Saturday, April 29, 2017

Discovering the Lost Arbor




Many years ago...maybe 15?...my dad built an arbor in my garden. 

At that time my garden had a lot of sun and, since I was running a family child care home, I wanted some shade for the children. So I planted not one, but two Lady Banks roses, one on each side. They did a superb job of providing the shade I once wanted. 


Fast forward to April 2017. Now almost 2 years retired, the lawn is gone. Truth be told, it was disappearing slowly even before I retired. Yes, that 3 foot tall mass of blooms is all on that arbor. And it was preventing afternoon sun from getting to the tomatoes and peppers planted in the pots you see in the next photo due to the root knot nematodes that love my garden. 



At least it was, until today. What started as a big pruning job that is always done after the blooms fade and then again in late summer became something else. Now there is only one greatly reduced banksia on what is the left side here. There is also a plumbago auriculata on that left side that has grown over the years up into the top of the arbor. The evergreen rose protects it in the winter and it responds by blooming in the summer, after the rose blooms are long gone. I think I love seeing the arbor again. I reminds me of Dad and all the things he built for me. The question is now...should I paint it? I don't have unpainted trellises or posts in my garden. But I'm not sure about another big splash of purple....

5 comments:

Gail said...

Fifteen years later and it's still an attractive arbor! Your dad did good work. I love seeing the arbor! Your tomatoes and peppers thank you, too.

Carol Michel said...

Yes, paint it, but pick a new accent color. Maybe orange?

Cindy, MCOK said...

Your dad did EXCELLENT work! It held up well to holding up those roses well :-) I think purple would really pop. Sage green would be a subtle accent. Whatever you choose, the arbor is a nice focal point!

Kathy said...

I like seeing the arbor again, too, but I don't have any color suggestions. Except--what color makes you think of your dad?

Dee said...

Isn't it cool to find your arbor again? I love that your dad built it, and now you can have exactly what you want in your evolving garden.