Arbouring Desires...

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Last year, when my OH and I happened to go out for a drive, we decided that we would pop over to our large B&Q up near Bristol, just for a look around.
I thought I might find the odd plant that would insist on coming home with me, as they do, (so I keep telling my husband), and I think he wanted to look for the latest in LED lighting..
He went off one way, and I, in true gardening fashion, made a dash for the Plant section…as us gardeners would.

When he located me, a while later, it was to hear in a slightly wheedling tone, about how much he would be willing to spend on me for my approaching birthday…The alarm bells should have started to clang loudly then, but obviously they didn’t, and the poor innocent soul asked what I would like…Silly question!
I had seen the perfect wooden Arbour for my garden…I even knew where it would fit, and it was a real bargain at £99!
Having wondered around various GC’s, I knew that this type of Arbour retailed between £175 and £250, so I guess that I knew a real bargain when I saw one…

Well to cut a long story short, after decimating all the reasons why we didn’t need an Arbour in the garden, and we had no-where to put it even if we got it, from my exasperated OH…I am now the proud owner of my own little seated Arbour, and it is perfect!
This year, it was assembled and put in the spot allocated, and slightly grudgingly, even the OH has to admit that it looks good, (even if it is through gritted teeth!) lol..
Once painted, it now has pride of place in my garden…

He is now really worried about what I am going to ask him for as a birthday present this year….tee hee hee…\0/

This was the area before we started. There is a Gleditsia ‘Sunburst’ tree at the back, shrub roses to the left, a Choisysia Ternata ‘Sundance’, and a Spiraea Nipponica ‘Snowmound’ on the right…

We left in the main shrubs as they were all well established, and just removed the front planting that was replanted in other areas of the garden…

This was to be the Arbour’s allocated space, and it was going to sit upon four concrete blocks…Looking like it belongs there already…

Now the painting begins, to protect the wood from our wonderful temperamental climate, and to fit it in with the general colour scheme…

More painting! A double coat to really finish it off. This was really the hardest part, and no fun when you are short! lol

And this is the completed article, all painted up and sited…
I planted a Clematis ‘Royalty’(Dark Blue) on the left of the Arbour, and a Clematis Cirrhosa ‘Balearica’(Evergreen, small creamy flowers in Winter, flecked with purple). I also have Erysimums planted there for scent.

Looking as if it has always been there, my wonderful ‘Birthday’ Garden Present, a bargain…Thanks B&Q and Hubby for making my year!

• 28 May, 2011
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