Turquoise pot with Geranium psilostemon, Papaver orientale 'Perry's White' in June

Turquoise pot with Geranium psilostemon, Papaver orientale ‘Perry’s White’ in June

In my front yard, I have a glazed turquoise pot that I leave in the garden all year. I’ve also encouraged my clients to do the same thing. Most years we see these beautiful pots for twelve months but this year, the snow is so deep that they are totally covered. That means we need taller, brightly colored objects in our landscapes.

I remember visiting a garden in Maryland that had a wild garden of Gaura, Persicaria ‘Firetail’ and dill. In the midst of this bed was a very large, brightly colored art piece.

I remember visiting a garden in Maryland that had a wild garden of Gaura, Persicaria ‘Firetail’ and dill. In the midst of this bed was a very large, brightly colored art piece.

During the growing season, the sculpture acts as a color echo of the flowers but when they are not in bloom, it supplies vivid color. When our skies are gray and the ground is white with snow, what a welcoming jolt of joy that would be!

I saw a reddish-orange obelisk in a Maine garden a few summers ago that echoed the color of the nearby Crocosmia ‘Lucifer’.

I saw a reddish-orange obelisk in a Maine garden a few summers ago that echoed the color of the nearby Crocosmia ‘Lucifer’.

 Obelisks are usually quite tall although they come in varying heights. Besides raising our eyes from the ground, they can also be colorful focal points.  In a blog post written by the Director of Horticulture at RotaryBotanical Garden in Wisconsin, there are several photos of wooden obelisks that they repaint annually to echo the coming year’s color scheme.

One year at the Cleveland Botanical Garden, there was a display of birdhouses. One of them was a crazy ostrich.

One year at the Cleveland Botanical Garden, there was a display of birdhouses. One of them was a crazy ostrich.

I have a glazed ceramic birdhouse that sits on top of a series of glazed ceramic tubes that fit over a steel pole. The pale turquoise echoes the trim of my house. During the winter, it adds color where there would otherwise be none.

I have a glazed ceramic birdhouse that sits on top of a series of glazed ceramic tubes that fit over a steel pole. The pale turquoise echoes the trim of my house. During the winter, it adds color where there would otherwise be none.

Glazed ceramic birdhouse during winter in same bed

Glazed ceramic birdhouse during winter in same bed

Birdhouses on pedestals or poles could also fill this need for color above the snowline.

In 2002, I visited Heronswood Nursery and delighted in the display of huge terra cotta pots atop purple concrete pedestals. The pedestals served as a visual guide from one section of the display gardens to another.

In 2002, I visited Heronswood Nursery and delighted in the display of huge terra cotta pots atop purple concrete pedestals. The pedestals served as a visual guide from one section of the display gardens to another.

In my own garden, I have vertically installed blue enamel steel railings from the bunk bed that was my son’s years ago. During the winter, I frequently look out my living room windows to see them.

In my own garden, I have vertically installed blue enamel steel railings from the bunk bed that was my son’s years ago. During the winter, I frequently look out my living room windows to see them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The possibilities are limitless. Which ones have you used?