Gardenscapes Alternating-State Elements

person Gardenscapes Strategy Team

August 24, 2026

Gardenscapes Bow Tie, Ducks, and Cabinet with Jars shown in open and closed states outside a building while three characters watch.

Learn how Bow Tie, Ducks, and Cabinet with Jars work in Gardenscapes, when they open or close, and how matches and Power-Ups affect them.

Alternating-State Elements are Gardenscapes elements that switch between an active and protected state as you play through a level.

They can only be collected or affected while they are in the correct state. When they are closed, they are protected, so you have to wait until they open again before you can make progress.

Alternating-State Elements at a Glance

Element	Match-3	Power-Up	How It Alternates	When It Can Be Affected
Bow Tie	Yes	Yes	Switches between open and closed after every move	Only while the case is open.
Ducks	Yes	Yes	Switches between hidden and visible after every move	Only while the Ducks are visible outside their boxes.
Cabinet with Jars	Yes	Yes	Cabinet doors open and close	Only while the Cabinet doors are open.

Bow Tie

The Bow Tie sits inside a case that switches between open and closed after every move.

To collect a Bow Tie, make a match next to the case while it is open or hit it with a Power-Up. If the case is closed, matches and Power-Up hits will not count.

Ducks

The Ducks are hidden inside boxes that alternate between open and closed after every move.

While the boxes are closed, the Ducks are protected and cannot be collected. When the Ducks pop out again, make a match next to them to collect them.

Cabinet with Jars

The Cabinet with Jars contains Jars that can only be collected while the Cabinet doors are open.

While the Cabinet is open, you can clear the Jars by making a match next to them or hitting them with a Power-Up. Once the doors close, the Jars are completely protected and cannot be affected again until the Cabinet reopens. Even two Rainbow Blasts cannot affect the Jars while the doors are closed.

Ducks and Cabinet with Jars are new Gardenscapes elements, adding two more mechanics built around timing your moves around their changing states.

Want to see more? You can watch all our Gardenscapes element videos on our GardenscapesStrategy YouTube channel, with gameplay examples showing how each element works.