BRIGHTEN UP THE GARDEN - IDEAS PLEASE

**angeldelight** · 16-03-2010, 10:39 PM

I have an area in my garden that I want to brighten up a bit

I sort of know what I am looking for but its hard to explain

Maybe some colourful things to hang from the trees?

Learning boards a little bit like these shown on the link but I am looking for cheaper

http://www.earlyyears.co.uk/itemgroup.aspx?ig=160752

I want lots of colour

I have also seen some giant mushrooms for the kids to climb on but I cant find them now - any idea ?

Any ideas on how to brighten up some trees and bare fence and a general play area ?

We have windmills etc but I am looking for something a bit different

Angel xxx

TheBTeam · 16-03-2010, 10:50 PM

I printed off some bits from the site we should no longer use, and double laminated them to go outside, they had garden creatures on them, i also did feet numbers etc, they have lasted some time, there must be other websites you could get pictures from perhaps, i hung them with string.

Wind socks are a good alternative to windmills, and how about chimes of wood or metal or mirrors? Chalk boards and mirrors are quite good for fences.

**Monkey1** · 17-03-2010, 06:35 AM

I have loads of cd's hanging everywhere. The babies especially love them. How about ribbons from the trees? Can you weave anything on your fences?

**nell57** · 17-03-2010, 07:08 AM

On the outdoor course Fussy and I went to on Saturday, one group made a dome shape sculpture out of willow, which looked cool. The then decorated it with anything sparkly, ribbons and streamers. unfortunately I didn't take a photo of it

Am planning to do something similar though, if I can pick the resources cheap enough

**angeldelight** · 17-03-2010, 07:24 AM

Originally Posted by Monkey1

I have loads of cd's hanging everywhere. The babies especially love them. How about ribbons from the trees? Can you weave anything on your fences?

Oh yes had thought of that thanks Monkey - how did you hang them up did you put a hole in them ?

Angel xx

**angeldelight** · 17-03-2010, 07:25 AM

Originally Posted by nell57

On the outdoor course Fussy and I went to on Saturday, one group made a dome shape sculpture out of willow, which looked cool. The then decorated it with anything sparkly, ribbons and streamers. unfortunately I didn't take a photo of it

Am planning to do something similar though, if I can pick the resources cheap enough

Hmmmm not sure if I am that clever ha ha

Angel xx

**nell57** · 17-03-2010, 07:30 AM

Originally Posted by angeldelight

Hmmmm not sure if I am that clever ha ha

Angel xx

Well I'd thought the same before Sat, but it looked reasonably easy, will give it a go and let you know how we go on

**miffy** · 17-03-2010, 07:37 AM

They have a willow tunnel at school and it's lovely when the willow's in leaf.

I'm glad you asked for ideas Angel, my garden could do with a make-over too!

Miffy xx

**angeldelight** · 17-03-2010, 07:38 AM

Originally Posted by miffy

They have a willow tunnel at school and it's lovely when the willow's in leaf.

I'm glad you asked for ideas Angel, my garden could do with a make-over too!

Miffy xx

We will have to inspire each other then ha ha

Where do you get a willow tunnel from - expensive I bet ?

Angel xx

**mama2three** · 17-03-2010, 07:47 AM

Originally Posted by angeldelight

Oh yes had thought of that thanks Monkey - how did you hang them up did you put a hole in them ?

Angel xx

Angel ! they already have a hole in the middle
.
we have spinners hanging in the trees which were from the £1 shop. On my wishlist are fencetoppers , from our local garden centre and they look like animals are peering over the fence at you. I have a couple of wooden mushrooms the kids climb on , they were from a garden centre about 15 years ago!

If you put a baton top and bottom of the fence then fasten on trellis ( so its then about an inch off the fence) - it looks brilliant weaved with all sorts - think theres even still some tinsel in mine!

**miffy** · 17-03-2010, 07:49 AM

Originally Posted by mama2three

If you put a baton top and bottom of the fence then fasten on trellis ( so its then about an inch off the fence) - it looks brilliant weaved with all sorts - think theres even still some tinsel in mine!

I like that idea! Thank you

Miffy xx

**miffy** · 17-03-2010, 07:50 AM

Originally Posted by angeldelight

We will have to inspire each other then ha ha

Where do you get a willow tunnel from - expensive I bet ?

Angel xx

Willow is easy to grow - the tunnel was willow planted and bent to make the shape.

Have no idea where you get the willow from though.

Miffy xx

**sweets** · 17-03-2010, 07:54 AM

woa woa woa

your gardens all sound lovely for the children but my garden has nothing like that and never will have! a garden has enough interest without having bright things dangling everywhere, what about nature? my mindees love looking under stones for bugs and touching the bark on the trees and bushes. im sure yours all do too though. i love my garden and dont want it looking like a playground or childrens paradise! lol. i have a few balls, ride ons, a small house and thats it.

but then again im a miserable g*t!

**angeldelight** · 17-03-2010, 07:55 AM

:

Originally Posted by mama2three

Angel ! they already have a hole in the middle.
we have spinners hanging in the trees which were from the £1 shop. On my wishlist are fencetoppers , from our local garden centre and they look like animals are peering over the fence at you. I have a couple of wooden mushrooms the kids climb on , they were from a garden centre about 15 years ago!

If you put a baton top and bottom of the fence then fasten on trellis ( so its then about an inch off the fence) - it looks brilliant weaved with all sorts - think theres even still some tinsel in mine!

How blonde of me - I have only just got up

Do you think your garden centre still have the mushrooms ha ha thats what I am after

I like the idea of the fence toppers I will see if I can find some online

Thanks for the ideas

xxxx

**angeldelight** · 17-03-2010, 07:58 AM

Not cheap

http://www.jprwillow.co.uk/kits.htm

Angel xx

**childmind04** · 17-03-2010, 07:59 AM

Anyone lives beside me can have some willow

Or you can buy it easily from internet suppliers

Susan

**mama2three** · 17-03-2010, 08:03 AM

will be going over the weekend so will have a look for the name of the fence toppers as i cant find anything googling - was trying to add a link. these mushrooms are nice but pricey
.http://www.forestcrafts.co.uk/subpro...g-0001140.aspx

**angeldelight** · 17-03-2010, 08:20 AM

Originally Posted by mama2three

will be going over the weekend so will have a look for the name of the fence toppers as i cant find anything googling - was trying to add a link. these mushrooms are nice but pricey
.http://www.forestcrafts.co.uk/subpro...g-0001140.aspx

Oh I like them though they are nice

Angel xx

**Daftbat** · 17-03-2010, 08:31 AM

Originally Posted by sweets

woa woa woa

your gardens all sound lovely for the children but my garden has nothing like that and never will have! a garden has enough interest without having bright things dangling everywhere, what about nature? my mindees love looking under stones for bugs and touching the bark on the trees and bushes. im sure yours all do too though. i love my garden and dont want it looking like a playground or childrens paradise! lol. i have a few balls, ride ons, a small house and thats it.

but then again im a miserable g*t!

I agree! I have toys for the children and nature itself is a good playmate. I think it all looks good but when i am not working i want my garden to look like MY garden and when i have a glass of wine on an evening in the summer - lets hope we have one - i want to pretend i am all grown up and this is my home not a nursery.

perhaps the compromise is things to put up which can then be put away and stored?