arbour time

Wayne in construction mode

One thing about my garden - there is very little hardscaping, because neither of us are adept at building walls or benches or stone pathways. 
I have always wanted an arbour to convey the idea of walking out of the yard and into the unknown - in this case, a path that leads through the fields to Veseys Seeds.  I have been nagging Wayne for years to build me one, and this year I received a little box at Christmas with a promise inside:  "this entitles you to one arbour". 
Arbours are not an easy item to find at the local hardware stores.  I wanted one made of wood, not that flimsy PVC plastic.  And I wanted it pretty.  So I went online.  You can pay frighteningly big bucks for an arbour with seats (that's what I really wanted) but I settled for a nice regular one.
We researched how to secure it to the ground, because I did not want a repeat of the disaster with my first arbour, a metal one that fell over a few times and ultimately was buried in the snows of 2014 and then crushed under their weight. 

We used a level to make sure the top was straight.

The kit was delivered in a flat box.  After putting the pieces together, Wayne set it up.  I loved it right away!
 

It took some shims and some elbow grease to get it level.

concrete footings

We purchased heavy bag of quick-set concrete, which came mixed with gravel.  We dug 2 18-inch deep holes, dumped in the concrete, mixed it with water, and then set in metal pieces that had been screwed to the arbor's legs.  We had to work quickly, because the label warned that the concrete sets fast. 

And that's it!  one arbour, built and installed in one afternoon.  Now for the fun stuff - installing plants.  I found a neglected clematis buried in a bed of tall ostrich ferns and bleeding hearts.  It had already grown about 10 feet.  As much as it killed me to do it, I snipped off that growth and left just about 6 inches, because the transplanted roots would not have been able to support all that top growth as they adjusted to their new home.  The clematis was well watered in, snuggled in with mulch, and didn't die.  The few remaining leaves are staying green.  Success! 

Now my dream of hardscaping has expanded.  I got Wayne to scrape and repaint my adirondak chair, and I'm dreaming of a bench.  A garden is a work in progress.