According to legend, tweaking and pampering her plants captured the first earth mother's attention for a little while, but something was missing. Perhaps there was no garden art to captivate her fertile imagination. No joyful mix of yard accessories-whether beautiful, whimsical, striking and refined, old and quaint, folksy or forged.

Unlike Eve, many northshore gardeners know that art and gardens go together. From funky to formal, garden art and things wrought by the hand of man and woman provide vibrant punctuation marks in the landscape. When pushing dirt around is not enough, garden stores, architectural relic yards and flea markets provide sources for sculpture, seating, lighting and objets d'art to enhance the places we gather with guests to enjoy the seasons as they silently unfold.

The natural world also offers up elements that can cause a dreary courtyard to bloom. Carved wood, embossed concrete and natural stone can be integrated artistically for interest and texture. Juxtaposing stone with unorthodox materials creates a mood that is quirky and delightful. In the liveliest gardens, you will find a tapestry of color and fanciful objects all year round. Mosaics, travel mementos, and found art from antique shops and flea markets invigorate a garden by using resourcefulness rather than resources.

Thinking big and living large, art patrons Edwin and Debra Neill commissioned Russian-born artist and sculptor, Alexi Kazantsky to create garden art for the grounds of their sprawling Springfield home. With no space constraints, they have created an outside room where Italian marble sculpture erupts from the earth and embraces the sky. This outdoor living room accommodates theme-park-size crowds and invites their guests to experience a playful interaction with art and nature.

In the heart of Downtown Hammond, Carl and Cheryl Schneider have made an old garden come to life again. Ever resourceful, Carl saw potential in a large abandoned hulk of smooth metal that was once the inner workings of an old furnace. After drilling holes and installing a water pump, Carl's fountain gurgles joyfully amid the vintage oaks and azaleas.

Surprise is the secret ingredient in a garden that is fun and functional all year long. Tastefully placed, folk art and Southern gardens just seem to go together. Not bound by tradition, folk art pieces first tickle the imagination. Next, they find a place in the gardener's heart, and then outside in the garden. Folk artists are endlessly creative, and make art out of anything they happen to have around. Their exuberant works may not always show up in museums, but every backyard can be a gallery where children of every age come to play.

Restraint is not usually the watchword for those infected with a passion for gardening. And you know who you are! Relentlessly, you transform dreary patches of the earth into lush retreats. A garden's spirit is rejuvenated when organic and sculptural pieces are juxtaposed against a green-growing backdrop.