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In the United States, because of the blend of many cultures, garden design can mean many things to many people, and so it is with lawn ornaments as well. Lawn ornaments serve little function other than the aesthetic, but have become an integral part of the home landscape. It is interesting to note the changes which have taken place in the types of lawn ornaments used over the years and what they mean to their owners.
In pioneer days, lawn and garden features were mostly functional and made by hand with available, natural materials. Whirligigs, scarecrows, and various types of fencing were used to keep wildlife away from precious crops.
People who came from Europe and other countries around the turn of the century to work in factories and mines brought with them their traditions. Gardens, which were all similar and rather drab, contained the basic plants for making and seasoning their traditional foods. Lawn ornaments were used in these small plots to order space and to add a touch of elegance.
Creating nature was important in places where nature wouldn't dare show its face. In many of the factory, mining and industry towns, which were usually devoid of, or short on wildlife, ceramic, concrete, and plaster deer were popular as were skunks, chipmunks, squirrels, birds, raccoons, and various waterfowl. (If Mohammed won't come to the mountain......)
After World War II, yards became special places for family activities. In addition to the "white picket fence", one of the first popular lawn ornaments was the pink flamingo (making a comeback today) followed in popularity by the "lawn ball" (or reflecting ball). Concrete ornaments of all types have maintained their importance in the yard. For instance, concrete flower pots, cherubs, benches, birdbaths, antique columns, urns, etc., all have ebbed and flowed in popularity over the years. One of the more creative uses of lawn ornaments in this category is a pair of lions lounging at the base of a set of steps leading to a house in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, which are decorated each Halloween with Casper the Ghost masks.
Many types of lawn ornaments of a less permanent and trendy nature have come and gone in popularity. Painted plaster and ceramic figurines continue to be popular. Gnomes are often seen clustered around small ponds or peeking around rocks and shrubs. Ducks and ducklings march across lawns all over the country. Frogs in all sizes and wearing various costumes are plopped down everywhere, as are mushrooms and toadstools.
Depending on locality, wood is a popular medium for expression. who believe that "more is better" - their yards contain every inanimate object created by humans, presenting what must be a grass cutting nightmare. It is also a distraction for passing motorists who can't believe their eyes..
Today, there is a movement back to the early days. It is popular to use more natural "folk art" materials in creating a more basic and tasteful approach to landscape and garden design, much to the relief of most of us. Benches, arbors, trellises, fences, and figures made from twigs, branches, and stumps are popular.
These all help to transform our gardens and yards into refuges from the stresses of work, traffic, and everyday life by emphasizing the natural. The recent emphasis on environmental conservation has helped to make bird houses and feeders, birdbaths, small ponds, and fountains popular features in the landscape.
Containers of all types are popular for creating gardens in small spaces and where nothing would normally grow. Even plastic objects have become easier on the eye because these items are now made to appear like they've been made from natural materials.
However, there are those who can't leave well enough alone. In western Maryland one imaginative property owner dresses his pair of twig deer each month to reflect the various seasons. For instance, in December, they are dressed as Mr. and Mrs. Claus; in June, they are dressed as a bride and groom. No month is without its "character deer".
Using lawn ornaments to improve our surroundings or to make a statement is obviously a part of our American culture. This gentle mania which shows no signs of diminishing in popularity, exemplifies our individuality, creativity, and, in some cases, our sense of humor.
--Hettie Ballweber, MG, 1996
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