It all sounds lovely to me (and looks lovely too, Janie!) but I am confused about the fencing you want. You said you want a short 30"High rough cedar fence but it is not to look like the fence in the picture is it? Though you do want to extend the fence in the picture, is that right?

Can we see a picture of the rough cedar arbor? Is the cedar Eastern cedar or Western Red Cedar?

MeMo

This picture isn't the best, but does show the construction of the arbor. Bobby built this arbor for me as a gift- either for Christmas or for my birthday, a couple of years ago. This was taken when he built it.
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This is Bobby putting in the flagstone floor.
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I just want a short piece if fence from the back upright of the arbor, behind the crape myrtle tree, and behind that big clump of moraea iris. Just a little fence, with rough cedar posts, and cedar 1x4s that are smooth on one side and rough on the other. I want the rough side facing the driveway. The fence can even curve a little, to follow the lines of the garden edge. It kind of feels unfinished there, even though there are plants that get kind of tall. It needs a boundary.

I could build a trellis wall of some sort, but that crape myrtle is about 15' tall, and I am thinking the two would compete for attention.

This is a rather large garden, on a corner. The taller fence is across the other side of the garden. I want to extend that, with a section on either side of this existing section. They don't have to match the existing fence- one can be longer, one can be shorter. This wood is cypress, already old, that we have been recycling for about 10 years now. We have built arbors and trellis' and still have a lot of it left. Not one bit is to be wasted!

I love vines and climbing roses, and my DH is always wanting to grow things that block the view of our porch. We are going to replace the porch on the house this summer, and make a much larger porch, as I like to serve dinner or lunch out there sometimes. He doesn't care for most of the neighbors. HE wants to grow oleanders, I want to dig those things OUT!

Just see past the mess! I am embarrassed for anyone to see it! It is very pretty most of the year.

The cedar is Western Red Cedar, I am sure.

Janie

How lovely. Is that your garden in February? Wow, how lucky you are.

The arbor pictures were taken in the dead of winter. The other pictures were taken later in the spring.

We are very fortunate that we have mild winters. I have a full winter garden right now, harvesting cabbages, cauliflower, broccoli, spinach, lettuce, lettuce, lettuce, onions, greens (mustard, turnip and collard greens), peas, and herbs like cilantro, and dill. I put in an asparagus bed this year, and I have sweet peas and 'Laura Bush' petunias blooming in the garden. My cilantro is beginning to bloom, too.

Thank you for the nice comment.

Janie

Thanks for the arbor pictures, Janie. Yes, that is for sure, Western Red Cedar. Your DH did a wonderful job making the arbor! It's really lovely. Are the posts planted in the ground or is it free standing with stakes?

I have a huge pile of WRC branches all trimmed and ready to make something with in the back yard. My intent was to use them to make four arbors and four gates to the pottage garden. I was going to set them into the center of each of the four hedge rows. I need a new hen house. Maybe I'll build that with them?! There are plenty more where those came from.

I have no advice to offer you. I think you have already come to a plan that will make you happy and that will work well in the various areas you want to work on. Your garden is spectacular even in the middle of winter. How lucky you are!!

MeMo

What a lovely arbor, rustic charm at its best. I noticed the cute birdhouse on the post did Bobby build that too? I'm envying you harvesting all those veggies right now, it's going to be months before I get to do that.

Annette

It is a trade off, Annette. In August and the first part of September, we will not be harvesting anything save maybe some okra and a few peppers. It gets sooo hot here then that nothing will really grow, much less set fruit! Plus, we need to be seeding things for our fall gardens then, and we can only start them in the shade. Seedlings in our August heat have to be really protected, hydrated, and tough!

Bobby built the birdhouse, and we spent days collecting and applying the adornments. That birdhouse is 3' tall, and we have several like it around here.

I really want this garden to come together this year. I have about 40 daylilies in there that I need to move, as they are in too much shade now. The trees have grown a lot since we cleared the grass from here.

Maybe I could cut some of the trees out? Maybe when Bobby is sleeping- he is very protective of these trees. Grafted pecans, they are, and very messy - not good in the landscape.

Janie

How do you keep your zinnias so healthy? I always get powdery mildew on mine. I try to avoid splattering the leaves with water, but the mildew overtakes them. I read about the baking soda treatment for powdery mildew, but I haven't tried it yet.

janie, I love that arbor! your entire garden looks very nice. I am amazed that you can grow so much year round. Also surprised that cabbages do well in the heat.

Could you please post some pictures of those birdhouses up close and personal. I need some inspiration.

BTW, I have been looking longingly at the Laura Bush petunias for some time now. I need to do more that look! I love them.

Janie I love your garden! It is a mix of lush tropicals in an easy cottage style! I always admire people who make thier entire front yard into a flower garden. I always think of doing it but then loose my nerve...
Oooh! I love pecan pie! Do you use the pecans? Look on the bright side, I know people who pay a lot to get 'nut-shell mulch'!

Advice?? I don't think you need any at all. Your doing a wonderful job!
Thank you for posting.
CMK

I love your rustic arbor also. Look forward to seeing your fencing too. I think you've got a great looking cottage garden.

FlowerLady

I now have arbor envy!! Everything looks really beautiful. Love the steep roof on the birdhouse--looks like it belongs in a fairy tale.

It's Saturday A.M. so I finally have time to read more posts. What a great garden! The colors and the birdhouse are terrific. I'm sure you could sell those birdhouses.--Wow! Wish mine garden looked so nice. You are also lucky to have Bobby.

I don't think you necessarily need advice either...In fact, I want YOU to advise me. :-)

You might consider a metal/wrought iron chair by your tree unless the chair is just to hold a plant. Wrought iron or powder-coated iron is durable, and in my opinion, looks classic.

Where are you in south Texas? My mom used to live in Alice...

Janie,

I agree with everyone else. Your yard is lovely!
I wouldn't cut the trees, but I am a tree person.
The arbor is terrific! Adorable, in fact.
Post more pictures later as you continue with your projects.

~ Annie

Oops! I deleted a picture while fiddling around in Photobucket. I am putting it back.
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I have a thing about zinnias. I love them! I hate when they get powdery mildew, and I try to keep mine from getting infected. You can do a few things...

Let water run on the ground to water them, instead of overhead watering. Actually, this applies to almost all flowers, and many vegetables as well.

You can spray them when the seedlings are young, with a fungicide. If you keep your zinnias in a patch, this is not hard to do. Fungicides need to be in place before the fungus gets there to be effective. Use one of the pump up sprayers, to get under leaves and all.

You can plant additional seeds about every three weeks or once a month. (We plant zinnias through the month of August, to get blooms before frost.) If you get PM on your zinnias, clip the old plant at the ground, instead of pulling, to keep from damaging the roots of surrounding plants, and the young one is there to take it's place. Don't ask me why the young ones don't have the mildew too, but I have found that they usually do not.

We built the low fence this morning. It took about 2 hours, and I LOVE IT, LOVE IT! I am going to take pictures in a little while. I am trying to get finished raking up debris in the garden, and I am planting like crazy. I will also take some pictures of the birdhouses.

Janie