woodyoak - He's going to build me a 50 foot arbor and gazebo next year. So far he's built me a kids playhouse/future toolshed. He is an amateur woodworker and this was the first thing he ever built. He bought a table saw for this so he could get straight cuts, and a router to soften the edges. That and a skill saw were the only tools he used. I designed it and he built it. He just got a bunch of books from the library on woodworking, then went at it! He is a good reader and doer. (did a first stone wall, ceramic tile, etc. after just reading a book on it.) I know I'm lucky!

Here's what we finally did. We took the photo image to a steel fabricator in town. He stretched it out on photoshop, created 4x8 ft sheets of thin steel and we nailed them up there. Ignoring the candelabra, you can see the sheets. They cast the patterned shadow just like we wanted. The stretching of the pattern creates a few more dark shadows but it's all good. They've already started a pretty rusty patina. Powder-coating proved a little pricey for this project. Total start to finish for a 12x40' pergola: about $1200. Thanks for everyone's help. Sorry about the delay getting back. Here is a link that might be useful:

Thank you for all the kindness. You guys are really wonderful. I used a mix of used 1 portland, 1 peat moss, 1 sand and 1 perlite. I was really scared when it was time to de-pot it, becuase I didn't use plastic inside I only sprayed it with WD40. I had to give it a few good hard taps with a shovel handle while it was upside down- after I rolled it into place on it's side, but it came right out. I plan on painting them all and I'll post pictures of the finished products. I'm going to space them out along the fence at the rear of our backyard. Thanks so much for the courage you all gave me in attempting this. I've been a lurker on this site for 5 years and finally got started. I have definately caught the bug. I was looking at the panels at the bottom of our screen room today and I have a plan for a hypertufa living wall to replace the ugly t1-11 paneling that's currently in place. When I get the pots done I'll finish up the planning and post my thoughts to see what you think.

How will a "freestanding pergola" with stand hurricanes no matter what? WHat does the permit office say about this? WHat will you HO Ins. think about about insuring a "freestanding pergola"?