Watering cans with a holiday theme make clever gifts for an avid gardener or fun table centerpieces for a garden party or farmer's market display. There are many holiday-themed stencils and other drawing aids if you aren't a freehand artist, but simple shapes such as pumpkins, shamrocks, hearts, flags or Christmas trees are easy to paint and make a nice border around the bottom of a watering can, especially against a strong contrasting background color such as black, yellow or red.
Spring themes work well on watering cans. Cheerful tulips in pastel colors, bumblebees and butterflies are the subjects that often adorn a metal watering can, but don't be limited to the obvious. A fall theme with bright orange leaves against a black or brown background is lovely and may be used as part of your seasonal yard decor -- right next to the pumpkin or atop the hay bale.
Crafters with freehand skills sometimes choose to display them on watering cans, painting a peaceful garden scene, a favorite pet or even their own vegetable garden. Possible alternatives include painted panels filled with favorite flowers or vegetables, a nearby barn or a natural landmark, such as a waterfall or fountain.
Some people like to adorn their gardens with rocks or plaques bearing pithy sayings such as Emerson's observation, "The earth laughs in flowers." These can also be stenciled or drawn across your watering can -- such as Kipling's "Gardens are not made/ by singing “Oh how beautiful”/ and sitting in the shade." Alternatively, you can draw in the name of your farm or a favorite Bible verse or proverb.