Resin, Metal, Or Concrete Gardens Statues - The Pros and Cons of Each

Garden sculptures can be made from nearly any durable material.  The most popular are concrete, resin, and metal.  Here are some things you should know about each.

Concrete garden statues:  Because these are made from molds, you can get nearly any size, shape, or style of this type of statue that you would like.  Concrete statues are sold in both finished and unfinished styles.  It is very affordable and if you buy unfinished and paint it yourself then it is even more so.

One thing you should know about concrete garden statuary is that it can get very heavy, very quickly.  If you live in a high wind area this is great, but be sure that you have help moving big pieces.  The only real downside is that concrete is not as detailed as resin.

Resin garden statues:  Resin is a hard plastic material that can be molded into just about any shape imaginable.  Because it  takes detail very well, it is a great material for statues for your garden.  You will often find statues of children playing, Disney characters, and animals made out of resin.  

Resin is an extremely durable substance.  It is much lighter than concrete, but often more expensive.  Resin statues look great in cottage gardens.

Metal garden statues:  These are perfect for formal gardens & are generally absolutely beautiful.  However, metal statues for the garden can be quite pricey.   Also you need to be aware that many metal statues will develop a patina over time.  For instance, copper will turn a lovely shade of green (think the Statue of Liberty).  In general metal garden statues are well worth it.

Duke Gardens Conservatories - Last Chance To Visit

The conservatories at Duke Gardens, Somerville, New Jersey will be closing on the 28th May 2008, so if you wish to see them as the owners originally planned them, you just have a few days left before refurbishment changes them forever.

There are two conservatories at Duke Gardens, the Orchid Range and the Indoor Display Gardens; but first some history of the garden.

Duke Gardens is a 2,700-acre estate and was developed by tobacco magnate James Duke. He established the American Tobacco Company that controlled a huge volume of the US tobacco market until the US Supreme Court ordered the dissolution of the company in an anti-trust decision in 1911.

Starting in 1893 when he was 37-years old, James like a latter day Capability Brown, started on a programme that was to transform farmland into a garden landscape, a venture that was to last the next 32-years until his death in 1925. The work included excavation for nine lakes, erecting 45 buildings, two and a half miles of stone walls and more than 18 miles of roads. He also installed 35 fountains and numerous sculptures.

After he died, his daughter Doris then just 12 years of age, inherited the estate and when she was old enough enhanced the property further.

The Orchid Range was built in 1900, designed by Kendall Taylor & Stevens, it was built by Lord & Burnham, probably the most famous maker of greenhouses and conservatories in the USA.

When it was first opened the Orchid Range was used for commercial growing of orchids for local and New York markets. However, air freight and lower overseas labour costs undercut their prices by the 1950's and 60's.

The Indoor Display Garden was originally known as the New Greenhouse. Designed by Horace Trumbauer, a well-known Philadelphia architect who was known for his designs for mansions, but who also went on to design office buildings in his later life, like the Orchid Range it was built by Lord & Burnham.

Lord & Burnham built the New Greenhouse in two stages. Stage one was completed in 1909, while the second stage was not completed until 1917. Originally it was built to provide cut flowers and plants for the Dukes homes but like the Orchid Range, in later years it was also used to grow plants for the commercial market. When this became uneconomic, Doris Duke changed the New Greenhouse into the Indoor Display Garden. She started this project in 1958 and opened it to the public in 1964. The display is a series of gardens reputedly designed by Doris herself, the inspiration probably coming from her visits overseas where she saw different garden designs. Returning home she captured these within the Indoor Display Garden.

From the America's there is an American Desert containing cacti and other succulents, including barrel cactus, giant aloe, and crown of thorns, aloe vera and others. Meanwhile the Colonial Garden, represents gardens of the South Eastern States showing camellias, azaleas and magnolia.

From Europe there is an English Garden displaying topiary, a rock garden, herbaceous borders, plus a 16th century Elizabethan Knot Garden and an 18th century succulent garden. France is represented by a Parterre planted in a geometric parterre, while Italy has lush plantings in a courtyard complete with statues in the Romantic style.

The Middle East is represented by an Indo-Persian Garden complete with fountains, carved marble screens, orange trees, Mediterranean cypress and a Persian rose garden.

There is also a Japanese Garden that includes a tea house with bonsai trees and red maples. A Chinese Garden complete with a koi carp stream, rock formations and bamboo, camphor trees, bleeding heart and jasmine.

There are some that argue that these displays should be left as designed by Doris Duke, but to my mind they look dated and rather twee. A young Doris with all her wealth at her disposal would probably tire of them as they are now and want them updated.

The conservatories at Duke Farms will close at the end of May 2008 and over the next two years will be re-glazed and have their heating systems modernised. They are due to reopen in 2010 with new displays.

Japanese Gardens Japanese Decorating

Many landscapers today, whether professional or home-made garden are turning to Japanese designs for landscaping a. The peace and tranquility of a Japanese garden attracts many people to this type of landscape design. One of the main attractions of a Japanese garden is the ease with the care of her. If a Japanese garden is well designed, first, it is expensive to install, and will be relatively carefree. ManyPeople think a Japanese garden will be expensive because they have exotic plants and flowers. This could not be further from the truth of a Japanese garden seeks materials have been easier to create the look that peaceful. If you understand the basic principles of Japanese garden, you can create one that is not too expensive and are easy to maintain.

One of the most fundamental principles of Japanese gardens is to follow the linesand the shape of nature. Is not square ponds in the country, a Japanese garden would be a round pond. natural forms that are rich in nature, found in a Japanese garden. Stones are placed with care so as to look as if they occurred, of course, a perfect example. Another important principle of Japanese gardens is the management of disk space. There is no fear of large spaces in a Japanese garden, this is what made deliberatelythe gaps and complement an overview of the other elements of the garden. Managing the size of a Japanese garden is a third element to be addressed. Large objects in small towns is overwhelming the rest of the garden. Equilibria research, the Japanese garden architect and proportions, so that each element works with others, rather than competing with it.

Japanese gardens often use the case so interesting. Fences and gates are used tosecrete the garden, but can also point the visitor to another area, even if it is only an illusion. The symbolism of the fence in the garden is so important and sidewalks are always away in small areas in large gardens. Gates and fences create both a barrier and an entrance area, the garden, visitors who leave the cares of the world and a peaceful retreat.