apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I dislike bridges to nowhere, silhouette figures, faux stone fountains and sundials, and anything with that cutesy, faux-cottage vibe. Blech.

I like the items featured in this post, but honestly, I think it's best to keep things minimal outdoors and allow your garden (or whatever) to be the star of the show.

I am in love with that bird house. It's very sweet.

Peeves:
Anything made from automobiles or their parts.
Anything made from bathroom plumbing fixtures.
Fiberglass/Plastic animals, rocks or outdoor speakers that are trying to look like rocks.
PVC lawn furniture & mailboxes.
Cast Iron "Victorian" furniture.
Indoor furniture left outdoors.
Peeing Cherubs.
Painted Metal Mailboxes with flower/animal motifs.
Lawn Jockeys.
Boats & RV's in disrepair.
Steel or Plastic Toolsheds.
Anything Rubbermaid
Children's Toys.

Likes:
Sundials
Birdhouses/Birdfeeders.
Terracotta/Ceramic animals
Mercury glass globes.
Zen Fountains
Plain galvanized steel mailboxes.
Mailboxes that are miniature versions of the house they're in front of.
Solar-Powered outdoor lighting.
Wooden Garden Sheds.

I really like the little owl stones! and the capeze..capese..capis? those shell dangly things.. I LOVE those in white curtains.

I love to see funky animal sculptures in yards, but most statues are too 90210 for me.

We? We? We? Again with the "we." Who is this "we?"

I love birdhouses and wicker furniture. If you can't pull the look off without going granny, it's not the furniture's fault.

My son's 5th grade woodshop project, a bird house, hangs proudly from a tree outside the family room. It is not as cute as the one pictured above, but every spring, since 1993, it is inhabited by a new mama bird and babies. That makes for one cool, functional garden accessory.

Also, the bird bath outside my kitchen window attracts many feathered visitors year-round. Any garden accessory is only as lovely as it is functional, if you ask me.

Cute finds! I couldn't find those owls through the link provided though.

One or Two cute items never killed anyone, if that is your style. Which for me a cute thing here and there is just my style.

love the birdhouse....I want one,but too expencibe..

Im still in the no-whimsies for the garden team. And I'm about to buy a house with a tiny, free standing shelter that looks like it has timewarped from the 1800 Alps (think Heidi). I'm doomed, but let's hope some paint will do the trick.

Really? The bird house? REally? What's next, Thomas Kincaid in the living room? Too twee for my taste.

Those owls are the cutest ever!

I am a streamlined kind of gal in the house, but outside, I want a lush, slightly overgrown jungle filled with handmade surprises. In the very large back yard are several birdhouses, I prefer mine to be more natural and blend into the trunk of the tree and very functional. Our yard is filled with birds and nests and babies. The concrete bird bath sees lots of action. We have some concrete statuary (for too grand of a term for what we have) that I made. They are small, gargoyle-esque type things that are tucked away and peek out from around the yard. The furniture is a dump find and about 50 years old. It's the old iron kind that I spruced up with some paint and new cushions. That couch is wonderful for an afternoon nap, as is the hammock. The firepit was built by yours truly using old cobble stones from the downtown area that I salvaged. Tucked into a corner area, we built a n outdoor shower and installed a hot tub. The area has a river rock gravel surround. Because it is in a corner, the hot tub is not such an eyesore. While I shall admit, they are not terribly attractive items, it is a wonderful place to sip coffee and bird watch in the morning.

Ooo! Thank you for the wind chime source!
I've been wondering for a few months now if it's really time to replace my shell wind chime. Weather (and winter) can certainly take its toll on those shell elements over the last five years.

I LOVE modern and DON'T LOVE TRADITIONAL. That being said... the birdhouse is just plain ADORABLE!!!!

mntwmyn, I would like to see pictures of your yard. It sounds enchanting.

I couldn't imagine my yard without its little pond built into the flagstone wall. It looks like it's been there forever and the sound of the water circulating is very Zen. Not only that, I get the most amazing variety of birds--finches, cedar waxwings, nuthatches, and many more.

I agree with bepsf, except for pvc furniture, which I like because it holds up to weather. I don't like it if it has flowers and such imprinted on it, though.

I think only one "whimsy" piece, maybe two if you have a really big yard, otherwise it looks like a gift shop.

I like the tuned wind chimes. They're very soothing in a breeze.

@Lizzykewl and other owl fans -

I should've made a note in the post: Owl purveyor Flora Grubb doesn't do online sales, but if you live in the San Francisco area you can stop in. Or you can call and they'll send you one (although they are quite heavy).

- Susie

birdhouse = cringeworthy (and i did)

like the furniture, tho.

bepsf,
Curious to know which of your lists gnomes fall under.

Nice finds! I want all of them! I especially like the hot tub & wicker, they are so different from the usual. And I love the blues & greens of the windchimes (though I agree, the noise kind of bugs me).

I love that birdhouse. Could live without the chimes. Even if they ting instead of ring. They are cute though - maybe in a corner where there's no wind?

@shiraabel

my Dad hates the sound of all wind chimes, my mom keeps some inside :)

Dislike cute.

Like zen.

(But I hate wind chimes -- isn't there enough noise already?)

(Regarding bird houses -- if they are not practical enough for birds to choose to live in, they are just cute. Ick. I think the one shown is unlikely to get tenents because there is no perch. Unless maybe those flowers are sturdy enough for a bird to land on...)

And I will defend my Rubbermaid mailbox to the end! It's extra large for packages, it has an alert flag that indicates when the box has been opened so you know to look for mail -- especially nice in winter -- and it's less destructible than metal. I had three metal mailboxes irreparably dented by snowplows and neighbors backing their cars out into the road before getting one. It's not aesthetically beautiful, but it's not ugly and it is practical.

My big gripe isn't so much about garden accessories but about improperly planted plants. I wince when I see a bush destined to become 4' wide planted three inches away from a walkway or roses struggling in the shade. Trees butchered or "topped" by some insane desire to keep them small (why plant them in the first place?).

And yes, bad birdhouses, especially ones that encourage invasive species that crowd out more rare and native types. Here's more info: http://www.sialis.org

Nothing substitutes for a little research and if someone wants an ugly, dorky gnome or flamingo, but opts for better gardening practices they have my vote...

The chimes are pretty. But for the love of all that is neighborly, wind chimes should never be put up in dense urban areas.