Garden Monsters: Thickets & Thorns presented by Corteva
Saturday, September 27–Sunday, November 2
Something delightfully twisted took root in The Garden at Newfields. Local artists have conjured up a curious crew of Garden Monsters, supported by Corteva, and inspired by the Thickets & Thorns. You’ll find tangled tales, mysterious silhouettes, and shadowy surprises—but rest assured, nothing sharp or dangerous will be installed.
Wander winding paths lined with pumpkins, crunch through colorful leaves, and keep your eyes peeled—these whimsical monsters may be hiding just beyond the brambles. From twisted vines to mischievous grins, each creature is a playful nod to nature’s wilder side.
Garden Monsters will be on view during the day and you can also see the creatures in a whole new light during Harvest Nights presented by Everwise Credit Union.
Discover more about these eerie-yet-endearing creations and the talented local artists behind them below.
Included with General Admission and/or Harvest Nights
Meet the Artists
Amanda Cancilla
This sculpture represents the shadow elk, a mythical creature said to emerge only under a full moon to feed on fallen autumn leaves. Built from pinecones, stone, moss, and leaves, it blends into the landscape as if grown by the brambles itself. The materials are momentary. They will weather and decay, echoing the fleeting presence of the creature it represents. If you are still and true, it may nod to you once—just once—before vanishing into a swirl of fog and fallen leaves.
Instagram: @amandacancilla
Hannah Deguch
The Thorned Library Wyrm embodies nature’s hidden wisdom wrapped in thorny shells, inviting discovery and quiet reflection. Woven from willow, bark, and vine, its curled form shelters a bench and pages of weather-sealed poetry found in forgotten forest glades. Soft light glimmers through gourd lantern eyes, illuminating fragments of nature’s literature. As guests nestle within its coil, they enter a living archive—a place where the tangled beauty of the garden meets the quietude of story. This creature is both guardian and storyteller, intended to enchant, comfort, and inspire thoughtful wonder.
Instagram: @upinroses
Walter Patrick Egan
Swaddled in her tattered cocoon, the Bagworm Witch writhes through the autumn leaves in the rugged hills of the lowland woods. Disguised as a bag of leaves and sticks, she wanders through the thickets and tangles of the forest searching for trinkets and luring in creatures to add to the ever-growing collection on her cocoon. Those who have witnessed her tangled form and gazed into her glowing eyes are filled with dread. What will emerge from this chrysalis when her horrid collection is complete?
Instagram: @mr._the_fish
Mark Helton
In the spirit of the season, as nature prepares for winter, the plants shift from vibrant blooms to monochromatic skeletons—their shadows moving in the moonlight, stems creaking in the wind, watching over the gardens until spring.
Abbey Niswander
The Keeper is a monstrous beast of the woods. They deter all those who are too afraid to face its twisted features with flashing eyes and a yawing grin. But for those brave enough to look past the surface of crooked teeth and thorny limbs, there is a wondrous sight of the beauty of the wicked thicket.
Instagram: @abbey_niice
Carmella Thatcher
Bloom is a towering, whimsical garden giant created from the remnants of summer—crafted from an enchanting array of dried florals, sun-bleached hydrangeas, faded lavender, and natural materials woven together.
Bloom is a reminder of nature’s beauty, even as the seasons change.
Instagram: @westfieldflowerbox
Callie Wilder
Meet Prickscilla Thornthrope, Lady of the Undergrowth, friend to all. The idea of Prickscilla came from natural references found (mostly) in real life. Her build is a reference to that of a very large, very animated individual thorn. As Lady of the Undergrowth, she represents all forms of thickets and thorns shown by the intricate and intentional placement of vines, greenery, and shrubbery. She’s a protector and a guide—a reminder that even in the prickliest of times, all it takes is an outstretched hand to show you the way back home again.
Instagram: @calliewildercreative
Garden Monsters are generously supported by
