Are you looking for more color in your garden? Want to spruce up your yard? A mirror ball is the perfect addition. In fact why not add more than one?
Mother nature provides a beautiful environment but sometimes mother nature just needs a little help, a little enhancement. And what better way to help then with mirror balls or gazing globes? They are the perfect way to do just that.
Gazing globes look great perched on a pedestal made from natural materials like rocks or concrete. They also look wonderful peering out among the flowers, trees, and shrubs. Or why not add them to your bird bath and watch them spin around. If you want to get just a little more creative you can hand them from trees or off your patio.
There is nothing quite like gazing globes. What a great way to add a mystical touch to your yard or patio. They conjure up wonderful images of knights in shining armor slaying mystical dragons while magicians and wizards cast spells to make the world a more beautiful and inviting place.
There are different types of balls on the market. The stainless and hand blown glass are the two most popular. The disco style is also very popular.
A mirror ball made of stainless steel and then covered with enamel paint is really durable so whether you float it in a pond, hang it in a tree and leave it on the ground the enamel holds up well when exposed to these tough elements.
It can also be made of blown glass in many different colors and the silver mercury glass is one of the most popular choices. Gold is also very popular. These are light and airy and oh so beautiful. Sometimes an art glass effect is incorporated into the ball.
The globes generally aren't quite a true globe shape. They are more like a bulb shape and the method in which they are painted catches the light. They are similar to the popular disco balls of the 1970s.
Outdoor ornamentation dates back to the 13th Century where skilled craftsmen in Venice made hand blown balls. Over the years it has adopted many names like Witches Bauble, Sphere of Light, or Garden Globe. Some believe the ball held magical powers that could ward off evil and bring good fortune. Legends were woven among these myths.
During Victorian times the globes were placed where visitors would see the balls before reaching the home. Servants were assigned the duty of globe spotter and they would sit at vantage points where they could monitor the globes. When movement was seen in the globe they would rush to tell their master that guests were arriving.
Gazing balls will last for years if you take good care of them. They should be brought in during freezing temperatures to ensure they do not break. Other than that no special maintenance is required but they love the occasional polishing.
If it's time to give nature a helping hand with that beautiful garden why not add a mirror ball?