By Sharon Omahen
University of Georgia
As you do your spring cleaning this year, don’t be too quick to
toss away old items. They could make for quirky outdoor garden
features.
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University of Georgia specialists say home flower gardens can
become new homes for old, neglected items. And the would-be junk
becomes yard art.
Heirloom gardens are typically full of plants reminiscent of
gardens from the Old South. What better, more creative way to
label your selections than with china plate name markers?
Other yard art ideas include using an old wheelbarrow or wooden
chest as a planter. A brass headboard from an old bedroom suite
may seem useless, but in a flower garden it becomes an attractive
minifence or clear indication of a flower bed.
If you can’t find odds and ends to perk up your flower gardens,
UGA experts suggest turning to colors or scents for unique garden
ideas. You can easily plant a patriot garden with red, white and
blue flowers. Or put in a fragrant garden by selecting flowers
whose scents you enjoy.
Gardening by heart
Design a memorial garden by installing plants in a heart-shaped
design. As a tribute, select plants that were your loved one’s
favorites.
If water’s in short supply in your landscape, consider installing
a xeriscape garden. Xeriscape gardens typically include plants
that require less water and are more drought-resistant. Placing
the garden near your downspout will allow rainwater to be used as
a water source.
To put rainwater to further use, install a rain garden.
Rain gardens are designed to capture and absorb storm water
runoff. Most of this water runs off hard surfaces like sidewalks,
driveways and roofs.
Rain-garden plants must be able to survive flooding for 48 hours.
They must also be able to tolerate prolonged periods of dry
weather, too, and even drought.
Research, Education Garden
To get up-close and personal flower gardening ideas, visit the
UGA Research and Education Garden in Griffin, Ga. At the garden,
homeowners can see several theme gardens, including the new rain
garden.
Other theme gardens on the site include children’s, herb,
xeriscape, rock, water, butterfly, heirloom, turf, native plant
and antique rose gardens.
Admission to the R&E Garden is free. It’s open from May through
September from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 1 to 5
p.m. Sundays. For more information on the garden, call (770)
467-6012. Or see the garden’s Web site at www.griffin.edu/garden.
To see creative yard art and memorial and heirloom gardens, visit
the teaching garden on the grounds of the Senior Citizens Center
at 1001 Univeter Road in Canton, Ga.
The garden was installed by UGA Master Gardeners in Cherokee
County, Ga. For directions, call the Cherokee County Cooperative
Extension Office at (770) 479-0421.
For more gardening ideas, see the UGA Georgia Center for Urban
Agriculture Web site at www.ugagarden.com.
(Sharon Omahen is a news editor with the University of Georgia
College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.)
