In the first weeks after Memorial Day, many North Country gardeners hit a lull. The preparation work of early spring is past. Seeds and plants have been tucked into the soil. Basic maintenance is under control, the big push to harvest still weeks away. Now is the perfect time to think about adding art to your garden. Found in agricultural societies around the world, scarecrows are a time-honored way to keep birds out of the garden, and add a bit of folk sculpture whimsy to the scene. Along rural roads — and sometimes in town, too — human decoys are a charming feature of summer landscapes.
If you have scarecrows or other great art in your garden, please send photos to radio@ncpr.org.
Frank Mitchell, Watertown, grew up in the south and always grew okra and collard greens in his city garden. He placed a scarecrow at the center of his garden plot. Photo by Varick Chittenden.
A simple frame, old clothes, and material for stuffing are all it takes to add a scarecrow to your garden. You can make them as simple or elaborate as you are inclined to do. Some makers model their creations after family members or other people they know. This example was found in the garden of Dawn Atkinson, Pierrepont. Photo by Martha Cooper.
- Last week, children at an after-school workshop in Canton painted faces on muslin for the scarecrows they made. The results are a true cast of characters, on display in the storefront windows of The TAUNY Center this summer. Left to right: Gretchen Warner, teacher Laura Murphy, Margaret Doty, Kelsea Whittier, Laurel Whittier, Sarah Bailey. Photo by Hannah Harvester.
Artist Kristen Jones made this scarecrow for Blue Mountain Center, Blue Mountain Lake. Rather than using old clothes stuffed with hay, she assembled scrap material found on site. Incorporating moving, metallic elements into a scarecrow may improve its efficacy as a bird deterrent. Photo by Jill Breit.
Lester R. Brown, director of 
The Garden Plot
