New arbor.......HELP!

17 years ago

LOL!

I have a dilemma, I have always wanted an arbor with a flowering vine over it. While at the hardware store the other day, I fell in love with one, and bought it. Along with a couple of clematis vines. I didn't really plan the purchase and now need to figure out where to put it! I need to make new flower beds anyway, because I want to grow more annuals, and perennials. I am aiming for a cottage garden type look. I have uploaded pictures of the yard and possible locations to my webshots album which is linked at the bottom.

I live in zone 3, bordering 4, on a farmstead, out in the country. My dilemma is this, my husband wants to put the arbor over the sidewalk, near the end by the driveway where we park. I don't really like this location, I feel it will be trouble in the winter, when we have to shovel 3' of snow off the sidewalk. And that it blocks the view of the house.

The other locations I am considering are, to make a new garden room on the north east corner of the house. Along the south side of my tree line, so that part of it will be shady, and part will have more sun. You can see this area in image #4 back in the area where the bench is right now, and from the other side in #10, and #11. We will be doing work on the house in the next year or two, so I don't want to do any work along side the house.

Another possibility is to put it in between the 2 trees you can see in image #3. Behind the bird feeder, this view is very similar to the one from my dining room window, which is the most used view in my house. In view #7 & #8 you can see the area looking towards the house. I would create a whole new garden room here too, extend and increase the bed already around the tree. I know the one tree is dead, and should come down. BUT it is the most interesting tree in my yard. I call it the "woodpecker" tree. It is always full of many varieties of woodpeckers. Including a Pileated woodpecker pair that come to visit in the early mornings!

If anyone has any other suggestions I am up for it! My yard is a mess, full of old oak trees, and newer young fruit trees. The fruit trees were planted helter skelter with no plan in mind, and the husband will NOT let me remove or move any of them! Not that I really want to, they are just now starting to produce.

Thank you!!

Jenny P

Here is a link that might be useful: My yard 2006

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Comments (15)

balsam
17 years ago
Hi Jenny,

First, let me say - YOUR YARD IS NOT A MESS, IT'S LOVELY! :)

As for your arbour, I do like the arbour over the walkway (I think this is your husband's choice?). You could eventually add some kind of fencing to complete the "entrance", or leave the arbour free-standing with vines. Shovelling wouldn't be too big of a problem if you have space around it to move snow into.

However, I also like the idea of creating a new garden room by placing the arbour between the two trees in view #3. You could have a cozy little space with the arbour as an entrance to the "room". It might be a lovely place to have your morning coffee in the summer!

It looks like you've got lots of options in your yard, so wherever you choose to put it, I'm sure it will look fine. Don't cut down the woodpecker tree, though!!! Don't you just love watching them? I try not to remove habitat like that unless the tree becomes dangerous to the house, etc. Maybe you could just remove part of the tree (upper branches) and the woodpeckers would still use it. You have a great spot there.
jennypat Zone 3b NW MN
Original Author
17 years ago
Balsam
Thanks! I am going to leave the arbor where it is temporarily. Until I have time to actually work on creating the new beds. And just see how I like it. I think it is going to end up in between the trees though.

Oh the woodpecker tree is not going anywhere!! I can see it from my favorite spot in my dining room. Where I sit and drink my coffee in the morn, and visit with the DH etc. (my dining room is the center of my home, most used room in the house!)

Jenny P
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angelcub
17 years ago
That is one idyllic setting you have there! And a beauty of a house, too. Loved looking at your pics. : )

As for the arbor, I think it would look good in a new bed like the one near the house (new garden room). You could place a small bench under it and make it more of a destination rather than an object to pass under. The walkway is so long and narrow that the scale is all wrong for the arbor. For something more in scale, I'd go with a white wood arbor with a square or peaked top to echo the house lines. Place some wine barrels on each side with climbing roses and clematis growing in them and eventually over the arbor. Then DH would have his arbor and you would have yours. : ) Is he handy with tools and wood? They aren't all that hard to build, they just take some time and accuracy of measurements.

Diana
todancewithwolves
17 years ago
What mess?

I love love love your house.

I totally agree with Diana's idea. That would be a darling setting and a place to relax and look at all your beautiful greenary.

Edna
rosebush
17 years ago
Jenny,
GORGEOUS house and yard! You can do so much with it. . .I like the idea of an arbor as an entrance OR destination, at either end of a garden room. Both sound great, and I think Diana's onto something with the white wood. . .just my 2c. :) Rosemary
west_texas_peg
17 years ago
How I envy you! What a lovely home! I'm thinking on building a garden room but have not worked out where yet since our yard is not nearly as large with fewer choices. I spend a lot of time sitting/looking...putting my chair in different spots to get the feel.

Good luck with your arbor...I want one so bad but I have not inspired DH yet.

Peggy
keesha2006
17 years ago
I too like the garden room idea..tho it also looks nice on the sidewalk with a bit of landscaping around it.
dryad58
17 years ago
I vote for the garden room - i feel like an arbor should draw you in to something special. :) The TV antenna is awesome though - have you thought of using it as an obelisk at the end of your sidewalk? Kind of a marker for your house? Maybe you could stick a mailbox in there and just let some roses or clematis go wild. Have fun! Your house is gorgeous
jennypat Zone 3b NW MN
Original Author
17 years ago
Thanks everyone I love my house too. It's old, and needs a lot of work, but thats what gives it character. We have been here about 13 years now, and it's just been the last 2 or 3 that I have taken the time for the gardens. Although the DH has been planting fruit and berry trees since we moved here.

I think the garden room wins, in my book anyway. I just need to convince the DH. Someone mentioned scale, and that it was wrong for the sidewalk, I think I will use that info in my arguement.
As for the TV antennea, I am stumped where to put it. I thought at the end of the sidewalk to one side of the power utility pole. But am not sure. The stupid thing has been sitting in the same spot in the yard for 2 or 3 years now, waiting for me to decide!

Jenny P
blue_velvet_elvis
17 years ago
The TV antenna looks like a great morning glory place to me :~)
fammsimm
17 years ago
I love your house, too. It looks so cozy, and what a beautiful, pastoral setting you have. There is such a peaceful, calm to your home and property. I think my blood pressure went down 20 points just looking at your pics. :-) Love it! :-)

I like Diana's ideas, too, in particular the placement of a bench, and of course, climbing roses on the arbor.

Good luck with your project.

Marilyn
PattiOH
17 years ago
Jenny P, you have a lovely home. Perfect for a cottage garden!

I will add my vote to the arbor for the garden room area. I agree that the scale doesn't look quite right for it to be on the sidewalk.

Also, since you're in zone 3, I think what ever you plant on the arbor will be better protected nearer to the house.

I love Dryad's idea of the TV antenna as part of the mailbox!

Best of luck with whatever you decide to do!

Patti
SEWigardnut
17 years ago
very nice yard. I vote for between the two trees in view 7.
lousit
17 years ago
I vote with the majority, no matter where you put it it will be gorgeous. You have a beautiful peaceful yard, and the house looks so inviting.
jennypat Zone 3b NW MN
Original Author
17 years ago
Thanks
I am currently moving the arbor around the yard, putting it in a couple different places. Letting it sit so I can get a feel for it. Besides right now I don't have time to get the beds dug!

Jenny P

New arbor.......HELP!

Comments (15)

balsam

jennypat Zone 3b NW MN
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jennypat Zone 3b NW MN
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