Sunday, April 29, 2012

Backyard Bling #2 - Adorning Arbors

There is nothing like being on a garden tour to motivate you into action!

Since I was not adding any new garden beds this year, I decided to add a little "bling" to my backyard in other ways.  I have been wanting to add arbors to my side iron gates for a few years now.

Here's the "before" picture of the east side entrance.    
I have an identical gate on the west side of my house.


Every year I grow annual hyacinth bean vine on the fence beside the gates, and it ends up completely covering the gates to the point that it is almost difficult to get through them.


I love using hyacinth bean vine, though, because it grows so quickly; and after the fragrant blooms fade, it produces beautiful maroon bean pods.


And as an added bonus, you can use those bean pods to make a smiling 
garden scan of fall blooms :-)


But I digress.   Back to the bling at hand.

I got online to look at arbor designs and ended up merging a couple ideas together to come up with the design that was created for my arbors.  Although my husband and I have manged to construct a few wooden projects this year without either (a) divorcing and/or (b) losing any limbs, I figured trying our hand at constructing iron arbors might be pushing our luck just a bit.  So I contracted Surles Ornamental Iron to build the custom arbors over the gates.

Here are the finished arbors.   I just love how they turned out.

East side entrance

West side entrance

Here is a close-up of the scroll detail on the sides of the arbors.


The hyacinth bean vines have been planted.  


They seem to be taking their sweet time now, but I have no doubt that they will grow up and over the arbors by summer.    I am looking forward to being able to get through my gates this summer without having to untangle a jungle of vines first.

Stay tuned for more backyard bling...

Toni :-)

16 comments:

  1. I'm jealous of your bling. Your yard is going to look great for the tour.

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  2. I laughed at your comment about building together and not getting a divorce. My husband is a welder and could build me an arbor, but never would, so I never ask. I have an iron guy that I use for clients and if I ever want anything he would do it for free. He offered because I design so may wrought iron fencing and such and have given him tons of custom business. I really do like your gate entry, it makes and completes the scene.

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  3. The arbors look terrific and I like the table that you did in the last post too.

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  4. The arbors are a great touch.
    You're garden is going to be the hit of the garden tour.

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  5. They are beautiful and are going to be stunning with the vine trailing along them! You're going to have garden paparazzi stalking your house ;)

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  6. Fabulous entryways Toni! I know what you mean about motivation from garden tours. My similar addition was a gazebo1

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  7. I love it! Great place for an arbor. Looking forward to seeing it covered in vines :)
    Julie

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  8. Very nice arbors, Toni! I'm planning to plant Hyacinth Bean Vine this year, too, because so many people have recommended it. Do you recommend planting it from seed or seedling plants? Your designs are lovely!

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  9. I love them!! I love wrought iron. Wonderful addition. :o)

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  10. They look fabulous! I think the hyacinth bean vine will look great covering them. I grew them for the first time last year. Loved them but so did our Kudzu bug which ate them up.

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  11. Your garden always has such a look of sophistication, fit , and finish Toni... I wish I could get mine to that point but it seems like I'm always in a rush trying to keep up with the changes I'm usually making and I never get to where I want to be. I haven't done a moment of edging this season and that's one of my qualifications for a well tended garden... Unreal. Your's is definitely an inspiration for me! Larry

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  12. Your befores are not too shabby (looking at the plant / ground structure), but the afters with the arbor, esp the E side, perfect.

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  14. These arbors looking so great. It’s looking like a heaven on the landscape . I also like the different types of the design of the arbors.One of them I like most. I will try that design in my house.

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  16. Thanks for giving us a sneak peek of your garden, Toni. It's really a perfect sight to see your garden in full bloom. But I think it would be more beautiful if you add some crawling plants to adorn your beautiful wrought-iron fences and gate.

    #Larry@JDPRemodelingContractor.com

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