Let us begin by assuring you that there is no need to use your best Department 56
or Lemax village houses or figurines. Just by paying a visit to a local thrift store or two, you have a very
good chance at finding lesser quality village accessories or slightly damaged nicer pieces at huge savings. After all,
they will be outside.
Depending on the size of your rock water feature, and its amount of terracing,
the number of miniature village pieces necessary can vary substantially. It will also vary according to your desires, in the
same way that a lover of garden gnomes has to decide on whether to display a single gnome, or the entire brood that wants
to accompany their playmate.
What is nice about using miniature village accessories around your
water feature is that you can substitute the tiny trees typically used for interior displays with natural garden foliage in
the form of small pond side ground cover and other plants. You can use your imagination, but I always advise just as
in the case of interior village displays, to draw up your display plan. Better yet, take a photo of your water feature
and print it out to study for awhile prior to setting up your new seaside village. Some folks will like to cut to the
chase and experiment in much the same way a home stager does by moving pieces around until just the right arrangement is found.
You will want to give some thought as well to whether or not lighting can be used to illuminate
your village pieces. Make sure if you do use lighting for your water side village, that you use exterior approved light
strands, whether a single light cord for each house, or a multi-line cord for all of them. Very, very important.
Also make sure that your display arrangement is accessible for replacing light bulbs if you go that route.
Finally,
using village pieces that do not have the snow covered look, you can comfortably enjoy the appearance of your new water side
village year round.
Happy Landscaping!
Stephen Baird is the founder
and well renowned artisan of highly detailed custom
Harvest and Christmas villages for commercial Christmas decoration displays. Stephen's Village Fantasies company enables him to share his passion
for Christmas traditions and display ideas with everyone. This article may freely be reprinted, but must have author
reference box intact including links.
