Junk Book Review: Creative Scarecrows

Yard people aren’t just for the fall anymore. And today’s yard figures have jobs other than scaring away crows. They entertain, amaze and function as pieces of art.

Creative Scarecrows: 35 Fun Figures for Your Yard & Garden by Marcianne Miller with Merry Miller isn’t a new book (published in 2004), but it’s still very much available. I found a copy at my local library.

There’s so much to adore in this book. One of my favorites is the Fence-Post Peekers (pictured below). The scarecrow on the cover is the Stovepipe Hat Rocking Man. The titles are very descriptive, so I’ll throw out a few more: Wild Triangle Woman, Hubcap-Retro Trellis Man, Waterfall Woman, Aluminum Mermaid, Moss Angel and Copper-Pipe Man & Poodle.

Many of the scarecrow plans allow you to reuse items you may have on hand, but I look at the instructions and photos as more of a source for inspiration. You can adapt the yard people to fit your needs and available materials.

And don’t let the name of the book fool you. This isn’t a simple publication of 35 scarecrow recipes. You also get numerous images from scarecrow festivals around the world.

Don’t forget when you’re cleaning your closet this spring — save worn pants, long-sleeved shirts and dresses for your yard folks. Even if you want a traditional scarecrow that pops up in the fall, it’s not too early to start planning now.

Let me know if you buy this book or check it out from the library. I’d also love to see any yard people you’ve made.

Book images taken by Peggy Rowland.