For my birthday this year, I asked for some two by fours. 

Now, lumber is not normally something I get excited about.  But I decided that this year I would get my vegetable garden beds framed before I planted.  I can scoop up the soil that has eroded into the paths and build the beds back up slightly, an easier task if I don't have plants or seeds in the way.

Two of the eight beds are now framed, and the effect is very nice.  I'm a rather methodical personality who likes to plan and organize before I attempt a task, and having my garden beds in formal frames is just cool.  I can staple row cover or plastic to the frames, use them to secure my portable PVC hoop house, and I can stop skinning my shins on the stakes now marking the corners of each bed. 
 
It's often little things that can make your garden a better place to spend time and work in, and can make things a little easier for you as well.

Now that the garden centers are stocked up for spring and summer, we have a wide variety of garden accents to choose from.  From gazing balls to wire dragonflies, cast stepping stones to stoneware planters, choices abound.  Yes, even those gnome creatures.

I have a cute little dancing steel frog on a stake in my perennial bed off the deck.  I can see it from my kitchen window and smile at its silly grin.  I got the frog from a local craftsman who can make just about any design you can think of in steel.  I also have little wire flowers in matte black along a bed or two.  You really have to look to see them, unlike the fluorescent green and yellow kind, which my three-year-old favors.

Trellises and arbors can add structure, architecture and height to your yard and garden.  Even a small trellis in a container on the deck can be interesting