Latest Projects

Category: Garden Projects | Posted: Mon Jun 04, 2007 7:17 pm

Well, last week we built a pergola for our back garden...so it is kind of like a shady cover for part of our pool deck. This was the first carpentry project we've ever tried so I am extremely pleased with the result.

I've planted pink trumpet vine in those big terra cotta planters and can't wait until the pergola is enveloped in the feathery leaves and pretty flowers.

I have a windchime addiction....but I will only buy them on sale or for a really low price. I got a set at Target for $2.49 (they originally sold for $10), actually I bought 2 sets, one for the front and one for the back. I found a pretty little bell chime at Michael's for $2.99. I wanted to complement the terracotta planters in back so I decided to make my own chimes out of flower pots....

I used wooden car wheels and wooden beads to separate the pots slightly so the softly rattle together. I think I will make more, but decorate them....they might make nice Christmas gifts...the sound is quite soothing.

I am still working on my bowling ball...I DID find that the silcone works the best for me. I work on a small section at a time then use the weight of the ball to hold them down until dry. I am having to track down more of the gems. I am using the extra large iridescent clear....I think they will have a beautiful dragon scale appearance when done. I got some light green for doing my dh's ball...hopefully I bought enough...Michaels had them for $1 a bag.

While at Michaels I found these lovely pot hangers for my fence...going with the terra cotta

I've planted them with ornamental sweet potato....that is the easist stuff I've ever tried to root. Every two days I have new plants. That may or may not bode well for the future.

My last little project I've been working on is to make a hanging hummingbird garden....sounds more fancy than what it is...I saw one for sale somewhere for about $20, but I already had a hanging basket--empty and waiting to be planted. I've put 5 little peat pots with cardinal climber seedlings....this is what it is supposed to look like (in a little over a month):

http://www.highcountrygardens.com/catalog/product/C0019/

I hope mine looks as nice as this one! I hope the hummingbirds visit. Every week I clean my feeders and refill them...still no hummers!

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cajunbelle wrote on Mon Jun 04, 2007 7:23 pm:

Your pergola is absolutely fantastic, I love, love, love it. Is that lattice on top? It will look so good with the vines growing over it. Please post pics as they grow.

Great pot holder, I will have to check our local Michaels out.

bethie wrote on Mon Jun 04, 2007 8:08 pm:

Of all the garden projects The Pergola is the absolute greatest. You will enjoy it so much. It looks great and will only get greater over time.

hummingbird3172 wrote on Mon Jun 04, 2007 8:16 pm:

Thanks Cajunbelle and Bethie! I look at it in awe and feel amazed that we built it...

Cajunbelle, yes that is lattice on top. The measurements are 10 ft by 20 ft.

My husband will be so excited to hear the compliments, he didn't even know what a pergola was before...haha.

eileen wrote on Mon Jun 04, 2007 10:45 pm:

Oh I wish I had a pergola like that!!! It's fabulous!!! I can hardly believe that it was your first attempt. The terracotta pots look good sitting at the base of the uprights and the whole thing will look even lovelier when the pink trumpet vine grows over it. The pots you used for your windchime set eveything off and complete the picture.

I also like the pot hangers and I'm sure that once your cardinal climbers grow the hummingbirds will flock to your feeders.

You must let us see your bowling ball once it's finished.

WELL DONE - you have a beautiful garden.

Netty wrote on Mon Jun 04, 2007 11:43 pm:

I agree with the others...your pergola looks great! All your projects do!

hummingbird3172 wrote on Tue Jun 05, 2007 12:09 am:

Thanks Eileen and Netty!

My husband is so pleased with the comments...he's quite puffed up! Next weekend we are building a little lattice trellis for my over confident and pushy passionflower vine.