Once a decoration in an Illinois garden*, this vintage gazing globe now serves as an accent piece in a hard to decorate space!
Of all the things (and there were many) that we/I moved from Illinois, this green gazing globe was definitely one of the ones I was most worried about. My grandmother gave the gazing globe and stand to my parents almost 47 years ago. It was in the garden next to the fish pond. It withstood the wind, the rain, sleet and snow for years.
Here’s how I safely moved it to its new “home”!
I enlisted my friend, Glo Ann to help pack it. She gathered her supply of packing material:towels, bubble wrap and cardboard. Lots and lots of cardboard! My Dad had used some sort of heavy duty cement to hold the globe on the stand so it all had to be packed as one unit.
She wrapped the globe in bubble wrap and then secured cardboard around the bubble wrap. Then she bubble wrapped the stand. Once it was all wrapped, we picked it up and placed in an extra large garbage can on wheels. Bath towels were used to swaddle it inside the garbage can. Once the towels were in place, she added more cardboard around the edges of the garbage can. When she felt it was securely packed, she wheeled it into the moving pod. It was one of the first things to go in the pod, after that big wire rack so you can’t actually see it but it way in the back of the pod.
After the pod arrived in Florida, I was able to enlist my husband to help get the gazing globe placed in its new “home”
Where Did Those Amazing Wire Baskets Come From?
I am so glad you asked! Aren’t they wonderful? They actually belonged to my paternal grandmother and somehow they ended up at the farm. I am guessing my Mom grabbed them when her sisters-in-law weren’t looking! I am so glad she did! They are the perfect accent to the garden!
To learn more about how I decorate with antique garden tools & accessories, please see this post: How to Decorate with Antique Garden Tools & Accessories
This is so special! The garden orb looks great in your yard! Such special memories!
That’s so special. If you don’t like the wooden stand, you could always paint it.
I was going to ask how it withstood the winds, but now I know. Great idea by the way, I will have to share your father’s idea with my mom. She has one that I got her several years ago and she is always rushing out to pull it from high winds. Brilliant! Thanks for sharing Kim!
Yes, Cara it was extremely windy in Illinois. I am glad it survived all these years!