Party Patio: Spotlight On a New Project

Sometimes a backyard transformation can take place with a specific goal in mind.  This latest completed job by EverGreen Landscape was designed to accommodate one very special occasion.  The homeowner has made several additions to the landscape over the years that all seemed to revolve around various special milestones her daughter achieved.  This last one, a party to celebrate the end of many hardworking years in law school, was no different.  Check out this patio.

Becca LaBarre

The space is designed to allow a small table, a few lounge chairs and the grill and big enough to allow a larger party of people if necessary.  The existing red maple was incorporated into a larger planting space.

Becca LaBarre

Here is an example of using old and new together.  The client had existing recycled street pavers made by Purington set aside from a walkway that had been taken out years before.  The interior paver is a Belgard product called Dublin Cobble.  The street paver is a bit unconventional for using as the only paver in a patio because the uneven surface makes it difficult for furniture.  As a border, it makes a nice contrast.  I often use existing pavers on a property and find unique ways to make them blend with the new application.  Using them as a banding or inlay is a perfect example.

Becca LaBarre

The focal piece seen here is an old piece of iron work that was existing on property.  The bed in this picture breaks up the two spaces of the patio and is centered on the bay window of the kitchen.  This allows the homeowners to look out on the focal features of the space.  The clematis vine on the iron work will provide a stunning purple backdrop when in bloom.

Becca LaBarre

In the far back space is a secondary, more informal space.  The material is also reused from the existing home.  Lovingly, nicknamed the rabbit patio, which is the shape it resembled from the upper windows of the home, it now takes on a more irregular, circular shape. It is meant for a more intimate space for reading or relaxing and connects to the far back yard.  The client has a handmade bench that belongs on the patio and has a lot of sentimental value.

Becca LaBarre

Happy graduation to my Downer’s Grove client and good luck on the Bar.  I hope a lounge chair on your new patio will be a great place to study!

Dining Alfresco

The beginning of summer marks the satisfaction of many long-awaited cravings.  Summer breezes bring floriferous scents, sounds of evening traffic wafting along with the notes of a local band playing cover tunes to my own private concert on our patio.  A good wine, a good book and relaxing conversation along with fresh garden fare.  Perfect evening.

Here are some outdoor must-haves for your dining pleasure…

1.  A great patio heater.  When the nights grow chilly and I want to extend my outdoor dining later in the evening, the propane heater makes a huge difference in our ability to enjoy ourselves.  I sometimes find that more than one is needed if the wind is blowing.

2.  Wine/beverage cooler.  I love this idea for keeping white wine cool on a hot summer day.

pinterest

3.  Cool down temperature control.  Pergolas provide shelter from the sun.  For a different and more open feel, the pergola canopy can be angled like a roof, with a center beam. In this case, the roof-like structure allows for a ceiling fan to be run and like their inside counterparts, also has an option for remote control access.

4.  Candle light and informal garden lighting for dinner mood lighting.  This DIY idea I have seen used in both battery operated and plug-in form.  Maybe you’ve switched to LED and need a good use for all those old twinkle christmas lights.  For a step by step in how to make them please check out www.witandwhistle.com.

witandwhistle.com

5.  The sounds of water.  It helps to drown out the heavier traffic noises since we are on a busy street and the size of the fountain doesn’t have to be big to make an impact.

6.  Plant perennials and flowering shrubs that fragrance the air.  I enjoy the scent of Dwarf Korean Lilac, as it is a later flowering and more fragrant shrub than the common lilacs and it is often warm enough to enjoy them during an evening outdoor dining experience.  Also, great options for perennials are Catmint, Casablanca and Stargazer Lilies, Lily of the valley, Russian Sage, or Lavender.  On Catmint and Lily of the valley these fast growing hardy plants can take over.  I usually plant only in areas that are contained or a planter is another option.  Lavender is best in a sheltered location, as I have had difficulty with cold hardiness in some instances.  Remember where there are scented flowers, there are often bees.  They don’t bother me, but some of my clients prefer that flowers are at enough of a distance during late summer when bees are out in droves.  Also, many of these like the Korean lilac smell even better at night.  There are some Annual flowers that also smell best at night like moonflower, or evening stock.  Just in time for dinner time!

For the Love of Pizza

Fresh ingredients, fresh inspiration and fresh ideas on entertaining.  It sounds a little like a Papa John’s Pizza slogan.  However, there is nothing else to compare your average every day late night pizza source with the real wood burning clay pizza oven found in the backyard of one of EverGreen’s St. Charles clients’ homes.   It might be in vogue to eat organic, local and DIY everything from kid clothes to kitchen towels, but Grace and Larry aren’t just being trendy.  They found a way to incorporate that local element out of a love of cooking, in a feature that makes for one great dinner party.

It began with an idea Grace said was inspired by a trip to Italy.  No matter how authentic a pizza made in a regular oven, it just couldn’t be duplicated without the real thing.  That toasted brown outer crust  and the soft chewy interior just doesn’t come out the same.  The key to any pizza is the fact that a wood burning oven should reach 1300 F and cook a pizza in two minutes or less.  Grace contacted EverGreen to bring the idea to reality.  The oven was purchased from Superior Clay Corporation and EverGreen brought on Mike Carroll, a mason who has worked with EverGreen on many projects.  He was the expert on the actual building of the oven from the heights of the chimney, to the details on the stonework.  Below is the finished product.

Becca LaBarre

We started with a discussed location.  The most important element is that the oven should be visible from the many french doors out of the house, and far enough away from the house for fire safety.  Its location helps to downplay more functional elements, like the shed and becomes a destination point for entertaining guests on the adjacent flagstone patio.  The plantings surrounding it also helps to blend it in to the rest of the yard.  Grace loves that the feature sits out in the yard because it provides a different vantage point even when she is just out reading on the patio.

Not every client is destined for a pizza oven in their backyard, but Larry, or rather the culinary mastermind behind the finished product, has really spent the time to perfect his pizza masterpieces.  He notes that there is patience needed in spending three or four hours preparing the oven and allowing it to heat up slowly.  This proves better for the oven as well to ensure it doesn’t develop any cracks.  His other advice is to be prepared that some early tries might yield a less than perfect pie.  They still taste just fine even if they aren’t completely round.  And most importantly, it’s all about the right dough.  I’ve included a recipe for Larry’s favorite dough recipe.  There was much experimentation in flour types, and rolling techniques.  Grace adds that kneading the dough with your fists really helps to allow gravity to keep the dough from bouncing back from its round shape.  Check out the below picture of the Margherita pizza completed by Larry.  Some of the fresh ingredients were also grown in his own garden beds.  They also experimented with toppings that included carmelized onions, roasted red peppers, prosciutto, and any of the fabulous olive oils from the Olive Mill, in Geneva, IL.

Larry W.

Here’s another shot showing the fire building stage.  Larry found that a variety in sized kindling worked best for getting the fire started and reaching the desired temperature.

Larry W.

Once the summer is in full swing, the make-your-own-pizza dinner party is a big hit.  Grace says they encourage guests to pick their own toppings and everyone gets involved in the process.  When the pizzas are transferred to the oven everyone watches and it becomes not only a meal, but the dinner conversation.  She is hoping to find time over the next few months to have a family party to use the oven with some of her children who have not yet gotten to try it.  Her next experiment is to try other types of food like breads and maybe even some meats.

This outdoor oven found the right people.  Larry and Grace use the oven one or twice a month during the warmer weather.  Grace explained her satisfaction best saying  “It is a great focal feature and I still find myself staring at it everyday”.  She has enjoyed having friends over for pizza because the style of cooking “really brings people together”.  Not a bad way to use a backyard!

 

Larry’s Favorite Pizza Dough Recipe

Ingredients: 3 1/3 cups all-purpose OR Italian “00” flour  1/4 cup whole wheat flour or fine corn meal 1 T kosher salt,  1 T sugar  2 T olive oil  1 pack quick rise yeast   about 1 1/3cups 110-degree warm water Directions: Pulse all dry ingredients in 11-12cup food processor with regular blade to mix. Then with motor running, add oil and water slowly from top hole, finishing all oil about halfway through the water…keep adding water slowly as the dough begins to form…when the dough is a 100% complete blob with no dry ingredients left, stop the motor and let the dough rest in the bowl for 10 minutes. Then process the dough for 25-30 seconds to develop the gluten.  Turn the dough out on a lightly floured surface in case it’s a little too moist or sticky. form into a smooth but still moist ball, drop in oiled bowl, turn to oil both sides, cover and let rise for about an hour, no more than 90 minutes. Punch the dough down, separate into 2 equal size balls and let rest for ten minutes. Flatten each ball into 12 inch rounds, leaving the edges a little thicker.

Before and After: The Entertainer Part II

A great entertainer needs a home with a great kitchen.  My best entertainer friends have this feature at their disposal.  Jere redesigned his kitchen to flow better for his quarterly soirees.  Sarah has ample room to expand her table space, and gadgets galore to fill her shelves for easy prep.

A great entertainer also needs a great backyard.  The following clients’ yard combined multiple element of outdoor entertaining, so friends and family will be swept up in the experience of relaxation and dine on food and good conversation.

Becca LaBarre

Becca LaBarre

Becca LaBarre

The backyard was a clean slate.  Aside from the much coveted screened in porch, the possibilities were infinite.  Many winter saturday discussion sessions went into finding a place for the grill, and outdoor fireplace, adding the element of water and screening the area for privacy using a ton of perennials for color, and making the space accessible from the driveway.

Becca LaBarre

Becca LaBarre

Becca LaBarre

Wide natural stone stairs descend visitors from the driveway to the backyard and stepping stones imbedded in the grass create a rustic path to signal the way to the entertainment space.  The barbecue has its own space directly next to the steps off the upper deck allowing for easy access.  A table space with room for eight separates from the relaxing fireside furniture by a one foot planting space of creeping thyme.  The extra green adds a unique touch while adding definition and breaks up the hardscape.  The entire patio design is on an angle to utilize the view of the pond beyond the fireplace and the screening around the yard leaves that view uninhibited while maximizing coverage elsewhere.  Lastly the pondless waterfall remains a focal point directly inline with the main walking space and the berm it creates adds coverage and a cozy feel.

Everything at the entertainer’s fingertips allows them to enjoy along with their guests.  Like all great kitchen spaces…add friends and enjoy!

Artistic Possibilities

Framed photos on the wall, a handmade throw on a leather chair, knick knacks from a local shop purchased during a weekend away.  How do you make your house a home?    Personal touches don’t have to stop with the inside of the house.  A well placed accent used as a focal feature in the landscape can take many forms.  It may be inspirations from a well-traveled garden, a memento that morphs from one purpose to another, or a piece of art created by a friend.  These splashes of interest draw your eye around the yard and in doing so, paints a picture of the people who live there.

photo credit: Allan Mandell via Fine Gardening Magazine

This mosaic is designed to look like a persian carpet.  I found many similar designs used in the walkways of the palace gardens I visited in Spain last year.  I even joked at the amount of labor hours it would take a crew to do something like this.  I love the uniqueness in this design and how it give this garden an exotic flair.

stores.intuitwebsites.com

Though I didn’t snap a picture at the time, here is an example of a wine bottle Tiki Torch.  A client I had about 5 years ago had a similar display.  She used pieces of rebar to mount different sizes, colors, and shapes of bottles at various heights. I appreciate it more now that my husband and I have gotten into wine.  This display has the potential to look a little messy, but it can work if done in the right scale, in the right backyard.  Perfect for a summer wine party.

Kathy Edgecombe

Something old turned into something new is the inspiration behind this piece of garden art. The artist, Kathy Edgecombe, learned her technique during an art class at River Art Studio in Algonquin, IL .  This piece was used in her own garden, a story to tell every time she invites guests to join her in her backyard.

Becca LaBarre

This whimsical swing was designed on-site along side one of my clients’ pond.  I wish I could still remember the artist’s name, but this swing fits the home perfectly, as it is an early american style farm-house. Most of the hardscape is flagstone and a lot of unique garden art dots the property, including a family of sheep made out of sheet metal and shipped from New Zealand.

Europe Inspired!

Can you find inspiration for a quarter acre landscape in a palace garden?  Can you take an old world style and give it a modern twist?  I was given a great opportunity to visit Spain last year and check out a few landscapes that I found very inspirational.  The primary location was the Alhambra in Granada, Spain.  For me, it was a trip of a lifetime to finally get out of the country and see something with more than 200 years of history.  I was amazed by some of the work put into the patios at the palaces with each one inch pebble placed perfectly in a mosaic to create the ground plane.  A labor cost I could never fathom in our landscape contractor world.  Here are a few pictures.  I hope you find them truly inspirational.

Becca LaBarre

This very geometric summer palace garden was designed for relaxation.  It is just up the hill from the main palace at the Alhambra and incorporates open floor plans and lots of water to keep the household cooler in the summer.  For a geometric look in your own landscape, use boxwood to border beds.  To help drown out traffic for an in town garden add a small water feature.  You’ll be surprised how even a small feature can be a sound benefit.

Becca LaBarre

These stairs are called “the water stairs”.  I am still waiting for a client to want a water garden built into the railings of the stairs.  I promise it would be awesome.

Becca LaBarre

The hidden garden entry, a great way to down play a home with two front doors.  If you’ve ever seen a house where you aren’t sure where to walk or a secondary entrance has taken center stage the idea of hiding one door and making it a private entrance with some plantings, can direct visitor traffic. Short of placing a sign with a big arrow at the main entrance, the concept of a private, more hidden entrance is the next best thing.

Becca LaBarre

This, like many other patios was made stone by stone.  I love the symmetry and single focal element.  Use this idea to create a focal element in your backyard.  To make it obvious, it should be in line with a main view.  Perhaps a fountain out of a bay window, or a beautiful ornamental tree at the end of a patio.

Wrigley Field on steroids.  Imagine this garden wall without the ivy.  It would be a massive, harsh brick wall.  The idea of breaking up a large flat space with a little green is a great way to add some plantings to screen a view when a traditional option is impractical.

Before and After: Part 1

Have you ever been to a Cracker Barrel as a kid (or adult) and played one of those puzzle games? Some of them mirror a rubix cube where the object is to move around the squares in the puzzle until each of the cubes sides display a solid color. You might get to the end only to find out you are one move away from solving the puzzle, but the pieces just don’t add up.

I am not a mathematician, and those that know me may chuckle at my arithmetic short comings, but the part about design I love the most is taking the pieces of the puzzle and putting them together so that my client can realize their dream landscape. I get to take desires such as more entertainment space, a place for storage, a front walk that invites, a view to hide, or a concrete foundation to soften. Then we throw in a few objectives like kid friendly spaces, price points, pets, large and small families, extra vehicles, homeowner association or village rules and the challenge begins.

It can be easy to work with a clean slate. No 100 year oak trees in the middle of patio space, or recently redone front walk that doesn’t really “flow”. I find the renovations however, can be the most rewarding because it takes time and effort to make a design work around those beautiful old trees, or reuse a clients existing paver brick. The project I’ve selected for the first installment of before and after is one such renovation with a very rewarding outcome for both client and designer.

Becca LaBarre

Becca LaBarre

Becca LaBarre

The patio was very rectangular and though it had a lot of space, it lacked interest, it didn’t segregate any specific spaces for entertainment, grilling or enough length to allow a large table to have its own space. Also, the yard beyond had a very clear shot of the busy road and anyone passing by could see into the back windows of the home. This lack of screening and the new subdivision openness produced heavy winds that knocked over the grill quite frequently. The actual paver used in the original patio were still new, and matched well with the house and clients’ taste. The patio had several sunken spots that needed to be addressed. The objectives were to increase screening, cut down on the wind, while upgrading the barbecue for the family that enjoyed cooking, increasing the size and livening up the patio design, and reuse the existing pavers if it fit into the overall scheme.

Becca LaBarre

Becca LaBarre

Becca LaBarre

The patio is outlined by a double border in a complimentary color. This allows the patio to be upgraded in size without a noticeable difference in the age of the old and new pavers. The barbecue now has its own space, which will no longer blow over in the wind, gives ample countertop space for preparation, and is not part of the rest of the patio thus allowing grilling to be done out of the traffic of a party in full swing. This unit is by Weber Grill and is made for a built-in barbecue, but stands alone unlike the traditional cook tops usually used in a built-in setting. The furniture and added fire pit also increase the function and entertainment value of the space. The back corner of the yard was planted with several evergreen trees and larger fast growing shrubs. There are several ornamental grasses that match with the rest of the property and neighborhood, as this home is part of a larger subdivision that incorporates prairie restoration.

Another great part of landscape design is that there are probably a hundred other ways this could have been done and still get the overall effect. I love that part of design too. No two projects are alike, and there are no wrong answers. Only multiple right answers…Puzzle Solved!

A Pictures Worth a Thousand Views

The final touch of a photograph or painting is the frame.  The color and style are often chosen to compliment the room or setting they are displayed in.   The frame of a landscape view can be the oversized living room window, a garden gate, an arbor, or a screen of plants placed to hide the landscape until the viewer walks around the corner at just the right moment. The way a landscape is framed can make it look different from different angles. Check out a few awesome frames that might just change your view.

Becca LaBarre

This window cut out of a hemlock hedge is part of the gardens at Chicago Botanic Gardens.  This frame blocks out the rest of the garden to focus on a single element like this urn.  Without the frame, and with the busyness of the rest of the garden the viewer may not notice it.

Becca LaBarre

Extra formality at Cantigny Gardens frames this view.  The lines of the rectangular pool draws the eye to the farthest location.  It was probably unintentional, but look at the tree turning orange.  Would it be as spectacular if it was on the edge of the frame?

Becca LaBarre

The water feature is in line with the narrow breezeway and gives the eye something to look at when walking to the backyard.

Becca LaBarre

The summer palace at the Alhambra in Spain is no stranger to framing a view.  Many courts, rooms, and windows all are characterized by arched doorways.  Think that’s not applicable to real life?  An arbor over the entrance to a garden can be the frame that fits in line with our backyards, unless of course you live in a palace.

Becca LaBarre

The gardens at Chataeu St. Jean in Sonoma, California have a ton of nooks and crannies and each garden is a room.  The designer carefully framed the views with several vine adorned walls creating mystery around every corner.

Bob Stell

This idea of using plants to hide the view beyond is done often by my boss. This project shows how any backyard can build mystery around every turn to add interest as the landscape unfolds.

All Spaces Great and Small

I begin with a quote from a show I used to watch.  “Bigger, Badder, Awesome” was the unofficial tagline of the “Ace of Cakes”.  If you’re not familiar it is a show about the creative, over the top cake designers of Charm City Cakes in Baltimore, MD shown on the TLC network.  In their world, over top equals career success.  Often times, in the landscaping world the same is true, or so many think.  “Smaller, Badder, awesome” doesn’t sound quite so exciting, but in reality a little space has some advantages over their larger counterparts and I really enjoy designing them. For one, smaller spaces can mean using higher quality material without a huge jump in price.  Also, the design can be more cohesive, utilizing a style or theme from edge to edge.  If you have a small space to work with, here are a few creative ideas.

1.  Using a water feature featuring a basin system…

A piece of pottery, stone, urn, etc. can be uses as a water feature sitting atop an underground tub that houses all the necessary pump and accessories.  There are various sizes of basins, but the smallest is about 3’x3′ and can fit in a space about 5′ across.  Below is a water feature from Ceramo Company Inc.  I purchase most of my pottery used in water features for my client at Ceramo. They had a local distributor in West Chicago, IL, but it is no longer being sold there.  I will have to find another option, as the shipping from their out-of-state location may prove cost prohibitive. Note:  The basin seen in this picture would be hidden underground and covered with decorative stone like mexican pebbles.

Ceramo company

2.  Using lattice fencing or garden wall systems for screening…

No space for an evergreen screen can mean more creativity in how to block views.  Earlier in the year, I was able to check out some planted screens.  These systems can even have their own irrigation to keep the maintenance down, but watering needs of the screens must be taken into careful consideration, or the plants will suffer.  I saw these screens at a annuals panel discussion at Ball Horticultural in West Chicago, IL. They had one made that looked like their logo made out of sedum and begonias.  Also featured was another using tropical house plants.  Below is that screens at Ball Horticultural.  It is thickly planted with tropicals and does feature the above mentioned watering system.

Betty Earl

3.  Using higher quality material…

Swap out concrete pavers and retaining wall material for clay or natural stone.  Concrete block and pavers do have some disadvantages over natural stone in that their color fades over time, they can break up under conditions of salt, and moisture.  In other words if it is possible to use the real thing, the look is much more subtle and material will last longer.  Below is a drywall retaining wall made from Lannon stone, out of Wisconsin.  This wall is used in a small backyard to elevate a space for a patio in a space that would otherwise be too sloped to accommodate one.  The pavers are Pinehall clay.

Becca LaBarre

4.  Using planters to add color and provide a space for vegetables…

If you crave something homegrown and don’t have the space for a vegetable garden, planting in pottery can be an alternative.  Herbs such as mint, basil, oregano, or rosemary work well or vegetables like lettuce, or tomatoes.  Tomatoes can be a bit trickier, as it seems that they do not produce quite as many tomatoes and can easily be over watered.  Also, some small spaces need to maximize patio space and can leave spaces void of greenery.  To achieve a spot of color, add planters of hot colored annuals like Coleus, Impatiens or Supertunias.  Even large-leaved tropicals can provide a lush backdrop and the larger leaves creates the same illusion as large tiles in a small kitchen.  Just remember to take them inside in the winter.

cooltropicalplants.com

5.  Using creative planting spaces…

Here are a couple of ideas of places to stash a little bit of green.  In a small space, every inch counts.  Outside the normal planting bed creativity can be used in many capacities.

Saxon Holt

Above is a lettuce and beet garden planted in between flagstone.  A great multitasking space.

http://www.rainbowlandscaping.com

The previous photo depicts a very well designed small space that incorporates a lot of focal elements including the diagonal table, the bird bath, and balanced plant design along the arch of the circle shaped lawn space.

http://www.sunset.com

In a small space sometimes hardscape is needed more than plant space. Dare I admit that!  However, here is a creative use of plant space in the unused portion of the driveway.  In the midwest climate, I would opt for some well-traveled, tough as nails groundcover like creeping thyme.  They can handle dry and hot conditions like the concrete jungle of a driveway space.

So for Duff, the lovable, laid-back chef of Charm City Cakes, his claim to fame comes in the form of flour, sugar, and the occasional pyrotechnics. I’d never discount the use of pyrotechnics in a landscape if ever there was an appropriate opportunity, but for now, the challenge of small space design and creating a unique outcome will suffice.

A Post on Cedar Posts and Other Structures

hookedonhouses.net

Remember this house from the movie Father of the Bride? The one with the roses growing up the front of the house on what appears to be an invisible trellis and the picket white fence intertwined with more vines. I’m not going to lie, that while most teenagers were watching the movie for the sweet love story, I was eyeing the landscape, the architecture of the house, the porte-cochere over the entrance to the backyard which also had tumbling vines draping down, even the interior design (an area I never try to venture into). Garden structures can be functional to help block sun, and views, but I love how they can soften a stark wall with green, and cut down the scale of tall elements and bring them down to a manageable size or bring dimension to a flat landscape. Check out the function and beauty of several garden structures.

Becca LaBarre

In this photo the structure is made from airplane wire and wing nuts screwed into the side of the garage. A little bit of clear caulk is used where the wing nuts screw in as an extra water tight precaution. The wall, which is nearly 2 stories high from top to bottom was a very large focal point that needed to be softened and trellis and Sweet Autumn Clematis allowed for a unique look, while the wire material also became less visible standing at a distance.

Bob Stell

This pergola actually become more like a roof when the peak is added. We often use rough sawn cedar for garden structures, as it has a more rustic look that goes a long with the imperfections of the outside. With the addition of fans and lighting, it really becomes an outdoor living room.

yardistrystructures.com

This is a brand of garden structures by a company called Yardistry. It is new to me and though it doesn’t really compare to the quality of a custom-made structure it provides some very important advantages. The 12’x12′ pergola can be assembled by two, relatively handy people, in just a few short hours. Since I haven’t tried this yet, I can’t vouch for that, but I do hope to try it out soon. Also, it is still made from quality smooth cedar wood and comes pre-stained. Since all of the pieces are attached via brackets, the whole structure can be removed and reassembled elsewhere should the owner not plan on staying in their home very long or need to do some remodeling. My one concern is that the posts are made to attach to the ground on a relatively small stake. The Chicago suburbs, void of mature trees, can be a pretty gusty place. I plan on pouring 42″ post holes full of concrete and attaching the four corners to those concrete piers with a bracket for extra support.

woodworkersworkshop.com

An eyebrow trellis’ like this one is a great way to break up a large flat space on a house. It could be over a doorway like this one, a window, or even over the top of a garage door.

fenceutah.com

A huge improvement over diamond lattice. A simple change to square lines isn’t even reminiscent of the cheaper pre-made lattices found at home improvement stores. The cheaper lattices are often cracked, broken, or detached from the structure holding them up. Dressed up using a substantial square frame and larger individual squares, lattice fencing can provide an enclosed feel without complete coverage.

examiner.com

I leave you with the fabulous English Walled Garden at the Chicago Botanic Garden, full of beautiful structural elements. I could spend a large amount of time exploring all the nooks and crannies. Even while dodging a million wedding photographers, engaged couples and resisting the urge to give a bride and groom bunny ears, it is still one of my favorites, even if it is over run most Saturdays. Some day I will own a pergola like this one, and patiently wait seven or so years for my hardy wisteria vine to flower. Some day!