This post, “Arbor” was written for my WordPress blog called Always Growing by Jan in Covington, Louisiana
The winter time really shows where improvements need to be made in a garden. It is said that one of the most important elements to an attractive design is the garden’s “bones”. When people first start designing their gardens, they often do not think so much about the permanent things like evergreens, benches, arbors, etc. I was no different. The first spring and summer everything looked great. There were a few perennials and many annuals to fill in the empty spaces. Then the autumn and winter came, and there were practically empty beds with just mulch and a few small evergreens. I quickly realized I needed “something” – especially for height. One solution was an arbor. My daughter gave me a cedar one for Christmas. We put it up in the early spring on the side of the house in an opening between a row of azaleas and a yew. It was just what was needed. The next year I planted a white Lady Banks rose on it, and placed two urns with purple fountain grass in front of it.
This lasted about two years, and then in 2005 Hurricane Katrina came through. I had moved the arbor up next to the house to try and protect it. This proved to be ineffectual. A pine tree was knocked down and hit the arbor. It was crushed, and I was crushed. With all the more pressing things going on after Katrina, replacing the arbor was low on the list of priorities.
In the spring of 2006, the quest for a new arbor began. I never could find one I liked, or the ones I liked were very expensive. I searched all the garden and big box stores. I went on the Internet. Still no luck. Then for Mother’s Day 2007, my daughter came through again. She found one on the Internet identical to the one she had given me earlier.
The new arbor is pictured above. Soon the rose was tied to it, and the urns were placed in front of it, just like before. Now, that side of the yard looks even better than before. After getting the first arbor, I realized how much I had to work on the bones of my garden. After about four years, things are looking better. I’ve put in more shrubs, small trees, benches, and paths.
Now, if I can just find a replacement for the arbor in the back yard that Hurricane Rita took out…..
Always Growing 
Mickie said,
January 24, 2008 at 5:23 pm
I am so glad you were able to get a replacement for your first arbor. You are so right about the “bones”. I too had to add them in after I had started my garden.
Yes, I was lucky to get the same arbor as before.