Gazing Globes

	Craving more color for your garden or yard? Consider then, the gazing globe or mirror balls. For some people, outside ornaments given to us by Nature are not sufficient enough to provide adequate visual stimulation for our minds. Therefore, gazing globes or mirror balls are now being added to the outdoor décor in order to enhance Nature’s beauty. Now a standard part of the green industry, these gazing globes can be seen perched on various pedestals made of rock, or other material, peering out amongst shrubbery, trees and flowers in yards and gardens across the United States. One of the most popular ways to display these ornaments is to set them in a bird bath. Adding a mystical touch, these gazing globes conjure up in the mind, images of days of old, where knights fought valiantly upon great steeds to slay dragons, and magicians conjured up spells to keep the world safe. A mirror ball is a stainless steel ball that has been covered in enamel paint. They cannot be damaged easily, and you can float them in ponds, hang them in trees, or put them on a special base exalting them to the skies. But they are not impenetrable, because paint will scratch, and so rough handling of these globes can result in some damage to the exterior. Mirror balls are available in over thirteen iridescent colors. You can buy stands or pedestals for them separately, or simply set them on the ground. A gazing globe is shaped more like a light bulb. Because of the way they are painted and treated, they catch the light in ways that make it look like a prism of light. Some experts reflect that they are simply the old 1970’s disco orbs turned into a greener profit when the disco era faded. The gazing globe is more translucent because it is handblown of glass and comes with better color schemes. New colors are being added all the time to the line in order to see which colors catch the sun’s rays the best, not to mention the customer’s eye. The gold-colored gazing globes are not as popular as the silver or the other more subtle colors. The concept of these outdoor ornaments dates back to the 13th Century. Hand-blown glass created by skilled craftsmen in Venice, were all the rage for the folks in Europe. Over the years, this gazing globe popularity has grown, and legends have been born around it. The globe has been dubbed many names. Sphere of Light, Witches Bauble, Garden Globe are just a few names placed on this ball thought to bring with it powers of mystical proportions. Balls were placed near the entrances of homes as it was believed they would ward off evil and deter witches. Thought to bring good luck and good fortune, they were placed in gardens, where stories and legends began woven about the unusual proliferation of plants and flowers appearing around them. In Victorian times, these globes were placed in locations where visitors could be easily spotted before reaching the main house. Special servants were assigned to be globe spotters, and they would sit at a vantage points where the globe could be monitored. Once they saw movement in the sphere, they would run to the house and alert the master that company was on the way. Gazing Globes and Mirror balls with proper treatment will keep for years. The Mirror Balls have paint on the outside, therefore they should be handled so as not to chip or scratch. Gazing globes have paint on the inside, and they need to be removed during severe weather, so they won’t crack or break. For some people, Nature paints her own magical canvas. With the help of a green thumb, a carpet of flowers can sweep people off their feet in a well- tended garden or lawn. But for others, the addition of a gazing globe or mirror ball adds to the enchantment of the color scheme becoming a focal point, enhancing the area by adding elegance and style to what nature already has to offer.