days.

If you have squirrels in your area the placement of the feeder is an important consideration. Squirrels love to raid feeders of all kinds and a wood feeder may not last long from a squirrels sharp teeth. Squirrels can destroy a wood feeder in no time at all so it’s wise to plan the placement of a wood feeder carefully.

Pole mount your wood feeder at least 10 feet away from the nearest tree or other jumping point that a squirrel may launch an aerial attack from. They can and do jump through the air with the greatest of ease! Position the feeder at least 5 feet or higher vertically because squirrels are jumpy little critters.

You can also purchase a squirrel baffle on the pole for additional protection. If you know there are raccoons in your area you would be wise to purchase a baffle designed to keep raccoons at bay and at the same time you will avoid the squirrel attacks.

Sometimes no matter what you do it is impossible to keep out the squirrels. Usually, what the squirrels are after are the black oilers in a seed mix. Some people simply provide the squirrels with a pile of black oilers on the ground at the opposite end of their property from where the wood bird feeder is. Being opportunists, the squirrels will go for the black oilers on the ground where it is an easy source of food and leave your wood feeder alone. But be forewarned that as soon as you forget to provide the squirrels with this easy source of black oilers they will turn their attention back to your wood feeder.

Another trick is to fill the feeders with only Safflower for a while. Squirrels don’t really like Safflower, but even a really hungry squirrel will lower it’s expectations and eat Safflower given enough time.

So it’s best to pick an appropriate spot in your yard, use the squirrel baffles and keep your fighting with the squirrels to a minimum. Many a man has spent countless hours, days, months, and years trying to outwit the squirrels only to find that his self image is destroyed because of a tiny little creature with the brain about the size of a peanut has outwitted man again. Seeing a man reduced to such a state is a sad thing to witness.

One thing you can do if you are able to put up a wood feeder without critter problems is decorate it. Make sure you look at some of the other articles on here about whimsical garden decor, because they can give you some good tips for decorating. Remember, the feeder that you have out in the winter should also stay out the rest of year because now the birds know about it. So when you put it up, remember that you can decorate it and have it fit right in when the snow melts!

Tube Feeders
Personally, I like the Droll Yankee brand tube feeders. The new ones have a lifetime warranty which includes against squirrel damage! Now that’s a good warranty and a good feeder! With other tube feeders I spent a lot of time using duct tape to repair the less expensive tube feeders and the duct tape didn’t do much to enhance the look of the feeder and of course the squirrels chew through the duct tape even easier than the plastic, and I thought I even heard a couple of them saying, “Thank You!”

Droll Yankee tube feeders can be pole mounted or hung from wherever you like. While the feeder may have a warranty against squirrel damage, that does not mean it is squirrel proof. It means it is squirrel resistant. It’s just nice to know that your not going to find a big hole chewed through the side of your feeder with a bunch of your precious bird seed laying in a pile on the ground. The squirrels will still pilfer some seed from the tube feeder but just not as much and not as easily.

There are a couple of things you may want to consider when looking over tube feeders. By their design they have lets say 4 to 8 perches from where they can eat. But as the seed is lowered in the tube there will be perches that do not have access to the seed because the seed has lowered in the tube. Your either going to leave it that way or your going to be forced to go out and top off the feeder with some more seed if it really bugs you that much. Once you see a cute little bird perched at one of the empty seed ports your heart strings may be pulled enough to make you break down and fill the feeder back up to the top.

Don’t despair! There’s a way around this little inconvenience. Droll Yankee also offers tube feeders with and extra long extended top. This acts as a reserve area to hold much more seed than the standard design in tube feeders. I have a couple and they were worth the little extra money. They work very good.

Tube feeders may or may not come with a dish at the bottom. A dish is a good idea if you expect and want to see Cardinals at the tube feeder. So buy the dish for it or the Cardinals will not be able to perch on those little perches and you’ll miss seeing the Cardinals. Being Minnesotans with a love for Cardinals, we can’t have that!

Thistle Feeders
Thistle feeders are specially designed with very small holes so that thistle seed does not pour out freely onto the ground. These feeders are mostly attractive to gold finches, house finches, and purple finches.

The thistle feeder pictured here is specially designed so the american gold finch hangs upside down to eat the thistle. It’s fun to watch and the design keeps the other birds from competing for the thistle seed since only the gold finch can hang upside down to eat the thistle seed.

Platform Feeders
Platform feeders are very appealing to the birds. They are open in design and the birds can easily keep a sharp eye out for any approaching predators and if any are spotted the birds can simply fly away.

Platform feeders allow the larger birds to perch easily and pick away at the seed that interests them. Many birds can perch on a platform feeder at the same time and of course many hop right into the feeder tray itself.

A platform feeder requires more maintenance since it’s open design allows rain and snow to fall directly on the seed and there is nothing to protect it from the elements. There are a few platform feeders that offer a roof over the top and that offers a degree of protection from light rain fall and light snow.

Ground Feeders
Ground feeders are very popular since there are many birds that prefer to feed directly off the ground. Northern Cardinals are one example of a bird highly attracted to ground feeders. Mourning Doves are another bird that readily accepts a ground feeder.

Suet Feeders
Suet feeders are a wire cage that allow you to place a commercially prepared suet cake into the unit and hang it from a tree branch. Some wood bird feeders also offer wire holders on each end of the feeder where you can place the suet cakes.

Suet attracts Downy Woodpeckers, Hairy Woodpeckers, Red Bellied Woodpeckers, Pileated Woodpeckers, Northern Flickers, and a host of other birds.

Peanut Feeders
Peanut feeders are a wire formed holder where you can fill it with peanuts and hang in a tree or some can even be post mounted. Many of the woodpeckers are attracted to peanut feeders including the Pileated Woodpecker.

If you have problems with too many European Starlings a peanut feeder hung away from your main bird feeders can divert their attention and keep them occupied at the peanut feeder while the other birds come and go freely to your mixed seed feeders.

Keep in mind that the more feeders you have, the more choices the birds have if one or two of your feeders seem to be taken over by birds that you don’t particularly care for. The other birds can simply chose another feeder that is not being overtaken by the larger birds. Then you keep everyone happy.

It’s All About Personality
Each garden owner wants to add his or her own special touch, a way of showing a little bit of personality to their special outdoor haven. One of the things so great about a garden is that you can do whatever you like, making the garden yours and a place that reflects your lifestyle and personality. When it comes to decorating a garden, you will find that you have thousands of options and that anything you choose can make a statement about your originality.

Some people have simple flowerbeds with beautiful blooming plants while other gardens have whimsical themes such as a water garden, cactus garden, butterfly garden, and so on. No matter what type of garden you have, you will have a great time choosing things to enhance it and bring it to life. One way to decorate any garden is by using pottery made from terra cotta. With this type of pottery, you can actually plant directly inside the pot or use it as individual pieces of art as in this terra cotta birdbath. There is more information about terra cotta decor on another one of our articles. With wonderful styles, colors, and designs, terra cotta creates a warm and inviting look. Another huge benefit to incorporating terra cotta into your whimsical garden is that it is designed to withstand extreme cold and heat, meaning that it will provide you years of use without falling apart.

Another excellent way to enhance your garden is by using steppingstones. Although steppingstones have been popular for many, many years, within the past five to ten years, people have really grown to love the small accent they provide. You can purchase steppingstones that light up using solar power and many that provide specific designs.

Garden benches are also an excellent way to decorate a garden while creating an oasis where you can relax and enjoy the beautiful plants and flowers around you. Some benches are made from wood, resembling the type of old-fashioned bench you might find at the local park while other benches are made from granite or stone. You can also make furniture out of twigs. The type of bench you choose will depend on the size of your garden as well as the style. For instance, if you have a colorful garden that is a bit on the whimsical side, you could choose a bench with sun catchers built into the design. However, if your garden were romantic and filled with fragrant flowers, an arbor with a bench would be the ideal choice.

A type of decoration that you will find in gardens across the country is the garden gazing ball. These balls come in all sizes ranging from very small and affixed to wrought iron rods or extremely large, about the size of a basketball or larger that sits upon a pedestal. The great thing about garden balls is that they are a timeless piece that can be customized through different sizes and colors. You could choose from a clear or iridescent ball to one that is bright purple with white or silver swirls. Again, depending on the style of your garden you will choose the type of ball that best enhances the decor.

Just remember that you want your garden decorations to embellish your garden, not overpower the natural beauty of the plants and flowers. The decorations should add to the beauty of the garden, creating wonderful place where you can relax. Different types of garden statuary that you can incorporate includes garden decorative statues in resin or brass. Regardless of the type of decoration you choose, remember that it does not have to be expensive. With a little bit of ingenuity and time shopping around, you will soon have an amazing garden, making you the envy of all your friends and family.

So at this point you’ve figured out what type of whimsical garden decor you are looking for, you’ve shopped around and bought your favorite pieces, now the next decision, where to place them.

Luckily, in a whimsical garden you can be creative. There is really no right or wrong place to put your decor. You can add a tree face on the side of a lone tree in your yard, or create a little garden path that disappears into a gnome door on the side of a bush. The creativity and uniqueness is up to you.

One thing that may help you out is to consider the scale of the decor that you are adding. A large statue next to a birth bath and a gazing ball will look cluttered. But the same statue in an open area of your yard will create an appealing focal point.

A garden pond will seem too busy with many whirly-gigs surrounding it, so instead, carefully place a sundial or a unique wind chime in a nearby tree. You don’t want to hide a focal point, only accent it. But this is your garden, so if something doesn’t look nice, or it goes against the suggestions above, move it.

Want your garden to be unique while having a bit of light-hearted humor? If you answered yes, then you need to get whimsical garden decor to add a little fun to your landscape.

What is whimsical?

The dictionary defines whimsical as lightly fanciful, out of the ordinary, or unpredictable.

If you add whimsical garden decor to your yard you will be sure to smile ever time you walk through it. Your friends, family and neighbors will love it too! Instead of having a boring backdrop, your yard will contain fanciful accents that will give them something to remember and talk about. They may even acquire a new apprecation for gardening.