Tripping the Garden Lights Fantastic!

With the advent of LED lighting, Garden lights are arguably about to experience a revolution limited only by your imagination. Low in voltage, inexpensive to operate and no heat emission opens new windows to the creative mind in an exploration and experimentation of merging LED string, light bulbs, fluorescent and spot lights with ordinary household items to produce some fantastic results. In truth, I had expected that we would have experienced sweeping changes already with LED lighting by replacing the standard light bulb, but has only just begun as indicated finally by the Christmas light selection this year which far surpassed the regular Christmas lights, and lowering their value by half as oppose to barely having 20 percent of last years selection being LED. As a result Asian countries like Thailand and China have taken the lead in LED technology and all that comes with it including house and garden, inside and out. Some of the garden light selection and the forms they come in have often left me drooling. For example, check out some of the lights on this site [http://en.cnledw.com/p26_5.htm]

In this photo, the greenhouse is illuminated by fluorescent colored lights, which I usually change to different colors during the different seasons. In front are some flower lights that were attached to threaded steel rods about 10 feet long. The flexibility in the rods, makes the flowers bob around in the wind just like real plants do. String lights of dragonflies, flowers and butterflies decorate the threaded steel rods.
All sorts of accessories are now coming out as fast as the different lights. Fluorescent light bulbs for example now have attachments to use the light bulbs to spot light. You can save some significant dollars by buying led and fluorescent lights on line, and....if your really handy, all of the parts to build your own led lights , led bulb by bulb are out there. This site offers some explanation that's worthy of a look. [http://www.ledlightbulb.net/]In the meantime while we wait for the availability, prices and kinks to play out, there are a few combinations of string lights and glass objects such as vases that produce some garden accent lighting that will raise the curiosity of your garden guests. Fiber optic, or Led string lights stuffed in a cobolt blue vase either turned over or capped off, will give the appearance the vase is filled with fluid.Florescent tube protectors have all sorts of possibilities. They come in color too! Pictured, are clear fluorescent tube protectors, with rope or string lights inside, topped off with theme string lights such as flowers and leaves. An LED garden globe with changing colors gives the appearance of a moon in the back ground.

An old glass elephant a friend of mine was desperate to get rid of, found it's way into the garden, atop a clay vase with and led spot light inside.

Clear LED string lights from Big Lots seemed boring, so after a trip to Houston Art Supply and a purchase of glass paint, transformed the lights to something more my taste. Because LED lights produce no heat, the paint ticks like a charm.
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As more on line LED businesses open, prices are becoming more competitive. Like anything, it can be pricey, but with the right combination and lighting subjects, you can make a couple of effects go a long way.

The Art of Garden Art

The videos at the bottom of the page try to demonstrate the flow of art from the inside, out. While, there are virtually no plants inside the house, the use of windows are like changeable portraits of the garden and art with the seasons. The Garage, with a few modifications was turned into the "Tiki Room" a favorite with friends. Nothing stays the same, the art and plants get moved, new garden rooms are created which continuously inspires endless creativity.

Garden Art and landscaping are like hairstyles, and as such reflect a wide array of personal taste in the garden landscape. As Autumn fades into winter, the leaves fall, the usual blended garden art and artifacts suddenly become more visable.

Like "fusion" quisine, creating a seemless transition from inside, to out and back again is important. I spend alot of time in both places, and if I can't be poolside at a resort in a tropical country, then I'm going to creat the resort right here the best way I can. Windows become, Picture frames, inside and out, so that a picturesque view is possible as your walking out of the house into the garden, and visa versa.

A few folks have suggested that I should landscape for a living - after they see The Jungle in the back garden. My usual reply is that landscaping with garden art is a very personal thing. While some folks react with delight, others are dismayed. Much like interior home design it is reflective of the tastes and influences that person experiences. I have been on a journey of learning and morphing with mother nature- evolving and incorporating a wide aray of art ideas dreamed up by what ever influences me during various periods of my life. Some creations in the garden I would probably not do today, however the experience lends itself to future designs. Like the seasons, it is changing all of the time. I see garden art in broken pieces of chandeliers, possibly even forming a new lamp out of the remnants. Sometimes it is going off the beaten path-trying new things...being different. I will put items in the garden, that wouldn't even occur to most people. I've had Tiffany lamps, mirrors, furniture pieces all out in the garden, looking beautiful. After all, it is my outside room, and spend a great deal of time out there, whether it's relaxing, entertaining or dreaming up a new ideas.
My mind frequently wanders outside the box, to visualize or make connections between ordinary items to create the most unusual, fun art and accents. We as gardeners begin this process the moment we fall in love with a great statue, or garden decor at the nurseries and perform that exploratory price tag flip.
I usually save most of the things that break in the garden which is bound to happen at one time or another and at one point created the "Broken Art Garden, with items arranged to look as if they topled over with time.- . Assembling the look, feel and art of the garden - is a very creative process. I have an old carosuel horse, that positioned in the right place gives a feel of enchantment. Never does a piece stay in the same place, but finds new places for a new pallet of creativity. Windows and french doors are perfect for themes, seasonal art and garden displays, much like a store front window
So how does one obtain nice looking garden art, and not pay the huge price tag? If I bought even a fraction of the garden art I wanted, I'd have no money left over for the garden itself! I really wanted a statue of David in my garden, and shopped around for a few months, but I couldn't justify the 300 or more dollars it would rob from my plant budget. It occured to me the large statuaries must have items that had broken, and sure enough there was an entire section full of broken statuary. Immeadiantly I spotted a statue of David that I liked above all of the others I'd seen. Closer examination revealed that the statues head had broken off, and it had been sealed back in place. A few words with the owner and a negotiated price of $100.00 left both of us happy!Second had shops often have great trellises, and metal art, and of course off peak season at Nurseries, or end of the year sales often yield some good deals.Big Lots often have terracotta items that I will buy, and then water proof with sealers and paint. I have a gryffon that I've had 3 years now, having only re-sealed it again last month, still in great shape, original cost $20.00 plus the sealers and paint.
Gardeners are easy to buy gifts for. We are happy to get anything related to gardening, as we surely are able to put the gifts to use. Thinking along this line, it can be a great way to get that expensive piece of art, much like folks register for a wedding at certain stores, you can have folks contribute to your piece of garden art when asked what it is you want for christmas!
Sadly, for those who live in neighborhoods where individuality isn't encouraged in the name of tidyness, you'll have to have to enjoy your creativeness behind tall fences!
In the end, I'm delighted when other people enjoy my garden and it's art, but it is designed for me, and take no offense when others do not share my view. Here are some of favorite places to find garden art[http://www.designtoscano.com/home.do]Design Toscanothis is where I buy my Greenman sculptures and faeries. You can't beat the price for the quality, and they NEVER wear out in the weather.LocallyMarshallsHobby LobbyBig LotsFor larger items, the broken statue section at Fraizers statuary.
If you would like more information about this blog feel free to email me at,
jungle.heights@gmail.com
JUNGLE HEIGHTS