i am so angry ... 15 mins typing.. and the darn machine crashes ...

real fast .. more when i cool down ...

the 2 sides closest to house.. i would not want to mow.. so garden beds and a walkway to the site ...

the other directions... do you want grass right up to it.. or beds there ...

i would get my favorite chair.. and some adult beverages and spend a week or 3.. just sitting there.. facing each direction.. and think about how to do it all ..

also consider whether you will be using the barbie out there.. and how to work that in ...

ken

Sitting in there as Ken suggests is a great idea - you will get ideas about what you want. I don't know if it works for you in your climate, but I 'landscaped' a pergola here with four large pots, one on each corner, in which I planted a cultivar of CA wild grapes, which has leaves that turn scarlet in the fall. I completely understand your wish to avoid vines; this damn grape is so vigorous that it has to be cut back several times a year, but for me it provides dense shade which the site needs. You could plant small trees in the pots. What I like about the pots is that they anchor the structure to the ground. Those uprights are narrow (as were mine, to my eye). Also, I can sit in my structure almost year-round, whereas my guess is that you will only use yours at certain times of the year, so you should take that into account, also.

yeah, wait for furniture, see how you use it.

after spending the last three years on a multi million dollar landscape project with too many people who were self important...do what you like. not what anyone else says. opinions speak more about the people giving them, not about the people receiving them.

I hope you get a comfy chair out there and your favorite summer beverage and time to sit and relax. You did a beautiful job on that pergola.

i once ran across a roll of 3 foot bird netting .. and i used xmas light clips on the gutters .. some rocks at teh bottom .... and grew annual or prunable perennial vines .... and then each fall ... just pruned down the clematis.. or pulled out the morning glory ... and put it all in the garbage ...

those posts really scream for vines ...

lol.. on she who must be obeyed ... i had a felling the barbi was in the equation somewhere... but i didnt figure it was so she could get away from it.. lol ..

ken

or maybe it was wider.. and i cut it into 3 foot pieces ...

http://www.amleo.com/uv-resistant-polypropylene-bird-netting-black/p/VP-PBN/

Shrubs planted around and wisteria floribunda on the pergola. See my outdoor patio, which is about the same size.

My Landscape · More Info

My Landscape · More Info

My Landscape · More Info

Many changes have taken place since I took these photos (more shrubs and perennials added) and I may go out and take some photos today.