Community Chat

[151949]

Hi. I am wondering if you do , in fact, have a shell garden? I live near the gulf in Fl. and I would like to do one but want something unique. I  am in search of ideas. Several of my neighbors have done the thing where they make a corner of their flower beds a bed of shells and that is sweet but I want something else. I was thinking of getting some much larger shells and placing them around my flowers like a rock garden but with shells instead of rocks. Anyway, you name intrigued me and I am hoping you have some ideas you don't mind sharing.

[shell garden]

Hey sweetie.....I do have lots of plants and flowers in my back yard.  I envy you living near the beach....I love the beach, anything water related because I love to swim.

I have in one corner a small area, where I have a solar lighted fairy house with sea shells lining a walk way type setting.  Flowers and plants around this.

I also have a couple of mason jars that I put battery operated lights in along with seashells filled to the top of the jar....that makes a pretty display and just have that around a couple of flowers on my back deck. 

That is all, though, but I like your ideas immensely.  Oh, I do have a light/lamp that my mom and dad purchased back in the 60's.....we went to Savannah Beach, (not far from me)...and I still have it today and it still works.  It is a palm tree setting with real coral made like a tree and a real conch shell on the side.  I love it, mostly because it reminds me of my parents and what great times we had at the beach during my youth.

[shell garden]

Little mermaid doll sleeping in a shell.

[shell garden]

This is cute, if you have a light house.  Shells around it in a planter.

[151949]

Many years ago I was in Key West and I bought a conch shell with a mermaid carved into the mother of pearl - it is sitting on my coffee table, it's about 6" across. I also have a large ceramic dish that looks like a scallop shell, some ceramic salt & pepper shakers that are painted bright colors that look exactly like crabs - very cute - and a dish to hold potpourri that has a pewter lid with a mermaid on it, and a mermaid sitting on a rock statue all on the coffee table. On my DR table I have a tray with 2 cylinder glass candle holder - shells in the bottom and a flameless candle on top of the shells then a scallop shell on top in one and a starfish shell one the side of the other and a few sand dollars. Everyone compliments it.

Back to outside - I think when we are up in Erie this summer I will try to find some driftwood and then do a corner of the plant beds with shells and that drift wood. To get the size shells I want for the other part of the garden I will need to probably have to go to a shell shop as they are rare to find on the beach.I hope to get a few about 10 to 12 " across.It won't take many. I won't care if they are not in perfect condition either because they will be outside. I also want to find a really pretty mermaid  statue for outside. Mermaid statues are a dime a dozen where I live but PRETTY mermaid statues are much more rare. My DH says I am mermaid obsessed. I guess I am. I'm currently making a counted cross stitch mermaid picture and will make it into a throw pillow when done.

[151949]

I'm also crazy about seahorses and dragonflys. I was just born to live at the beach!!!

[Preds]

Here is an idea that I've seen done with "broken"  or odd shells.  If the wind breaks any, replace with others.  Rustic, repairable and cute.

[Preds]

I made one of these the first time my DD went to the beach.  She has it now. It was made from the shells she found and her picture was in the frame.  I think we had to use some "rope" to fill parts of it in because of the size of or lack of shells.  It turned out adorable.

[shell garden]

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@151949 wrote:

Many years ago I was in Key West and I bought a conch shell with a mermaid carved into the mother of pearl - it is sitting on my coffee table, it's about 6" across. I also have a large ceramic dish that looks like a scallop shell, some ceramic salt & pepper shakers that are painted bright colors that look exactly like crabs - very cute - and a dish to hold potpourri that has a pewter lid with a mermaid on it, and a mermaid sitting on a rock statue all on the coffee table. On my DR table I have a tray with 2 cylinder glass candle holder - shells in the bottom and a flameless candle on top of the shells then a scallop shell on top in one and a starfish shell one the side of the other and a few sand dollars. Everyone compliments it.

Back to outside - I think when we are up in Erie this summer I will try to find some driftwood and then do a corner of the plant beds with shells and that drift wood. To get the size shells I want for the other part of the garden I will need to probably have to go to a shell shop as they are rare to find on the beach.I hope to get a few about 10 to 12 " across.It won't take many. I won't care if they are not in perfect condition either because they will be outside. I also want to find a really pretty mermaid  statue for outside. Mermaid statues are a dime a dozen where I live but PRETTY mermaid statues are much more rare. My DH says I am mermaid obsessed. I guess I am. I'm currently making a counted cross stitch mermaid picture and will make it into a throw pillow when done.

That sounds wonderful.  Your ideas have endless possibilities.

I have a mermaid solar fountain in my back yard.  I got it at the Q years ago.  Love her and at the bottom by her tail it has seashells.  I also have 2 solar fountain angels and also the St. Francis solar fountain....like I said, I love anything with water, lol.

I hope you do find some wonderful things, especially the mermaid fountain.   

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[shell garden]

DRIFTWOOD GARDEN with sea shells.

I would also pop one or two of Valerie's battery operated orbs in there too.  I have two sets of those, one in the purple (actually got at HSN) and one of Valerie's in blue.  Have those in the back too.  Love them.