My husband's family was here for the past 5 days, and what a great visit it was. As I mentioned in my previous post my father-in-law was a cabinet maker and my husband spent a lot of time helping in his shop while he was growing up. They had a lot of fun working on this project together. I know my husband learned a few new tricks from his dad too. Apparently rubbing soap (bar soap works best but liquid will work too) on screws makes drilling them into wood easier.
The set up in the garage. I had an idea of how I wanted the arbor to look and told my FIL. I got the inspiration from seeing a pergola he had built for his older son that lives in California.
The only time I got nervous was when I looked outside and saw my 77 year old FIL on top of the ladder as they shortened the posts. Here they were figuring out what length they wanted top to be.
The finished arbor. They primed it in the garage to make painting it a little easier later. This way there will only need to be one coat of paint applied.
I love how it turned out and can't wait until there is a rose and or Clematis growing over it.
The proud builders.
The gate from the driveway. We plan to put a couple of pickets up on the right side, but that can be done another day. That way the yard should be pretty well enclosed so our dog can be out there with us and not tied up like she usually is while we're out front.
The old washtub I shared the other day is almost full of water from all of the rain. I think nature decided for me that this will be a water garden. A couple people mentioned they had a problem with metal washtubs getting too hot for a water garden, but I'm pretty sure our weather stays cool enough that it won't be a problem.
So, as you can see from the pictures we really are almost there. All we need to do is give the fence a nice coat of paint and we're done. Except for the planting, but that will be fun, not work.
All words and photos in this post are property of A Gardener in Progress.
Looking great! Are you going to put the roses or vine in a pot?
ReplyDeleteAnd roses or clemantis will probably stood in pots. In fact, some painting, then it's just a pleasure. Yours
ReplyDeleteOMGosh! I am so proud of all of you! There is no I in team! What a great effort from all involved! It really does look good...you will be featured in a magazine before you know it.
ReplyDeleteYou are so lucky to have a cabinet-maker in the family! The arbor came out great. I'm glad you went with a water garden for the washtub. What will you grow in it? You might be able to use some of the plants you already have growing in your pond. And you really don't have to worry too much about those couple of days in the summer when the temps hit 90. If it is a problem, I bet you could rig up a temporary shade.
ReplyDeleteGreat pictures of a father/son job well done.
ReplyDeleteJust wait until all the flowers/foliage are spilling through and over the fencing/arbor.
Congrats to the team ~ FlowerLady
Looking good! How exciting to have a neat redo... L
ReplyDeleteI absolutely love the pergola. I want one! It looks amazing!
ReplyDeleteThe gate is awesome. They should be proud. It looks so nice. You are going to want to live out in your front garden. The pond will be jealous. :-)
ReplyDeleteIt looks wonderful Catherine. Kudos to the men for their hard work. Too hot? Just put the water bowl in the shade. I've got a thermometer for mine because it has fish. It takes all the guess work out of it.
ReplyDeleteCatherine,
ReplyDeleteThey did a nice job on the arbor, no question! Tell me how well do those two gate posts work that are mounted on the top of the concrete? I need to repair some railing and I want them sturdy.
It looks good. Even more so since your husband and FIL created it.
ReplyDeleteHeather - I think I will put the rose in a pot. It's so wet there right now after all the rain I'm afraid it wouldn't survive winter there. I've got another rose that I think may have drowned already this year.
ReplyDeleteRandy - I think the posts are fine, but they aren't really solid. My husband isn't too happy with them and may reinstall them with something below the metal plate that has some "give" as he said. You can really only tighten the bolts so far. He thought a small pad of rubber might help.
It's beautiful, Catherine; and it will be spectacular when everything is painted and the plants are all in. Well worth all the hard work that went into it. I love the way the design of the arbor echoes the shape of the molding on the front of your house. -Jean
ReplyDeleteWow! It's going to look so good! I bet you can't wait to get it all done- or done enough, as a garden is really never done :). I will be interested to see your water feature too- I need ideas!
ReplyDeleteThis is wonderful - I'm proud of you all! :-)
ReplyDeleteJust beautiful! Love your gates. DH & FIL look like great buds. They do good work. Keep the photos coming.
ReplyDeleteEverything is drowning here, too.
ReplyDeleteI have little lakes all over my backyard! Spring in the PNW! Please bring on some Sun!
Cathrine, the arbor and the gate are really looking great. Your front yard always looked nice to me even before the make-over, but through the fence, arbor, and gate your house has won so much more curb appeal in my eyes. It is charming already and when it is all painted white and the plants are in it will be breathtaking. Great job of your FIL and your husband! You are lucky that they are so handy!
ReplyDeleteChristina
I love the picture of the two of them standing together!
ReplyDeleteThat looks great. I love my water garden, or pondtainer as I call it. Have fun!
ReplyDeleteHi Catherine how lucky are you what a great team they are beautiful gate and i can just imagine with a clematis
ReplyDeleteI was so excited when your new post popped up on my notice board and even more excited since I've come to see what's been accomplished this past week. It looks SUPER!!! What a great team your husband and FIL make and now that all the missing bits are up, we can see the whole picture (bar the paintwork, but that will happen as soon as the weather obliges, I'm sure).
ReplyDeleteThe overall effect is just perfect for your home, Catherine...everything complements the whole look, feel and design most wonderfully and I can imagine how thrilled you are each morning when you open up the curtains and survey the new look!!!
I'm so impressed (and envious, as I've always wanted an arbour)!!!
It looks so nice! I really like that. I know how nice it is being merried to The Carpenter with all his knowledge, the right tools and the muscles (when they are needed) Love your washtub as well, it will be the perfect water garden / gittan
ReplyDeleteCatherine, the fence and arbor are really looking great. This has been a big project but it looks like you are going to be done just in time for all of your blooms.
ReplyDeleteEileen
Looks fantastic there Catherine! I'm curious as to what you'll plant for over the arbor - I'm having a pergola made and need a climber of some sort too.
ReplyDeleteThey did a great job! Really a job well done!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful Catherine!! How nice to have such handy guys around too. Your front garden is really framed nicely and will be a welcome place to be.
ReplyDeleteWow! What a make over!! Excited to see the final pics!! Come on Sunshine!
ReplyDeleteThe best building projects are the ones that build great memories too. It's really looking almost done, and absolutely gorgeous too! I almost don't remember how it looked before. Sounds like a before-and-after post might be in order once it's all wrapped up! ;)
ReplyDeleteHi Catherine!! I can just imagine the gardening-magic you will create with these new additions..wow!! Fabulous and inspiring! Enjoy your new adventures!I cant wait to see how they turn out!
ReplyDeleteKiki
"Okay Catherine, I know it's now going to sound like a broken record with my comment, but how cool is that, to have family members who can build fun stuff like pergola's. I wished I was that Lucky!
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to see what lovely plant you chose for it. Your choices are always pretty ones. I'll be back to check things out.
p.s.. I love that song! " Almost there" it has such a catchy tune.
It sure is looking good Catherine. It will be so pretty all filled with flowers. Cabinet makers are good to have in the family. My ex was a cabinet maker and I learned so much working in his shop back in the day. (We were married for 28yrs.)
ReplyDeleteLove it all! I am so jealous of the water garden. I am afraid if I tried to an water garden I would certainly grow an abundance of lovely mosquitoes. ha!
ReplyDeleteThank you for visiting me from the other end of the world. Yours
ReplyDeleteFrom the first few pictures you posted, I didn’t realize how big of a project this was, but wow, what a transformation….it looks great!
ReplyDeleteYour project is an inspiration to all of us who look at our yards and think, maybe...
ReplyDeleteCatherine, love the pergola! and am excited to see the entire finished product... although, I can pretty well visualize it. What an amazing job. I know you are smiling inside.
ReplyDeleteYeah it looks like a water garden in the making. LOL! The arbor gate looks so wonderful. They did a wonderful job. Your front garden project is looking terrific.I bet you are so happy.
ReplyDeleteOften behind a great gardener is a partner with great woodworking skills. Your front yard is wonderful. It's my dream front yard - no grass, gravel walkways, a charming fence all around and plants galore. I bet people will slow down in front of your home in the summer just to take in the lovely view.
ReplyDelete