No, not ours, at least. It is a creative space and an extension of our hobbies. Even our swimming pool is not the conventional, tiled, oblong or kidney-shaped pool plopped in the garden, surrounded by tiles and a manicured lawn. We tried to create a sunken oasis with a waterfall.
Waterfall and Rockery
*
I love the restful sound of the water trickling over the rocks …
Solar Garden Lighting
Growing plants in this huge pot for some reason proved a challenge so thinking outside the ‘pot’ we placed a solar light inside and added one of the bulbous shades we found abandoned in the trash bins several years ago.
*
Mosaics in the Garden
*
How to Add Structure to Your Garden
One day, Mr. Piglet came home with a log. He nearly gave himself a hernia lifting it out of the car, so I told him to dump it just inside the gate, where it remained for several weeks until I decided to use it as a plant stand.
Another abandoned treasure found at the local rubbish bins was a chair which I repurposed into a plant stand.
He has since found two more. I am just waiting for inspiration to strike.
Windchimes
I know they are not everyone’s cup of tea, but I love them as they each have their own character and sound. The fish winchime was my mum’s. When she passed away, I brought it home with me and hung it in the garden; it remains a poignant, vocal reminder.
When we have strong winds, they create a cacophony of sound, but that’s okay. Mr. Piglet wears earplugs, and the only close, resident neighbours we have are holidaymakers.
Fun Stuff in the Garden
Our casa is small, and since all the windows open inward, we don’t have much in the way of window sills for ornaments. Therefore, most are packed away in storage, or a few find their way into garden pots.
Stone painting with the grandkids
When the grandkids used to come and stay one of our favourite activities was pebble painting. I’ve kept them as a reminder.
Fun garden signs
I know my quirky garden will not be to everyone’s taste, but as we spend so much time out there, we use it as an extension of the house.
If we were having coffee as part of Natalie’s Weekend Coffee Share, I’d ask you what quirky things do you display in your garden?
That’s my fun six gardening topics for this week, folks. Now it’s back to work, weeding and tending to the hibiscus above whose leaves I’ve just noticed are turning yellow.
Related content
Piglet in Portugal 
I’m a BIG fan of your artistic garden, set off so nicely by the unique pool. I like how you’ve done the surrounding area of your pool – beautiful!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks, Tracy. The garden is my passion as you can proably tell.
LikeLike
Very creative, nice and serene.
LikeLike
Thanks, Spinster. I try to make it so
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, your title is so true, and thinking outside the box, for sure! Thanks for sharing all your creative thoughts and garden ideas! 🙂
LikeLike
My pleasure, Beth 🙂 thanks for stopping by.
LikeLike
Very creative! I love the garden mosaics especially!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you. I love mosaic. Must do some moer this winter.
LikeLike
I’m definitely with you here. I love all the extra characters, extra interest, enhancing, celebrating and living in harmony with the photosynthesising members of the garden.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you 🙂 Each piece holds a special memory of how and when it was created. Plants come and go … but my quirky things have so far stood the test of time.
LikeLiked by 1 person
A garden needs some personal touches that make it unique and ‘you.’ I love that waterfall and the ‘if at first you don’t succeed…’ sign! I’m debating whether to show that sign to my wife or not in case she wants one for the house or garden.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Mr. Piglet made it as a joke. The joke was he originally wrote all the letters in different colours. I tild him they wouldn’t show up…and suggested he only use white nope he wouldn’t listen. A year or so later the sign was repainted with white lettering.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Gardens aren’t just made of flowers and plants; they need to be decorated and landscaped with pretty things. The decorations you made and presented today are very pretty. Did you make the mosaics?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Fred, yes. I did the mosaics and have several more including a garden table which was repurposed. Old plastic table, wimminng pool tiles someone had thrown away and others I scavenged from tile shops..
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautiful !
LikeLike
Quirky? I love it! It shows so much character and all the ideas I used to have about adding notices, signs, mosaics, statues and more – that I didn’t carry through because I thought people might not like them – I’m now rethinking. After all, it’s my space and I should add what I think is perfect for it. Yes, I think you’ve talked me into it. Of course, I’m envious of your fabulous swimming pool and waterfall – but in this cool area, I think it’s, sadly, one idea that won’t have a place in this garden.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you. Our garden just evolved from our hobbies. I tend not to worry too much about what people think as it’s our space 🙂 Go for it.
I love the pool but since my knee op I don’t get to use it as much as I’d like for swimming. I tend to just float on top of the water. But it is nice to look at.
LikeLike
Love your colourful and quirky garden Carole. My garden has lots of pots painted in various shades of blue (my favourite colour), and pot plants hanging from the lemon tree.
LikeLike
Hi Sami, the shades of blue sound lovely. I also try to incorporate lots of blues into my garden Blue is such a restful colour. The pot plants hanging from the lemon tree sounds fun.
LikeLike
Only one word will do: Wowsah! I absolutely LOVE your garden and all that you have done. So very inviting and colorful. Bravo!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks, Laurie. It helps to keep my mind active and out of mischief.
LikeLike
I love your creative garden, it is a work of art!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Maria. IT is a differnt side of garden not everyone thinks about.
LikeLike
Your garden is both fun and artistic, Carole – not only an extension of your house, but an extension of your personality. Those big wooden wind chimes in the last photo are my favourites. They play such a rich tone. Because we live in a condo now, here in Canada – a personal yard is non-existent. In Texas, my quirky things are a bin of small rocks I’ve painted, wall decor I’ve made from fallen palm husks that I’ve painted on, and random years sale finds for the flower borders.
LikeLiked by 2 people
haha… the big wooden windchimes we bought in Lanzorte several years ago. They certainly make a loud clatter when the wind blows. I don’t know how I’d manage without a personal yard or at least a very large balcony. I am very much an outdoor person. At least you have some space in Texas.The palm husk decorations sound interesting. WE have lots of palms here but as yet I’ve never used them to cerate anything
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m an outdoor person too, Carole. I’m lucky to have the best of both worlds- one here at home to laze on our balcony and just enjoy without a yard calling me for work, and the other in Texas, with just a bit of yard work and large patios to laze around on (after having a large yard to care for for many years, I’m truly enjoying the lazing part now) Between my outdoor walks here and my walks and swims in Texas .. and the lazing, I’m outdoors the greater part of almost every day. I’ll make a post about the palm husks when I get back at them this fall.
LikeLiked by 1 person
This was fun, I liked the Mosaics.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Rosie. the mosaics are great fun. I must get back to it.
LikeLiked by 1 person