I’m a self-professed patron. I collect garden art and other art as well. Inside my home, my dining room walls are filled in a gallery style with street art collected from many of the various countries I have visited, of which there were dozens. Others are—photos, oils, pastels, and various mixed media—gracing the remaining walls of my Raleigh and Emerald Isle homes. I choose carefully and with heart; a piece needs to speak to me, and I also need room for it. That has been a problem for me over time. There are so many artists that I want another piece of, and I’m introduced to others frequently, but I must choose small or at least smallish. Over the years, I’ve moved pieces around to accommodate, but even that has become a problem. I may need to begin rotating.

When I mention, a piece needs to speak to me, what I mean is I need to feel the heart and hands that went into their art. If that is missing, I move on.

While I have limited space inside my home, my garden still has many spots for new treasures. As you preview the pieces below, and they are not all included yet, but most are, know that the garden doesn’t look overwhelming…not by the art, at least! Most pieces are situated such that they are a surprise to come upon. That is by design.

As best I could, after the opening of “Helen’s Haven,” the pieces are arranged as I purchased them. This allows me to add a new piece to share with you with you having to scroll through. Currently, I have 50 posted here. Also not, when there is a group of the same, such as the sheres, those are counted as one. There are a couple of photos with two artists represented, so they are counted as they are, two.

Found these letters at the Northwest Flower and Garden Show. These sit on the Garden House work bench.

I commissioned Tinka Jordy this rabbit. When I told her I planned to place her next the back porch where I sit, she suggested she would sculpt the piece so that she is looking up at me. Well-done, Tinka!

During a time in 2022, I decided to renovate the Fountain Garden. Before the renovation, there were plants growing in here I was forever cleaning the filter that filled with a fine silt. As with my nature, I looked at the entire area and decided it needed my attention for a complete renovation. Out came the plants and most of the vegetation, mosly ferns. Once this was done, I found there was significant erosion from the fountains splash. I backfilled ~300 pounds of fresh dirt to bring the soil level back up to the rim of the base. Instead of putting back all the plantings, I surrounded the rim with rock, both because I liked the look of this and to deflect the splash. Then I put back most of the plantings, particularly the ferns. I had seen a couple of these Japanese fishing floats in shops in Emerald Isle, so I decided that would be my art element for the fountain. These floats have proven to be costly and hard to find. So, this is a process. I have enough for the beginning of the effect, and it will be a lovely sport as I continue to search for more to add.

I picked up this chicken to guard the girl’s coop from the Lasting Impressions fall show. Artist name is Laurie McNair of Hokulele Pottery!

Garden spheres I made from whisky barrel stays. I used them in my 2022 State Fair demonstration garden. Look closely, there are three of them.

When we can, my friend Beth Jimenez and I go to the Fearrington Folk Art each February. This beautiful grasshopper causes no harm in the garden, rather only beauty. Hamidou Sissoko made the grasshopper. To learn more about Mr. Sissoko, click HERE. The light was created by, .Riley Foster,.also found at Fearrington, but in a different year. Mr. Foster wasn't there last year, and I don't see him listed as being there in 2023. The light was purchased in 2019. Powered by solar, the light shines on the grasshopper each evening!

Here we have an owl by Jean McCamy. I’m happy to still have this owl; a soccer ball took the life of three white ducks that “swam” through the river bed. I was able to get up with Mrs. McCamy to learn she has retired. I loved her works and she had the most wonderful spirit.

I also have two awesome pieces by Jean’s son, Cam McCamy. I need to photograph the other.

From another year at the Fearrington Folk Art show, I found the artist, Josh Coté, and I was an immediate fan. At the time, He lives in the Rock Garden. I’m guessing this was in 2016

The following year,Mr. Cotë was there again and I purchased a more detailed piece, the crow holding a red marble in his mouth.
The next year, I was all set to purchase another piece, but Josh Cotê works were not valued 10 fold. I was priced out of my league. I’m so grateful with the pieces I do own. He hasn’t been back since his price increase, but he still sells online.

I know little about this piece. Its name is “Stain Glass'“ with nipped glass over a bowling ball with a dark mortar giving the of stain glass., I found this piece at an antiques show in Charlotte around ~2012.

Here is what’s left of a Clyde Jones. Fearrington Village had this whole piece but over time, it had deteriorated, leaving only the head and neck left. I found it in a heap and asked if I could have it. Now, here he is!

Here’s another Larkspur Party find by George McKim. Bluebirds moved in its first year.

Glamming up the chicken coop! Found this at a flea market.

I only heard about the Barrel Moster from the news; while only a mile or so from my house, I never went that way, so I never saw it and it was quickly taken down. Too bad. I was intrigued.
Check out this story to see how it all happened.
Afterward, even the City of Raleigh commissioned Joe to do a piece. Then there was the praying mantis at the NC State Fair. Not to be outdone, I got in touch with Joe to commission me a piece. Sure he said. I asked for something in nature. He suggested a hummingbird. As you can see, I said yes. He made this remarkable piece out of three lawnmowers and a weed whacker!
Even Tony Avent commissioned a barrel monster with a pink ribbon to honor the death of his wife from breast cancer, many years ago. I wonder what Joe is doing today!

Marina Bosetti. I need a pro shot of this piece. It often takes a picture to see what's "wrong." This awesome piece by Bosetti Art Tile. Marina Bosetti is a genius in her work! As you can see, we have a beautiful bird on a fence post. I need to like up my post sections! My friend, GG also has several of Marina's pieces.

Decades ago, a developer friend had a lead on an old barn of tobacco sticks. Originally tobacco sticks were for **hanging the tobacco in the barns to dry**. They are 45"- 50" and longer. They can be a round stick or a square stick, mine are square, with pointed ends or cut ends. Typically, they are made of they are a very hard wood but sometimes pine. called me to see if I wanted them; there were about 600 sticks. With no hesitation, I said yes! I wasn’t sure how I was going to get them, but before I could even think this through, he offered to deliver them to me! It took me a while to figure out what I wanted to do with them. In the meantime, I stored them in the shed until one day, after about five years, my husband said, it’s time for you to figure this out. And so I did. I created a series of panels and attached them to my neighbor’s chain linked fence. I’ve never looked back. Because of tobacco moderation, tobacco sticks are not longer used. As they become increasingly rate, if you find them, they typically sell for $3 -$5, making my free fence worth $1,800 to $3,000!

I like making interesting looking bug bungalows.

Here’s another one that bit the dust from Lasting Impressions. This time, I can’t blame a soccer ball. Rather, water got in and froze it, cracking the beautiful piece. At least I have a memory in this picture.

Thomas Sayre. Terroir model. Gifted to me by Mr. Sayre. The original piece went into Eliza Olander’s Raleigh garden in 2009. Because I made the introduction to Thomas, he gifted me this model..

PLACEHOLDER

Disk

Seat

This expressive copper praying mantis lives in the Bee Better Naturally with Helen Yoest’s Rock Garden. She was found while on a trip to Asheville with wonderful JC Raulston Arboretum volunteer friends led by Beth. Such good memories! A little back story, While we were touring gardens, I saw several variations of this wonderful piece. Because of that, I know the artists must be local. We didn’t have time to stop by the artist’s shop, but I got lucky. My friend, Pat Korpik, traveled to the area every other week, so she was able to go to the shop and purchase this for me. I think of Pat every time I see this piece.

Tinka Jordy hosts a garden art show each spring in her home garden. Tinka Jordy is a co-owner of Eno Gallery in Hillsborough, NC. Ms. Jordy also hosts a garden event in her home garden each spring. This piece, Moving Forward, was purchased during the first tour I attended; I believe it was around 2010. It was during a time in my life I needed to move forward. She has been my guiding light ever since.
Before I purchased this piece, even before I knew of Ms. Jordy’s work, I purchased two fish on stakes from Fearrington Village when they still had the garden shop many years ago. It wasn’t until later that I realized they were Tinka’s pieces! I discovered Tinka was the artist when I saw more of them in her personal collection at the 2010 open art/garden tour. I need to get a pic!

Terracotta bird
Wise Old Bird, Larkspur
Metal and stone bird—flea market
Metal structure—flea market

Copper dragonfly—A birthday gift from my friend Robin Segal

Hummingbird—flea market

Bird structure from Asheville. A little modern for my taste, but I still love it.

I purchased this in Buffalo in 2010 during the Garden Bloggers Fling.

Glass Ball—Lisa Oakley, Larkspur. I miss Larkspur…a lot. It wasn’t only the artists, it was the setting. This photo was taken by Ken Gergle. I need to get the original.

Cermaic totem from Niche Gardens from wayyy back when they still existed.

Hypertufa trough

A driftwood '“bird.” Another flea market find!

Phil Hathcock. This stone sculpture is by my old friend, Phil Hathcock owner of Natural Stone Sculptures. My daughter named it "Guardian of the Gnomes" when she was 10.

PLACEHOLDER

Bird bath

Another Phil Hathcock. I use this as a butterfly water and food feeder.

For a Christmas present, my hubby hired Phil Hathcock to build me these stairs. Love, love, love them!

Unknown. Bought at the NW Flower and Garden Show where I have spoken many times. That weekend, I visited with my friend, Nancy Heckler, who has many works of crow, that I had to add one for myself!

Another one that got away was very, very painful. On one of my trips to speak at the Northwest Flower and Garden show, hanging out with my dear friend, Nancy Heckler, we visited not only Windcliff but my favorite all-time garden artists, Little and Lewis. I was so careful not to put my pomegranet in the garden for fear it would freeze; I never anticipated my dog and cat would have a heyday in the house, knocking it over and smashing it to smithereens.

Garden Art & Arch in the Bee Better Naturally Garden

Environmental Partnerships: Leaf & Limb Tree Service and Care, Raleigh City Farm