Owners Jason and Molly Davis of San Rafael offer decorative garden ornaments, birdhouses and feeders, and wind chimes from businesses and featured artists across the United States and Canada.
Now, it's offering pet sculptures by Jason Davis' brother, Mark, who lives in Redding.
When a friend's dog died, Mark Davis created a staked sculpture of Asta, the terrier. That's when he decided to offer the same service to customers with either a standard or custom sculpture.
Southern California firefighter Greg Rigaud chose a combination of both when his 15-year-old red miniature dachshund Frankie died in May.
"Frankie's big thing was that he always chased butterflies," Rigaud recalls sweetly. "He'd stand in the shadows all day long and chase them. Everyone knew that about him."
When he was looking for a memorial for Frankie, he came across the ones at Gardenart.com and asked Davis to customize the standard dachshund sculpture by adding a butterfly on its nose.
Rigaud was delighted with the results. He placed it in the palm garden outside the kitchen, the little spot where Frankie spent his last day and called Molly Davis to thank her.
"It looks awesome; it looks just like him," he says. "Now, every time I go to the refrigerator, I see a shape of a dachshund with a butterfly on its nose outside the window and think about Frankie."
These sculptures are thoughtful gifts, too, Molly says. She gave one to her neighbor, Susan Harrow, when Harrow's 19-year old tabby cat, Buddhiska, died. It's in the shape of running cat with a bird on its back with the bird carrying a heart in its beak. Harrow, who placed it in a stand of catnip just inside her front gate, says it's "so exemplary of Buddishka's spirit."
Pet sculptures, forged from heavy gauge steel that rusts but doesn't deteriorate, are available in any animal shape in sizes from 16-inches to 48-inches high. A pet's name, or up to six words, is included. Prices range from $50 to $280.
Gardenart.com is at 65-N Hamilton Drive in Novato. For more information, call 883-3072 or go to gardenart.com.