Well, we didn't go with an insert, since a) I couldn't find one in Dec. in CA, and b) I think this planter is much smaller than a true half whiskey barrel. DH rigged up a liner patch along the whole bottom, and it's been holding water since Dec. 26th. Yippee! LOL When we got there, I had to bribe Mom to sit still inside the house while we set up the surprise gift. Mom doesn't sit still, so I threatened her with Duct Tape. :D As soon as we were done, I set her loose, and she quickly scampered outside to find her "treasure". Thank god, she loved it. :) Dad, ever energy conscious, unplugged it the first night after everyone else went to bed. Mom basically told him, "Homey don't play that!" Mom reports that he doesn't mess with it now. LOL It's not what I had planned (wanted it pondless & in-ground...or with the hand pump behind the barrel, not on it...etc.), but it worked out well. It's set up so that when they go onto the back patio to light a fire in the pit (off to the left in the pic), they can hear the fountain across the fence in the front. My brother also got Mom some neat little bamboo shade lights to hang in the Pyracantha above the bench! It looks very pretty at night. Ok, I'm done with my novella. :D Brenda

Thank you guy's for the kind comments....the gardens are all for fun and just done the way they please me...LOL They all came about as time progressed....there size determind by the number of new plants I bought/traded for ar took from old landscape jobs, theat would be trashed otherwise...I even have a bed I call my "Medical Hold Bed".....and yup one called the "I got it, but have no where to put it yet bed" Lynx....you ask some tuff questions...LOL I'll try my best to answer a few of them, best I can. The for lack of better terms....Mailbox Walkway beds are actually 3 levels...The uppermost bed is about 15 feet wide, the second level bed can be anywhere from 3 feet to 12 feet wide a,d the loest level...out from the walkway is anwhere from 4 feet to 18 feet wide. The reason for all of this is that the walkway "Flows with the terrain"...nothing is square or straight. I like things to curve and sway......kind'a like the way I walk...LOL. I agree, most beds are made to small, at first. I think that is more because we like things to look "Full" right from the get go. As things grow we all seem to like to spread things out and make the beds larger. I learned over the years to try and make them big enough first...then let things grow and fill them up...requires lots of patience...but oh well...LOL (Sometimes it's fun to just stick in lots of annuals while we wait for the perennials to fill it all up..:) The walkway is 4 feet wide to 5 feet wide it ia about 95 feet long (Depending on where measured being it curves so much). I normally plant on 24 inch centers...I diamond block rows so the offset makes them appear closer and full sooner. The beds I call the Mailbox Walkway contains about 400 different Daylilies. The Bed along the street side which I call the "Mother Nature Bed" Is about 12 feet wide and 200 feet long it contains about 500 different daylilies. The other beds contain about 300-400 more different daylilies (These beds are of all different sizes and located all over the place...LOL Lynx I think I got most of your questions answered...:) Oh yeah..."Top Show Off" seems to Poly alot! I never really paid attention to how many times..but looking back at old pictures from years past..it is often in Poly form. I'm glad you enjoyed some of my garden beds and I will try to find some of the old pic's of the starting of the Mailbox Walkway bed and post some of them so you might be able to better picture the way the beds are formed....I tried to explain..but I know i'm not very clear about it all...LOL Thanks again for your interest and I too like you enjoy my garden beds in back...under all the trees...filled with shade lovers the big pond and other things...I spend most of my time there..staying out of the sun..:) (Grand Pa Rick)...;)

hi Poppi, Have you done much woodwork? I think it would look nice cut rough but sanded slowly and carefully, followed by a a few coats of varnish, the more the better. This would keep the rustic look of the tree, but the all over finish would look smooth as glass. A friend of ours made their bar like this and it looks great. we are going to try same, i'd be keen to hear how you go.

Cristian, You've got some good things to work with. What a nice place to live. I could give you a lot of suggestions if you like. One of the things to start with before you start looking at decoration would be to make some beds and plant them out. Then, you can put those items in spots with your plants growing up around it if that makes sense. On the top picture of the flowers (tulips I think) in a row, I think you need to give some thought to the way plants grow in nature. Clumps. And possibly staggered. A good rule of thumb is to allow the depth of 5' for beds around your house. That allows for a background plant and one lower to put in frown. Is that the back or front of the house? Do you know what growing zone you are in? I don't know much about Romania or it's weather. I'm in Central Texas, but would be glad to send you some seeds if you'd be interested. Can you email me directly? Xtal