Love It Or Hate It, Yard Art Rocks!

Over the years, I’ve attended many garden tours, and loved checking out the yard art almost as much as the plants. Yard art is a way to express your personality (or the personality of your landscape designer), or to make a statement. Or, it may be junk that ends up in the yard because there’s nowhere else to store it. Anyway, I have a lot of yard art, and although I try to edit it, I have quite an eclectic mixture that draws various reactions.

The other day, a visitor mentioned to me that she thought I had a lot of ugly stuff, but that it was placed well. I was not offended; actually, I found her remark quite humorous because when I’ve visited her garden I’ve often thought her stuff was not only ugly, but also not placed well.

Other than my wind chimes and wind sculpture, it seems I’m partial to little animals and reptiles as yard art--or else I've been given a lot of the stuff over the years.


This gray armadillo, an animal that is not found in the low Arizona desert, must have crawled in from Texas, where they are abundant.

Another non-native, the pelican, has been in my various gardens for over 15 years. I used to collect all manner of pelican tchotchkes, but most of it is long gone, except this iron and colored glass specimen.

A colorful ceramic Talavera iguana rests on a boulder, where he's been hanging out for a few years. He was a birthday present and I think he's gorgeous.

My husband detests cats, so this little ball cat hides out among the lantana plants, knowing what will happen if he ventures out.

A meditating monk sitting under a Palo Verde tree is not a common sight to see.

Gila Monsters are found in the low desert, but they are not made of wire and beads like this stylized version sitting on another boulder, sunning itself.

Last but not least is St. Francis of Assisi, who looks out over my garden from his place on the flagstone grill counter.