Mosaic Monday

The hostess for Mosaic Monday is the lovely Mary. Be sure you visit to see the other posts.

I've mentioned before about the damage that this last winter did to our garden. We lost so many beautiful blooms. We decided to take advantage of Hobby Lobby's Garden Decor sale to add some *pop* to Musashi's Garden while we wait for the plants to come back.

One of the first things we saw were the crazy male and female flamingo with their welcome signs. We both laughed out loud and they were the first of the Garden Decor in the shopping cart!

We already had the beautiful cat -- the symbol for our kitty Musashi and Musashi's Garden, the Buddha and the sun. I've wanted a gazing ball for awhile now and we added the lovely red one to the garden.

Do you know about gazing balls?

To many, the gazing globe seems to be a fairly new piece of garden decor. In truth, gazing balls have a history dating back to gardens in the 13th century. And depending on its use, has been called many different names. The Garden Ball, Gazing Globe, and Garden Globe are all names we use today. Throughout history it's been called a Witch Ball, Butler Globe, Globe of Happiness, and Victorian Ball.

The ball also carries with it a few legends. It was said to bring happiness, good luck and prosperity to anyone who owned it. That's a good enough reason to own one. The globe was also said to ward off evil spirits, misfortune, and illness.

The gazing globe had some practical purposes. In Victorian times, the "Butler Ball" served as a mirror for servants to see when guests were needing assistance without staring at them throughout the meal. Another practical use was in the foyer of the home. Parents could keep a close eye on their daughter and her date as he bid her goodnight.

Today, the gazing ball is used as an enhancement to the garden and landscaping. The reflective ball lets you see the whole garden, including the sky, in one glance. A group of different colored balls peeking out from between shrubs gives a whimsical appeal to the garden. It is a simple but elegant piece of garden decor that fits well in almost any application.

Joy to You!