Steel, with its gracefully aging surfaces, just pairs well with the bloom of native plants.

That’s what George Ybarra has found in the 10 years that the Caras Nursery on South Third Street West has hosted its Outdoor Sculpture Show.

This year 15-some artists contributed works predominantly in forged or found steel, which can brave the Montana elements better than many other mediums.

“It seems steel offers up a good material for outdoors, and especially (since) we’re on display at a plant nursery. We get a lot of water out here. So the artwork can take the climate and the wetness,” Ybarra said.

Near the nursery entrance, an owl by Mike Cote spreads its wings, lined with individual metal feathers. In its claws it clutches its prey – a snake crafted from looped metal.

Once inside the Caras grounds, Justin Anthony’s weather vanes jut skyward from the rows of potted plants. Each pole is topped with unorthodox shapes crafted from found steel.

Arron Cohen, meanwhile, took an object unlikely to be brought to dinner – a rather large, rusty saw blade – and repurposed it into a fine table.

“It’s fun, whimsical work, in the sense of the style of art. It’s not too serious ... we try to keep it so it’s fun for the viewers,” Ybarra said.

Interest from customers and the community has kept the show going for the past 10 years. It also provides an opportunity to display art that might not fit comfortably in a gallery space – like those weather vanes of Anthony’s.

The event starts in August each year and runs in three phases through Oct. 15. New work is added as others are sold.

Ybarra himself contributed a massive steel peace sign, an interconnected series of butterflies and a “suspension” piece – a hanging series of spheres built from old whiskey barrel rings.

He’s worked in the medium for more than 20 years, and has seen it’s popularity increase along the way.

“More and more people are turning to steel for alternative materials as far as construction and art. You’re starting to see a lot of it now in sculpture,” he said.

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Of special note this year are some heavy-duty works by John Cook.

The Missoula artist passed away July 2 at age 55. He started and owned Timberline Hardwood Flooring and Ironworks.

“We feel honored to be able to show three of his sculptures at this year’s event,” Ybarra said.

“Look at the iron work in this. It’s solid,” he said, gesturing toward “BBQ.”

Cook’s sculpture takes the form of a traditional, round-bodied grill. His version is in significantly heavier material than a Weber – forged steel and copper. With its lightly roughed surface, it seems like something a “Game of Thrones” character would grill on.

Even larger is “Iron Railing,” a forged work in which Cook creates graceful, looping lines from half-inch to three-quarter-inch plates of steel. Each one had to be heated and forged, hammered and manipulated.

He noted that Cook was a unique artist who could really manipulate his chosen materials, and was always willing to share information about his process in the small but tight-knit metal sculpture community in the area.

“He’ll really be missed,” Ybarra said.

Cook did many works on commission for local businesses, and his work can also be seen in the newly opened Radius Gallery on East Main Street.

Other artists whose work is on display are Eva Champagne, Jim Clark, Rick Davis, Mo Gary, Daniel Kraus, Dave Larson and Marc Moss.

The 10th annual Outdoor Sculpture Show will be on display through Oct. 15 at Caras Nursery, 2727 S. Third St. W., two blocks west of Reserve Street. Hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and

10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.