No garden is complete without having a few lawn ornaments on display. They bring life and a touch of personality to any garden.

As trends come and go, most ornaments manage to remain in style for only a short while. Some classics, however, have withstood the test of time and managed to stick around. Here are some old-time favorites still decorating our lawns today:

Flamingos

Pink flamingos were designed by Donald Featherstone and have been around since 1975. Working class homeowners popularly used them to add beauty to their yards.

Their mass production in the 1960s made them appear tacky, but they managed to regain popularity in the 1980s and ‘90s. Always buy a flamingo with the Featherstone signature to ensure you’re buying the highest quality there is.

Geese

Geese were first introduced in the 1980s, with plastic geese originating from Massachusetts and concrete geese from Kentucky. Lawn owners found a way to spice up this delightful ornament in the 1990s by fashionably dressing them to their tastes.

Geese were historically considered a symbol of good luck in the garden as they ate crop-damaging pests and kept intruders away. The tradition of keeping geese for good fortune was carried on through these ornaments.

Whirligigs

These tiny contraptions manage to fit weathervanes, pinwheels and spinning toys within them. They are said to originate from Native American culture as simple spinning toys. They were also popular during the Great Depression as they could easily be made using buttons and strings.

Whirligigs can be used to tell stories about the gardens they’re in. Apart from being decorative, their motion scares away small pests that may ruin your garden.

Gazing Balls

Gazing balls originated from 13th century Italy and were made from blown glass. They can also be referred to as witch balls, lawn balls, mirror balls or fairy balls.

They were made with the purpose of beautifying and protecting your lawn. People believed these balls offered protection from ghosts, witches, diseases, and evil spirits. Others believed that they attracted fairies and good spirits.

Mirror balls can be strategically placed in a way that allows hosts to keep an eye on their guests. These balls were associated with wealth and success until they became viewed as mainstream.

Garden Gnomes

Gnomes were first made in Germany around 1841 and were based on folklore characters that are said to be cheery beings that protected the garden.

Their popularity was hurt by the first and second World Wars but increased after Disney released Snow White and the Seven Dwarves. Early gnomes were made of clay, but resin and plastic gnomes also exist today.

Bathtub Madonnas

Bathtub Madonnas are thought to originate in Fall River, Massachusetts. They are lawn shrines made by burying an upright bathtub halfway into the ground and using it to house catholic statues of The Blessed Virgin Mary, Jesus Christ, or other saints.

The back of the bathtub is usually embellished with bricks or stones, while the inside is painted light blue. These ornaments provide a good way of recycling old bathtubs.