Vignettes 101
A garden background has traditionally been a high border of shrubbery or a hedge of some kind. When you use antique and flea market finds in the garden, they show off better with some kind of backdrop to create some focus.
Nancy Lachance’s surprising back ground
Nancy Lachance says, “ I thought the colors looked good together. My neighbor was doing some work and left it there for a few hours. I had to snap a picture. The colors and light had such a good feeling to it!” We think it should stay here…
Why start with a background?
A background stops your eye and lets the garden art in front be the star. Color, shape and texture of a background piece can make a huge difference. Assembling items in front of a backdrop can anchor them and reduce the feeling of clutter. All these elements go into creating an appealing garden vignette you’ll love.
Henry Whitehurst’s woodsy retreat
Henry Whitehurst tells us, “We have a front door to our Woodland Garden that we painted a warm green to blend with the surroundings.”
Christy Thomas wire gate acts as a frame for her bottle ‘vases’
Christy Thomas says, ‘Old bottles hold posies. There are several of these various gates on the garage wall.”
Cheryl Onken’s shed is the background for her garden surrounding it
Cheryl Onken shares her garden shed that she says, “we designed & built and now surround with all the priceless “finds” that make it look so welcoming.”
Carol Winger Hall’s quaint fence section
Tammy Prouty’s rustic garden picket fence
Jeanne Sammons’s display wouldn’t be the same without the window behind
Catharine Robertson-Lepage’s wagon wheel
Jeanne Sammons’s dutch door is an ideal rustic background
Jeanne Sammons tells us, “Here’s an old barn wood door that we rescued … I painted it white, added a board frame & grapevine wreath, an old freezer basket, a branch of Curly Willow & took it to daughter’s house with Fall Mums… barn wood is fun to recycle!”
Karen’s Treasures wonderful simple door
Tanya Goldsmith’s tree makes a simple ‘backdrop’ for her flea market treasures
Brigid Williams laundry day vignette also makes use of a tree backdrop
Backgrounds to look for:
- Doors, painted or natural
- Weathered fence pieces
- Vintage wagon wheels
- Iron or galvanized gates
- Wood or split rail fences
- Shutters
- A big tree
- Weathered lattice
- Rustic window
- Baker’s rack
- Pallet
- Mattress springs
- Bed frames or head boards
Also take advantage of wonderful old brick, stone and weathered wood house walls. For more ideas, see the Vignettes album on our Facebook page.
George Weaver treasure gate
Jerri Clark’s back drop of door and pallets creates a focal point
Louretta Pugh’s quaint shed is a showcase
Olivia Parazine’s cottage garden rose
Olivia Parazine’s little back porch acts as a creamy white background, with, she says, “my climbing rose bloomin! I use the Bayer rose and flower care around the soil base. They get plenty of sunshine and water too! I am thinking it may be nice to mix a lighter pink in on the other side….”
Christy Morrow’s cottage makes a cute place to arrange a collection of Flea market finds
Kirk Willis rustic vignette makes use of some natural rock at the back of his garden
