Arty facts

I put this together from an old anodized aluminium wok, a stick with wire wrapped around it, and a bird I bought at a gallery gift shop.  It looked pretty ordinary at first but I like the way the wire has rusted and the reflections in the water are lovely.  I have never seen any real birds taking a drink though.

 Another bird 

and more rust.  

Kookaburras are a bit of an obsession with me.  My sister and I reckon our old Dad had a laugh a bit like a kookaburra and we were saucer-eyed when one laughed during the graveside service at his funeral.  Whenever we see or hear one we take it as a sign of some sort...usually of his approval or support.   You can see why I was delighted to receive this as a birthday present a couple of years ago.

Even more rust and another bird.  I didn't notice the theme until I started to write this post.  

This one I bought myself at a gallery in Yea, along with the sunflower below.

I also have to own up to this wire chook ... I know it is a sort of bird and it is rusted.  But it is also the grave marker for Lucy, the first chook I had to chop due to ill health...so you aren't allowed to laugh!

Just for a change ... a terracotta dragon.

This one has a good story.

I bought my sister a similar one several years ago.  I have always loved it.  

 I just happened to call into a favourite nursery, which is many kilometres from my home. 

I walked in, and there was this wonderful birdbath.

I thought, 'I don't care how much it costs, 

I am having that!'

Unfortunately there was a sold sign on the birdbath and I was crestfallen...until I turned it over.  

It had my sister's name on it...not her surname, just her first name.  But I knew!  

Apparently,  my sister had tracked down the original artist and lured her out of retirement to make just one more dragon birdbath.  

It is very special to me but I haven't quite found the perfect home for it yet, but at least it is outside and developing a lovely patina.

Just to reassure you that I am a 'Class Act' here is my garden gnome.

She keeps changing her name.  At first, in a previous garden, she was under an apple tree and her name was, Apples.  Then I put a pot of rhubarb near her and she changed her name to Rude Barb.  While I was between houses, she lived under my sister's Rosemary, where she was know as Rudemary.  

One of my sister's grand daughters said, 'Ma, that's a girl gnome.'

My sister, trying to keep a straight face, asked, 'How do you know?'

'She has long hair, Silly!'

Now she lives under a Camelia, among japanese windflowers and is known as Windy Wendy.

Finally... a little artwork from Mother Nature.

I would love to see some pictures of your birdbaths, gnomes and garden art.