Art in the garden: colorful sculptures, paintings, and mosaics are part of the landscape of a unique outdoor living space in Starkville.

Tall metal sculptures, paintings, stained glass, and stone carvings ... This private showcase of art, surrounded by lush plants, is not usually open for public viewing. Tucked away in a private garden behind Freida and Paul Buckley's Starkville home is an extension of their eclectic art collection. Art plays an important role in this garden, designed both for the couple's enjoyment and for the pleasure of their guests. It's clear from the look of this outdoor space that art need not be resigned to the parlor.

Paul and Freida are not your typical morn and pop. They don't want to be. Their distinctive looks contribute to their aura of creativity: Paul has silvery white hair (prematurely, of course), and Freida is known for the shades of red, pink, and orange that she chooses for her coiffure. One look at these two, and you know you won't be seeing any of the typical yard ornaments here--such interesting people are sure to have equally interesting surroundings.

Paul's love of art has no connection to his career as an agronomist. His work with corn is, however, connected to his pleasure in growing other things. On the other hand, Freida's business has been an outlet for the couple's passion for collecting unusual things. She owns Tokros, an upscale beauty salon housed on the second floor of a renovated 100-year-old building in downtown Starkville. The first floor is home to Sundial, a trendy clothing store, and Iota, a gift shop whose 16-foot-high walls offer great display space for the works of local painters, ceramic artists, and photographers.

The Buckleys have been collecting art ("our stuff," as Paul calls it) since they married in 1976. Their home is overflowing with objets d'art. They began by collecting "wall stuff, funky things that others may not appreciate." A trip to the flea market was a weekend tradition. As their tastes refined, their trips turned into art quests. A holiday in Hawaii resulted in the purchase of a 9-foot-tall, 400-pound stylized steel sculpture named "Io" (Hawaiian for "hawk"), which greets guests inside the couple's front door. Io came home with them on the plane, but his ticket cost more than theirs did!

Mississippi artists are well-represented in the Buckleys' garden. Dudley Davis of Houlka works with driftwood, creating totem poles, wall sculptures, and freestanding pieces. Belden resident Richard McGeehee, a welder by trade, is also a metal sculptor whose pieces are featured in many parts of the garden as well as inside the Buckleys' home.

Paul has contributed to the garden decor with his own paintings, described as primitive abstract folk art. When asked what inspires him, Paul quickly answers, "Emotions first, then paint." He says he expresses his emotions "where paint and color intersect."

His colors are bright and bold, thoughtful and quick-witted--reflections of the artist's personality. Paul doesn't limit himself to painting on canvas. A front-yard wooden sculpture by local artist Patrick Tranum bears Paul's recognizable brushstrokes. "Nothing is sacred in art," he says.

When designing the layout of their backyard, the Buckleys knew they wanted a sense of enclosure. Although they have a large lot, they wanted the garden to be an intimate space. The house and carport already created a courtyard off the kitchen. To make the most of this space for entertaining and relaxing, landscape architect Gene Merkl, ASLA, of Phillips Design Group designed an intricate patio bordered by shrub beds. A small lawn was left for a green space, and the entire area was surrounded by an eight-foot fence. "A space of intimate solitude and beauty was created as a buffer between the outside world and the family," Paul says.

The Buckleys recently enclosed the carport to make a studio and pool room, Paul's place of refuge, thus routing guests around the studio to get to the rear entrance of the house and to the patio. To pull it all together, a grand entrance gate and pathway were designed to lead guests to the courtyard. Smothered with coral honeysuckle and Carolina jessamine, an arch tops the gates, which beckon with promise of more than an iota of art. This portal, also designed by Merkl, is its own work of art, enhanced with rusty metal plates and bands and decorated with red tiles. A metal sculpture graces one side of the entrance. A tall, slender urn overflowing with pampas grass and jessamine sits on the other.

The pathway of red stepping stones leading to the rear patio and garden is walled on one side with a wooden fence and on the other with "Torulosa" junipers, tall-growing border plants. It all comes together when visitors turn the corner to the patio entrance. One of Paul's bright red paintings hangs on the gray wall of the studio, and a tall metal sculpture stands guard near the courtyard entrance.

On any given day, classical music is likely to be wafting through the outdoor speakers. The welcoming scents of blooming vines and incense fill the air. All of the senses are delighted in this garden. The only way to absorb it all is to sit on the patio and take it all in. A bench and a comfortable grouping of chairs invite friends to stay a while to view, breathe, and listen.

Most patios are either brick or poured slabs of concrete. Not here! The Buckleys are not ordinary people. Why would their patio be any different? The red stepping stones of the pathway are carried through in the design of the patio. The stones are embedded in concrete in the center of a circle within a square lined by contrasting lighter-hued concrete and cornered by smaller black tiles. The result is amazing.

The red and black tiles are repeated on the fence surrounding the garden. This continuity in design is evidence that a lot of consideration went into the planning of this outdoor living area. Inspiration through art, consistency through design, and peace and solitude through neatly defined boundaries are the elements that turn this backyard into a haven.

In addition to the wonderful surroundings, the graciousness of the hosts is unsurpassed. Lucky guests are treated to good food, good music, and good company. Paul is a gourmet cook and music lover, while Freida is an expert on personality profiles. Visitors can learn a lot about themselves on a visit to the Buckley home. "Why would you want to go home?" asks frequent guest Brian Reed.

Visitors who might wonder whether their own funky stuff is art or if it can be worked into their gardens are reminded of Paul's quote: "Nothing is sacred in art." Or, as a T-shirt at Iota says, "Real art is not going to match your couch." Whatever the piece may be, try it in the garden! In the same way that Paul and Freida's garden reflects their tastes and personalities, each garden should be a reflection of its owner's unique style.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHRISTOPHER'S PHOTOGRAPHY