In his classic romantic poem, English poet John Keats expressed the sentiment that "a thing of beauty is a joy forever."

At the annual Open Gardens Day tour on Sept. 22, sponsored by the Horticultural Society of Western Pennsylvania, participants can look for inspiration from at least two beautiful things: 17 colorful fall gardens at the height of blooming, and unique sculptures designed by local and nationally known artists.

Gardeners and artists have gathered their talents for this event to celebrate its theme, "The Art of Art in the Garden." Accenting each garden is artwork placed in strategic locations.

In her Squirrel Hill garden, Heather Cronin has designed the sculptures placed among artemesia, broom, lavender, euphorbia, cascading geranium, orange lantana, ornamental grasses and mugo pine. A stone mason and sculptor for 10 years, Cronin is known for her garden art as well as architectural ornaments that she carves on buildings.

Her work includes two limestone garden benches ($650 each) that she says have been "contoured to be comfortable." There also is a limestone fountain spout with a pump ($450) that she has named "Rain Dance." A mahogany-and-limestone "Tree of Life" ($3,500) stands tall among trees, rosebushes, perennials and walls of honeysuckle planted in the cottage garden and along the patio behind her property.

Cronin’s garden terrace is on the roof of her studio/garage. Framing the roof is a continuous brick planter. "There are only a few garages on our street," she says, "and most are just block buildings with grass growing over the roofs." She designed her gardens, she says, to showcase the sculpture pieces she placed on the rooftop.

Cronin says she learned stone masonry from her father. "I just started to carve one day," she says. "(There was) a piece of stone that I had for two years in my basement. I went down there and started carving. "It was very natural. My husband came downstairs and said, 'Who did that?' "

Masonry has given Cronin a chance to expand her talents to include three-dimensional works. "I was a pastel painter," she says. "I did everything 'flat' before then."

In addition to the works at her home, Cronin says she designs, creates and installs garden art for others. A favorite piece hung on one of the terrace walls is a large wreath depicting faces wrapped in a ribbon. Cronin says the work was inspired by the events of Sept. 11 last year. "It was supposed to be a floral wreath, but I saw faces in it," she says.

— Candy Williams

Corrections: Heather's father is a chiropractor and did not teach her masonry. She learned that from a mason. Also, that is not a cement frog in the picture, but a carved limestone frog.