I love clipped hedges, herbaceous borders, beds of annuals and lawns. What I’m not crazy about are too many garden ornaments. I know everyone is different, but outside of a good bench, some outdoor entertaining furniture and an umbrella, I don’t like too much that takes away from the plants themselves.

That said, I’m not a purist either and love finding just the right piece that might fit into the garden. Some are old and some are new, and buying on a limited budget is a must for me so I’ve had to learn some tricks over the years.

The best prices for old urns, gates, and other larger items is at estate sales. About half the time when an estate is being sold off, the garden items are often forgotten and unmarked so it pays to scope out the gardens and see what’s there. If they aren’t marked, ask …then make a low offer. I’ve also gotten great pots already planted that way as well.

Surprisingly, EBAY can also be terrific for large items. I bought a set of English driveway gates a couple of years ago for $225 including shipping from upstate New York to Connecticut. Don’t be afraid to delve into EBAY’s landscaping dealers …they’ll work with you.

I’m also not adverse to reproductions. With a season of aging and a little moss, they can look just as good as the old things.

But my favorite is to look for shards of stone, marble or any interesting piece and find a place for it somewhere in the garden. Architectural elements will work as well …just make them a showpiece and let them stand on their own.

P.S. In the photograph above ...I got the pair of plinths at an estate sale for $10, the folk art sheep was $5.