Wednesday, March 12, 2014

My favorite thing in the garden this week, well, it's our new fence…

Many garden design books will tell you the bones of the garden (meaning hardscape) are much more important than the plants, of course we all know they're crazy, those kind of books aren't written by the hard-core plant lovers. However there is no denying structure is important, with a good framework in place the plants are allowed to shine. With that in mind I've bumped the "plant" right out of my favorite feature this week and I'm shining that spotlight on our new fence...

I just absolutely love it!

Or I suppose I should say "them" since there are two sections, on the north and south side of our back garden...

I took most of these shots the day after they finished the work, when the sun came out. Sadly while they were working there was no sun, only rain, rain and more rain. Hence when they finished there was mud, mud and more mud...everywhere.

This shot is to show that if you get close enough you can indeed see through the slats a bit, but from under the shade pavilion and on the patio (see photos above), the places where we sit and relax, it's a solid fence with complete privacy.

Did I mention there was some mud?

So what's your favorite plant (or thing) in your garden this week?

All material © 2009-2014 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.

60 comments:

  1. That fence is freaking fabulous! I can see why you love it. It's almost a shame that you are eventually going to cover it up with plants.

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    1. Have you been talking to Andrew?

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    2. I would be nice if you shared the name of the design of the fence

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    3. Sure it's called... "my way or the highway" (I kid, but really...there is no name!)

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  2. What Alison said except that part about almost a shame to cover it with plants. I'm happy for you! Well except for that mud part.

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    1. A couple of dry sunny days behind us and it's actually starting to dry out!

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  3. Wow! So cool! Total privacy yet allows sunlight to pass through.Now you can hang planters with ease, like the sedum one you wrote about. Yet another idea of yours I may copy in the future.

    Jim NE Tabor.

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    1. Believe it or not I'm starting to have second thoughts about the hanging planters. I did save several pieces of wood from the fence, so I have the materials to make them, I'm just not sure I want to...we shall see!

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  4. Great job with the fence.

    Are you going to paint/stain it or leave it? I neve bothered with mine and 10 years later it still looks okay.

    Most fences around here are slatted vertically not horizontally to help allow the wind blow through them rather than knock them down during any severe wind storm.

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    1. Adam: your comment got me thinking... do vertical slats actually offer less wind resistance? It just doesn't seem logical, but maybe there's been a study or at least some evidence to suggest this?

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    2. I think we're just going to leave it. While I like the idea of going with a dark stain I just can't imagine having time to do both sides front and back (and maintain it) plus I want it to match the section at the rear of the property, if in materials and color only (not style).

      Regarding your ad Alan's thoughts on the fence slats and wind I wish we had a wind tunnel at our disposal where we could conduct a test!

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  5. Love the new fence! It looks great and I'm sure you'll appreciate it more and more as spring moves into summer. As for mud, it wouldn't be a Portland winter/spring project without it, but maybe it will dry up a bit this week! I'll have a fave post later today...

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    1. The sunny warm days have certainly helped with the mud, and the spring fever!

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  6. LOVE LOVE LOVE your new fence. I wish we'd been more creative when we replaced ours 5 years ago...

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  7. Wow - that looks great! Such a change from before. All that mud will be plants in a short time anyway.

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  8. Love the fence! It reminds me of one I grew up with in the backyard of my parents' home. It'll be the perfect backdrop for your plant collection. My favorite plant of the week can be found here: http://krispgarden.blogspot.com/2014/03/my-favorite-plant-of-week-ageratum.html

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    1. Was that fence painted/stained or left to age naturally?

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  9. For a plant nut, you have some fine hardscaping to set things off. This is an elegant addition. I'm sticking to a plant as a favorite, but not in my garden: http://bannersbyricki.com/archives/3633

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    1. I suppose you're right. That hard material underfoot sure does help with the mud...

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  10. That looks great! I'm so envious but you know my wait is almost over. I love how yours looks though and all that light will work wonders for you garden now.

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    1. It's amazing how much light there is now, both from the sky - light the privet used to steal - and coming through the fence on the south side, behind the shade pavilion.

      I can't wait to see where you decide to go with your fence.

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  11. That looks simply amazing... Perfect for a garden..

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    1. And of course that's what really matters...

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  12. Privet? What privet?

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  13. That fence in fantastic. It is always hard to spend more on something like that when you think it could go on plants, but was well worth it.

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    1. I've tried not to think about how much the fence cost in relation to the plants I could have purchased...

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  14. The new fence looks just right for your garden.

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  15. Love your new fence Loree, so contemporary and suits your garden so well!

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    1. I wish we could afford to continue the style all the way around the back of the property...

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  16. Oh it I had your fence, I wouldn't be so desperate to cover it... I wouldn't cover it!

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  17. looks great. can't wait to view in person. when it's warm. and I have a glass of wine in my hand.

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  18. It looks so good! Just when I thought your garden couldn't get any better . . .

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  19. The jury has it: fabulous fence! So wonderful to have it done, right? Now you can plant!
    Here's my "Favorite Plant" post for this week: Syneilesis x hybrida:
    http://mulchmaid.blogspot.com/2014/03/syneilesis-x-hybrida-is-my-favorite.html

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    1. It is wonderful to have the whole project behind me and now get to the planting, or err digging of ivy and vinca roots...

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  20. Ditto, Heather! It looks amazing Loree. I love, love, love it. And I wasn't expecting to see it on the other side behind your pavilion. The colour is so beautiful. Once the weather warms up a bit for you, and you get your plants back out there, your backyard is going to look mind blowing.

    My favourite: http://crmbsgrdn.blogspot.com.au/2014/03/my-favourite-plant-in-garden-this-week_13.html

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    1. I wish you were coming to Portland for the Garden Bloggers Fling Amy!

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  21. Wow! That new fence is drool worthy! I am in love with it. It really complements the garden in a good. The rostratas pop now!!

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    1. Thanks Louis, Sammy does like to be the star and it is a much better backdrop for his spiky hair...

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  22. That's a gorgeous fence! I like how it compliments the siding on your garage - sort of keeps the eye going in that horizontal plane. The plants add the vertical - particularly that fine rostrata! What are you going to plant here?

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    1. Thanks Jeanne, I've got a whole stash of plants ready to go in the area, yippee!

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  23. I can only repeat what the others have said: Wow. Gorgeous fence. What a transformation! I would leave it exactly as it is, but that's just me.

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  24. The fence turned out great! It really complements the space well. As for the mud, sometimes life can be a little messy.

    Here's my favorite this week! http://practicalplantgeek.blogspot.com/2014/03/camellias-my-favorite-plant-in-someone.html

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  25. Can I ask who built it? We are having the WORST luck getting quotes for a fence..not looking for the same design but do love it!

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  26. AnonymousMay 25, 2020

    love it beautiful , just wondering what it looks like on the opposite side at the top any chance you could post a picture

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    1. No, since that view is firmly in our neighbor's backyards. There is no board, so there's a void with a flat "cap" over it. It doesn't look bad and in fact I considered that being our view...

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