Italian marionettes, 1920s French mannequins and Argentinean cast-iron mailboxes rest alongside decorative doors, tiles, stained-glass windows, fireplace mantels and garden furnishings.

Smith & Hawken, the Mill Valley, Calif., company that originally sold only high-end gardening tools, was one of the first out of the gate with garden furnishings for full-scale decorating.

More than 200 dealers will exhibit in room settings under tents; English, European and American furniture, ceramics, decorative arts, garden furnishings, architectural fragments, folk art and fine art are among their offerings.

A benefit show and sale of antiques by 114 dealers this weekend will include American and English country furniture and garden furnishings.

During his lifetime Gilbert also involved himself with garden furnishings and the design of glass.

One of these depicts an Assyrian king enjoying an alfresco meal in his garden, with the severed head of a defeated ruler slung from a branch - an interesting take on garden furnishing.

Her mother imports, sells and consults on garden furnishings in Washington Depot and is a member of the executive board of the Netherlands-America Foundation, a cultural exchange society in New York.

I also saw Mr Roddy Llewellyn's charming summer house, which is one of the range of garden furnishings called Roddy Llewellyn Classic Collection.

That includes a wide range of turn-of-the-century garden furnishings, from a folding iron lounge chair ($415) shown attractively draped with faded shawls to overscale shop fittings.

Karine Mesureur's specialty is antique bistro and garden furnishings.