By Ellen Riley

Gardeners find all kinds of ways to satisfy their artistic ideas and creative whims. Take a stack of terra-cotta pots, for example. They can pile up in the garage or shed, or they can take a shape all their own in the garden. A few stacks here, a few stacks there, and look what's been created--Pot Pal.

But there's more to him than meets the eye. You might find Pot Pal greeting you at the front door of his owner's home. You could find a miniature version gracing the table as a centerpiece at a garden party; he's very willing to hold a dish of salsa or even a candle. The Pot Pal who resides on a bench at the entrance to Virginia House in Richmond welcomes visitors, sits for photographs, and adds an element of "playfulness in a somewhat moody house," says director Scott Burrell. Pot Pal knows his job.

Sprung from the imagination of the gardener, Pot Pal possesses a bit of his creator's spirit. He can be fashioned in many postures and sizes. What he adds to a garden or home is the sense of fun that all gardeners share.

For your own Pot Pal, follow the instructions on the subsequent pages. (Note: Instructions are for making miniature Pot Pals, not the one pictured here.)