When planning your outdoor room, it is important to include in your design a place for one or two well placed garden sculptures or ornaments. When designing my current herb garden, I left the center unplanted for a future armillary sphere or sundial. My first herb garden had included a weathered sundial which I loved and lived with for many years.
When we moved to our current home, the first garden area project I worked on was my new herb garden. This garden was to be further away from my house and I knew that I wanted a focal point that would be larger than the piece in my first herb garden. I chose an iron armillary sphere from a foundry in Pennsylvania which was in keeping with the herb garden theme but had a larger presence which could be viewed from the windows far away as well.
Instead of buying a pedestal for the base, I went to local stone yards to search for a natural stone that would stand upright and serve as a base for the large armillary sphere. It created a more natural effect and blended into the natural surroundings. This is a picture of the piece with the stone base I found.
Because it was to be left outside in all weather conditions, I knew that it would need to be secured to prevent the wind from blowing it off of the stone but also as a precaution against the possibility of theft. I used Gorilla Glue to hold the sphere in place and it has worked very well. I have now had the piece in the garden for several years and have reglued it only once as a matter of my normal maintenance of spring cleanup.
For other garden themes, I have worked with clients using some very contemporary art garden sculptures in mixed tall grass plantings as well as very traditional statues and fountains in front of a backdrop of climbing vines-both very effective with stunning results. Below are a couple of examples of the range of styles to choose from and what is possible, depending on your personal preference and design.
The most important advice I can give is to use sculpture sparingly. One well placed piece is much more effective and complimentary than many random pieces which tend to lessen the impact. Sculpture and Ornament in the garden is meant to enhance the plantings. It is art and should be treated as such. Knowing this allows you to use your budget to get the most for your money. Spend it wisely and you will be pleased with the outstanding results.