There are very few gardens I know of that don’t have some sort of wind chime. Wind chimes add an extra audio element to the garden as well as a touch of whimsy. There is quite a variety of wind chimes to choose from out there and it all depends on what you like. Recently Windchimesonline.net sent me three bamboo wind chimes to test and review. Each wind chime is different in very unique ways.
The first one I examined was the whisper pattern 16 inch wind chime. The bamboo chimes are carved with a unique pattern and the tone sounds deep, rich, and resonant. Of the three wind chimes I tested I enjoyed the sound from this one the most.
The second wind chime was decorated with an elaborate cardinal. This was my daughter’s favorite. When she first saw it she said “The Steelers beat the Cardinals!” (I’m raising her right!) The cardinal is hand painted and if you don’t like cardinals they have several other types of bird wind chimes. The tone was in the middle range of the three tested.
The third wind chime, and my favorite of the three, was a bobbing head wind chime in the shape of a crane or heron. This wind chime is unique in its simple yet clever design. As the wind blows it moves a small tail that pulls a rod attached to the bird’s head.
The bird’s head then moves up and down and follows the breeze. It’s very nifty as it is something you can listen to and watch. It doesn’t seem to make as much sound as the others since there are only three chimes but its bobbing head makes up for it!
All three of these wind chimes are made from bamboo which makes a softer more subtle sound than a metallic wind chime and is perfect for any tranquil garden setting. I was outside trimming on the rosemary bushes in the front of our house and listening to the chimes in the breeze. It made a for a pleasant experience. I was most impressed with the workmanship on the bobbing head crane wind chime. The rope was attached in a way designed to appear like the bird’s feet and legs.
Each chime includes the care instructions necessary to keep your wind chime looking good throughout the seasons. They recommend to keep the wind chime out of any direct afternoon sun and to wash it occaissionally with mild soap and water. Anything outside weathers over time and they recommend to add a coat of varnish to the bamboo to keep it looking its best each year.
If you’re considering a new wind chime to add some whimsy from the wind you should give Windchimesonline.net a try. They have some unique designs. Which one works best for you depends on what you like. If you want a deep, rich, and resonant sound find one with longer chimes. If you want something as a novelty to add whimsy to your garden check out the bobbing head wind chimes. And if you like the Cardinals, they have one just for you!
I like the bamboo windchimes! I only have metal here and they are a very different sound, but my neighbor has a bamboo one. It is so much more organic.
Windchimes are a garden must….I can hear the neighbors as well as my own………love it!
These look good, Dave! It would be hard to choose between them, but I guess I’d go for the best sound. I have to say that when I read your post’s title I read “Wild chimps for Whimsy.” Maybe I’d better just go back to bed…
Hi Dave:-) I’m a wind-chime person, as well! I have at least 7 of them around my yard, can you believe it? Many of them, unfortunately, don’t seem to chime…but I love to look at them anyway. The ones that chime are on my deck, and porch. Maybe one day I’ll put them in a post. I do enjoy their beauty, as you do! I hope your family has a Happy Easter, and a wonderful spring;-)
My grandpa loved wind chimes too, and every time I see one I think of him. He would make his own out of old metal chair legs and square pieces of plexi-glass! They sounded horrible, but he was always so proud of them. It makes me laugh to think about the dull clunk clank sound they made when the wind blew. 🙂
I love wind chimes, and all the different types make such a nice relaxing sound. Unless of course it’s very windy and they are right outside your bedroom window at night 🙂
I like the bobbing head bird one you chose also.
Wind chimes can really add a lot to a garden….I especially the 3 metal ones that we found at a craft fair. They each chime a different note and work well together. I have a Japanes indoor glass chime from the fifties. My grandmother had them when I was a little girl and it is a very comforting sound to me. gail
These are all pretty cool, Dave. My current favourite windchimes are made of old silver cutlery; I bought them last year and they continue to chime beautifully in the gentle zephyrs that blast in off the Fundy.
I love the sound of windchimes in the garden. And that bobbing head one is very unique!
Very cool wind chimes Dave. It's a close call between the cardinal & the bobbing head one for my favorite. Definitely going to check them out!