You should probably post this in the decorating forum on the other side of garden web.

As in a framed window as a backdrop to a patio or free standing garden sculptural element? Or are you thinking of a more practical use as actual shading from late afternoon sun to protect a west facing window inside the house, or provide shade for an arbor? Of course the wood will weather to gray over time if not sealed, and sealing blinds on a yearly basis to hold the color is not my idea of fun in the garden, but yes, I have seen such uses, and think it could be a fun element in a garden.

Actually, it strikes me as a brilliant idea in some contexts. Especially if you get some cheap ones at a garage sale or have them surplussed from indoors, maybe for temporary shade until a tree grows in, or for a shield needed only occasionally.

KarinL

My lovely wife and I recently visited friends of ours who run a cut flower business. This is not your ordinary FTD Florist kind of deal. You actually drive out in the middle of Iowa farm country, a few miles outside of town on a gravel road. The flowers are growing in the gardens in abundance. The selection is dictated by the seasons and you cut the ones that you want. Pay your money and you get an open-topped, one gallon plastic (recycled, of course) milk jug with some water in it. You can borrow their cutting shears and fill your jug with flowers.

Anyway, the old farmstead absolutely celebrates rural life; complete with chickens & ducks eating bugs out in the gardens. It is amazing but they also offer picnic dinners. Call them up ahead of time and they will provide everything you need for your family or group to have an old fashioned picnic out on the farm. Most people choose to eat in their newest addition -- a "gazebo" created from an old wire corn crib, like the ones pictured below. The old crib was salvaged and reconstructed on a brick paver base, replete with flower beds at the corners. Inside they placed a table and chairs -- a perfect place for conversation and lemonade on a lazy Sunday afternoon.

To block the late day western sun, they hung a couple of those roll-up bamboo blinds on the west side of the crib like the catalog photo below. {{gwi:43731}}

They were quite unexpected. However, they were effective and added to the fun. Quirky, yes ... but absolutely perfect!

Wooden Venetian blinds could be just as much fun in the proper setting. Yes, it is true that they may take a beating from the weather. However, sometimes we get too hung up on permanence in the garden. Occassionally it is OK to celebrate brief moments in time and savor them to their fullest.

IronBelly

I used roll up bamboo blinds on an elevated covered deck, to provide shade and privacy. With the blinds down, the space became my own private tree fort, complete with container plants, hammock, and bamboo furniture. I miss it.

I can see them used similarly to add privacy and shade to a pergola or suspended from a frame to create a screen that could be opened and closed as needed. Around a hot tub seems like a good use.

You could spray the slats themselves with a sealant occasionally to prolong their useful lives, but I think the fabric or string tapes/ladders would rot out pretty quickly outdoors. Maybe you could find a way to replace the string ladders with something that would withstand the weather better?

Thanx everybody for your thoughts. It's a done deal, 40cm/2m length of treated wood venetian blind to fill a whole amongst cercis, jasmine and bay leaf. Just needed a little something for privacy value until the jasmine takes off. A hanging basket of silver falls dichondra, delosperma (cooperi), sweet potato and golden geranium was put up along side- did the trick and client is happy. The blind was sitting around the house and better to use it than to not I thought. Thanx again

Pictures? Pretty please?

It'll be a week before I get on top of that but sure!

hey, if you are looking for information on venetian blinds and other home decor ideas, check out the url below

Here is a link that might be useful: blinds and home decor

I'm interested in converting an old wire corn crib into a gazebo. Ironbelly posted an interesting note back in August. I am wondering where in Iowa that garden is? Also, any one else have suggestions or pictures of gazebo's made from the old wire corn cribs??

Great Site !

nbacres,

Check out the link below.

IronBelly

Here is a link that might be useful: Aunt Effie -- Donahue, Iowa

Good morning IronBelly. The Aunt Effie link was really interesting to read. Still didn't see any pics or story-time info on the "corn crib gazebo" project. I'll keep looking and, with the luck of the gardners, maybe something will "grow and bloom" for this project.