More signs of spring

A blogger who's been in town only a year or so was wondering just what were the signs of spring here in Prescott. Aside from the usual bulb plants, I thought of early manzanita and yellow jasmine. But there's another sure sign that spring is on its way (or here, as is now the case.) That is the arrival of yard ornaments in popular-priced stores. Today's assortment is from Big Lots, the interesting economy-priced close-out store out by the WallyMart West.

As a prime connoisseur of kitsch, I am fascinated by yard ornaments. For one thing, people tend to be a lot more playful when it comes to outdoor decor, as opposed to what is allowed inside. I still want one of those lions, for example, and I might even let it through the door, but the beast would simply take up too much space! And while size may be a major consideration, I'm sure that most folk would draw the line at allowing all those popular rusty primitives in the house.

But what if they're plastic? "Western" decor items are now being imported from China. The pump and barrel combo below has me a bit confused; likely the cut-outs are to turn the unit into a planter, top and bottom.

Then there are the monsters, squat little fellows all. I believe the guy above is a planter. Would you want to wake up in the middle of the night and see that toothy grin? Nope. Outdoors is a lot safer.

Ditto for the trolls above or the critters below, which appear to have a tropical island origin.

For adding color quickly and cheaply to the garden, there are always whirligigs or plastic flowers on sticks. With the winds we had today, I don't know if a light-weight whirligig would have made it through the day.

Linkage: I just added two new Prescott blogs to the roll at right. Sierry Petes is focused on local outdoor adventures, while Prescott Shooters spells out its subject matter quite directly. Elsewhere: discover wild mustangs in the Utah outback with Kate; study reflections provided by a tall glass tower down in Phoenix imaged by Warren; visit Montezuma's Castle with Catalyst. Grand finale: celebrating the composer's 319th birthday (March 21), a Bach fugue rendered on a Tesla coil.

Decor seating

I found this wicker settee on my walk yesterday. Part of the junk heap on the street side of the fence. Its condition suggests that it has long served as eye candy for the garden. And I bet it got picked up by someone before it spent the night at the curb; there's a lot of looking left in that old-fashioned settee.

I say that because grandma's wicker or willow or cane chair pops up all over the place -- outdoors. Un-seatable seating has become one more yard ornament.

I mean, would you want to place your tender bottom on this seat?

Or this airy set of wires?

This sturdy chair might almost be comfortable -- if you could get into it. It sits right at the edge of an eight-foot roadside cliff.

This old swing also might be reasonably comfortable if it weren't as old as the hills and rather rickety. On the other hand, unlike the chairs above, the benches below might be usable. However, they are decorator objects, not seating, as the patio is actually out back of the house in question.

Viewed from another, kinder perspective, a chair or bench in the garden or front yard does carry the suggestion of a welcome. Maybe that's what it's all about.