Gnomes, Geese, Flamingos, and Alligators? What Types of Lawn Decorations Do You Love -- or Loathe?

[seoulsearch]

Hi Everyone!

The inspiration for this thread came from a neighbor, who left me a cute little 4th of July gnome as a gift (something like this







While gnomes aren't really my decorating style, this little guy was so cute that I've put him in my window -- and yes, I'm going to leave him up until it's time to change to fall decorations (which, if retail had it's way, would pretty much be next week.)

Fall is my favorite time of year, and it's partially because people usually seem to decorate their homes more as the air gets crisper -- and I love seeing what people put out. I always see it as an extension of their style and personality, and I appreciate it when people take the time to put up cute or interesting things to look at (let's face it, life needs all the fun it can get!)

I prefer "cute" decorations, not gory (for Halloween) or gawdy (a yard full of Santa's, etc.)

I love seeing other people's gnomes, geese, flamingos, etc. -- especially when they're wearing cool little seasonal outfits:









But I have to admit, my very favorite, when I lived in a certain area, was seeing the Christmas alligators!



Alas, I'm no longer in an area where I'll be seeing these little guys, but I still love seeing how people choose to decorate their living spaces.


* What kinds of decorations or themes do you like to have around your home? Flowers, animals, cats, dogs, etc.?

* What types of things do you decorate with both in and outside of your home? Lights, ornaments, flags, figurines, inflatables, etc.?

I've taken to using those gel-clings for windows because they're cheap and easy to switch out:



* Do you have any special decorations that you or your kids pick out? Do any of them have any special meaning to you? (And why?)

My Mom likes bubble lights because they were part of her childhood.




* Are there any decorations you just CAN'T stand? What brought about your dislike for them? And does anyone in your family still decorate with them anyways?


I would love to hear all about the kinds of decorations you both love -- and loathe!

And, if anyone knows what these poor Apocalyptic Chickens have seen that has obviously traumatized them forever, please let us know!!

 

[passion84god]

Personally, I loathe seeing political signs and banners on peoples' lawns. Keep your politics to yourself.

I like seeing colored leaves on the ground in the Fall and snow in the Winter, but I don't know if either of those count. I also like certain inflatables and holiday lights. You mentioned gel clings. I sometimes put some on the mirror in my bathroom.​

 

[seoulsearch]

Personally, I loathe seeing political signs and banners on peoples' lawns. Keep your politics to yourself.

I like seeing colored leaves on the ground in the Fall and snow in the Winter, but I don't know if either of those count. I also like certain inflatables and holiday lights. You mentioned gel clings. I sometimes put some on the mirror in my bathroom.​

Great point about the political messages... Also, "certain" flags... I pass all that right by.

One of my holiday traditions includes driving around everyone so often to look for lights and decorations...

Gel clings on your mirrors?!

That's a genius idea!!!

I just might be stealing that one.

 

[Lanolin]

My dad thought my hedgehog brush boot scraper was an actual hedgehog.

 

[Lanolin]

I have window clings/stickers

They kinda like this except jellyfish. The light shines through them and puts rainbows on your walls

 

[Lanolin]

I also have a rooster door bell similar to this

 

[Lanolin]

For lantern festival, I tried to have lanterns with actual lights in them...but I couldn't figure out how to do it safely without burning the whole thing - so they just hung on my washing line/tree in the sun.

 

[Lanolin]

Oh BTW Happy Independence Day.

May the 4th be with you. Oh wait that's wrong..

 

[Lynx]

You can stick anything in the yard as long as I don't have to use a weed-eater around it. Either let me spray weed killer around it or weed-eat yourself. And don't kill yourself from electric shock if you stick lights in the yard and then it rains.

Aside from that I don't care. Go nuts man.

 

[seoulsearch]

My dad thought my hedgehog brush boot scraper was an actual hedgehog.

View attachment 291417

This is adorable!!!

I have window clings/stickers

They kinda like this except jellyfish. The light shines through them and puts rainbows on your walls

View attachment 291418

I love these!!

That's what I like about these threads -- they give me new ideas.

I've never seen window clings like this in the store, but I want some!!

I know what I'LL be doing this 4th of July... Rainbow prism gel clings?

Amazon, here I come.

 

[seoulsearch]

For lantern festival, I tried to have lanterns with actual lights in them...but I couldn't figure out how to do it safely without burning the whole thing - so they just hung on my washing line/tree in the sun.

View attachment 291420

These are so cute!

When I was a kid, I faintly remember my family meeting up with some friends and going to a hot air balloon festival and how bright they all were.

I like having colorful decorations in my windows to brighten people's day when the see them -- I might have to look for some of these.

 

[seoulsearch]

You can stick anything in the yard as long as I don't have to use a weed-eater around it. Either let me spray weed killer around it or weed-eat yourself. And don't kill yourself from electric shock if you stick lights in the yard and then it rains.

Aside from that I don't care. Go nuts man.

I hear you!

At this point in life, "Low-Maintenance" is my rule of thumb -- which is why I love going around looking at OTHER people's decorations and appreciating all the work they put into them.

 

[seoulsearch]

I hear you!

At this point in life, "Low-Maintenance" is my rule of thumb -- which is why I love going around looking at OTHER people's decorations and appreciating all the work they put into them.

Adding to the theme of being low-maintenance, I don't even take the gel clings off their backing.




For example, if I bought this set or even just a few of them, I'd just take them out of the package and hang the whole sheets on the window, as-is. If I want to rearrange anything or take anything off (like if I removed the Santa's,) I'd do so on the sheet, then just use wall-safe tape to attach the entire sheet to the window.

I used to do it the normal way of taking every single cling off the sheet and putting them on the window, but I found that not only did this take forever, it often ruined the clings (stretching them out to the point of uselessness.)

Simply taping the entire sheet is a lot easier and faster, and unless they're too sun-damaged, I can re-use them for several years (yes, I'm that cheap!)

I use the wall-safe tape because I've found it leaves less residue on the window, making it much easier to clean up when I change decorations.

For things like this, I am for being lazy!

 

[Lynx]

Adding to the theme of being low-maintenance, I don't even take the gel clings off their backing.

View attachment 291424


For example, if I bought this set or even just a few of them, I'd just take them out of the package and hang the whole sheets on the window, as-is. If I want to rearrange anything or take anything off (like if I removed the Santa's,) I'd do so on the sheet, then just use wall-safe tape to attach the entire sheet to the window.

I used to do it the normal way of taking every single cling off the sheet and putting them on the window, but I found that not only did this take forever, it often ruined the clings (stretching them out to the point of uselessness.)

Simply taping the entire sheet is a lot easier and faster, and unless they're too sun-damaged, I can re-use them for several years (yes, I'm that cheap!)

I use the wall-safe tape because I've found it leaves less residue on the window, making it much easier to clean up when I change decorations.

For things like this, I am for being lazy!

You are more energetic than I. You actually bother with decorating.

 

[SoulFaith]

I've never been a fan of garden gnomes or lots of yard decorations. For me, less is more.
I used to have flower beds, but I eventually dug them up and replaced them with shrubs because they're much easier to maintain. I don't miss spending hours pulling weeds and unwanted grass.
I do love admiring other people's beautiful gardens with decorations and I truly appreciate the time and effort they put into them. I just prefer to keep my own yard as simple, tidy and low-maintenance as possible. That's what works best for me.

 

[seoulsearch]

You are more energetic than I. You actually bother with decorating.

Well I guess like most things in life, it's all relative.

It doesn't take me long to put up/switch out my decorations at all. The longest part is cleaning off the old tape residue from the window.

You, on the other hand, will spend hours, days, or as much time as needed doing all kinds of things with laptops. phones, soundboards, and an entire plethora of techie devices.

The things you choose to spend your energy on (vs. me spending energy on decorations) is definitely a whole lot more useful!

 

[seoulsearch]

I've never been a fan of garden gnomes or lots of yard decorations. For me, less is more.
I used to have flower beds, but I eventually dug them up and replaced them with shrubs because they're much easier to maintain. I don't miss spending hours pulling weeds and unwanted grass.
I do love admiring other people's beautiful gardens with decorations and I truly appreciate the time and effort they put into them. I just prefer to keep my own yard as simple, tidy and low-maintenance as possible. That's what works best for me.

We have a grocery chain around here that has wonderful gardening departments, and an employee I was talking to showed me pictures of her IMMACULATE landscape and garden that she proudly maintained all by herself.

It was INCREDIBLE. I'm guessing the only place you'd find more beautiful home landscaping would be in heaven!

But the instant I saw it, I started thinking about how much WORK and money it must take to keep all of that. This is something I notice more and more as I get older. Every time I see something I'm kind of envious of, I immediately start to think how much money and time it must cost to get there.

This is why I appreciate others' callings so much!

It's such a blessing to kick back and enjoy the talents God has given to other people -- because what they find joy in doing, I wound find it to be a pain in the butt!

 

[Lanolin]

Yes other people's gardens can be inspiration
I'm part of a garden club, and we visit other people's gardens on trips. The ones I like the most are not the big fancy ones that require an army to maintain but the ordinary ones around the home that have a similar size section to mine.

There were a couple of gardens I have visited where they had cute decorations (that didn't fade, chip, rot, rust or break --I tried and that eventually happened to anything I bought)

One had a few little timber fence posts they had painted so they looked like giant coloured pencils sticking out of the ground. They were only about knee high but it was so cute!

I remember another made their's into a fairy land and had fairies, gnomes, like an entire fantasy world, mostly underneath the wooden deck so it was a bit sheltered and it was like a diorama. It reminded me of folk and the faraway tree (the Enid Blyton books)

Oh and painted rocks and mosaics. Mosaics are good because they last, as long as they are wiped every so often, they retain their colour and already chipped up into a zilllion pieces so you can't do anything to break them.

Google 'the Giant's House, Akaroa' to see an example of an amazing garden full of mosaic sculpture. I really want to see it in person if I ever get down to the South Island again.

 

[Billyd]

Bird houses and bird feeders, and a green grassy lawn.

 

[seoulsearch]

Bird houses and bird feeders, and a green grassy lawn.

Bird houses!

I don't have a yard, but if I did, I've always said I'd like to set up a bird condominium something like this!