I have never seen or heard of these before, nor would I like to.

I don't understand. First of all, gazing balls are nothing new; they've been around for as long as I can remember. Granted, I never really appreciated the "gazing ball on a pedestal in the middle of the lawn" look, but I think a shiny silver gazing ball tucked into the leaves of a hosta is gorgeous. I also have terra cotta ones that, while you can't gaze into them, are very pretty. It's just a decoration...why the attitude?

I had never seen these until I stumbled upon them via one of my feeds and after seeing them displayed in a specific catalogue I couldn't believe that gardeners were so 'in' to them.

Surely these have got to be the most hideous looking things ever?

As a disclaimer, I got shot down in flames when I first proposed that garden gnomes were hideous ornaments as well and when I opened that up for a vote it was overwhelming that most people didn't agree with my views.

So, when all is said and done these really are just my personal opinions. If others like them, well enjoy away. Don't let me stop you.

I don't like gazing balls, either. And what I like even less than gazing balls are bowling balls in the garden--or bowling balls that have been embellished with glass bead or mirror mosaics.

(One exception... I have seen a couple of cool gazing balls in quirky, charming gardens. I'm thinking that the Empress of Dirt has one that looks wonderfully at home in her garden, which I love. And there's a wild gardener in California who has ceramic bamboo with... um... male genitalia at the top of each ceramic cane... and I could see liking a gazing ball of some sort in her garden, too.)

What I admit to drooling over, though, are the copper spheres that High Country Gardens offers:
http://www.highcountrygardens.com/catalog/product/99786/
These are "spheres," though... not "gazing balls." ;)

When I was a little kid in the nineteen-fifties, my aunt & uncle gave us a blue gazing ball on a column, to put on the lawn near some evergreens. My sister and I thought it was wonderful, and we loved looking into it to see the reflections of birds, sky, and surrounding evergreens.

So to me, Stuart, they are quite nostalgic... I might not put one in my own garden, but could get all mushy if I saw one in yours.

Annie at the Transplantable Rose

Before you condemn them, you should learn a little bit about their historical significance. Besides bringing good luck and warding off witches, they were used as "security mirrors":

http://www.ponddoc.com/WhatsUpDoc/YardArt/gazingglobe.html

I like them in the right context. I've seen them placed in shady pools, where they brought light and color to the water feature. I'll stick my neck out and say even bowling balls can work in a quirky, humorous garden. But maybe that's just a little South Austin speaking.

Cheers for the link OldRoses. It's a very helpful site.

I can accept the historical significance but why do retailers always take something to the lowest level of gaudiness? Incandescent gazing balls, solar-powered balls, even orbs that look like remnants from the disco glitter-ball era. Really?

Annie, I will save you from getting all mushy. I'll have gnomes in my garden before I ever get one of these.

Retailers stock what sells so the fault lies with the buyers. Are you against garden ornaments in general or just certain ones? How do you feel about gargoyles? I bought one at a flower show in February that is sitting in my basement next to my gnome (I know, you think I should leave him there!) waiting for the weather to settle down.

I concede that the fault does lie with buyers and hence the reason for the post.

As for garden ornaments I'm a big fan provided they fit well. Iridescent blue cannot in any way fit any garden scheme - unless of course you're aiming for a repulsive look.

As for their shape, they just don't do anything for me and look like something I'd find at a mass market bonanza.

Gargoyles! Now there's a garden ornament. I agree, the basement probably is the best place for them - that is until you build your underground bunker! lol.

My apologies Caren. It's purely personal preference. And that is what makes gardening so wonderful.