I built my first bench

[LeonardB]

If you have time/interest please post some pics in the tea room, would be great to see the pond.

 

[parhamr]

I have also added brackets and shelves to my fence as well. Yours seem custom made for that?

I've been tempted to use the fencing as support for shelves. I haven't yet done this. Maaaaybe soon

 

[herzausstahl]

Dude that is awesome! Nice pond! How many gallons?

 

[herzausstahl]

Thanks. My wife is the master gardener and she wanted a backyard with Japanese undertones ( hence the koi pond and river stone paths ). I thought why not finish the look with bonsai.

Initially for my pond I got half a dozen books to try and design a true Japanese style garden before I realized I didn't want the constraints in my design. Still like the look of them though. I tried for more of a mountain/northwoods look for mine.

 

[LeonardB]

Initially for my pond I got half a dozen books to try and design a true Japanese style garden before I realized I didn't want the constraints in my design. Still like the look of them though. I tried for more of a mountain/northwoods look for mine.

The pond is about 2 thousand gallons and was built about 25 years ago. Initially, it was much more formal and reflected the Japanese with the rocks and stone paths and such ( even had a white sand section with large boulders that had to be raked around ). That turned out to be way too much trouble and was converted to flower beds.
These days my wife just works on it till it looks like controlled chaos but its pretty peaceful with a cup of joe in the mornings.
Winter is pretty picturesque as well.
Thanks for your interest. Any photo's of yours?
Leonard

 

[LeonardB]

I've been tempted to use the fencing as support for shelves. I haven't yet done this. Maaaaybe soon

I see you have some room between the fence and your benches, why not make hanging shelves the same size and elevate them behind your benches ( lay down patio stones below and use for storage. How sturdy / solid are the fence posts? Might have to shore them up a bit. You might give the shelves front legs that you could anchor the lower benches to?
I think the result would be a two tiered showcase for your stuff ( and double the space you have now to display ). I would love to do the same but 40 tons of stone in the yard make that kind of planning impossible.
Still great looking benches and yard, keep up the good work!
Leonard

 

[herzausstahl]

The pond is about 2 thousand gallons and was built about 25 years ago. Initially, it was much more formal and reflected the Japanese with the rocks and stone paths and such ( even had a white sand section with large boulders that had to be raked around ). That turned out to be way too much trouble and was converted to flower beds.
These days my wife just works on it till it looks like controlled chaos but its pretty peaceful with a cup of joe in the mornings.
Winter is pretty picturesque as well.
Thanks for your interest. Any photo's of yours?
Leonard

Lots lol https://www.gardenpondforum.com/threads/wisconsin-pond-build.7186/

 

[parhamr]

Midsummer shot

 

[BigBen]

Very nice work, Parhamr!
Well done, Sir!

BigBen

 

[clive bennett]

Nice job, but having used pressure treated wood and oiled it every year if I were to make any benches in the future I would use plastic wood rots away too fast with the constant watering or rain in the UK

 

[Tieball]

Nice work on the storage organization and benches. Well organized with good access to the trees. Mighty fine!

 

[Tieball]

You have a lot of trees.

 

[parhamr]

You have a lot of trees.

80 of them are likely going to the Bonsai Society of Portland mentorship classes this fall

 

[parhamr]

Same benches, larger yard:


I am about to build a fourth bench

 

[parhamr]

Garden update—I built a new fence and gate:



When I moved in this summer I had to remove a section of fence to get my benches and trees into the yard ?

The existing gate was only 20" wide and falling apart. This new gate is 46" and sturdy.

There’s a little bit of work left to do like installing a lock and slightly adjusting board position. I’m also planning to install some more horizontal members for security and to put fence boards on the backside for aesthetics.

 

[parhamr]

Ooh and the trees are now all better positioned over about 1000 square feet of landscaping cloth

 

[parhamr]

Another yard update! I’ve cleared and roughed out the foundation for my 8' x 16' greenhouse:



That’s 4" x 6" PT lumber.

More to come.

 

[Mike Corazzi]

A simpler plan would be to send some of us a few trees we pick out.

 

[River's Edge]

Another yard update! I’ve cleared and roughed out the foundation for my 8' x 16' greenhouse:

View attachment 217130

That’s 4" x 6" PT lumber.

More to come.

 

[River's Edge]

Hope everything is moveable for the time when your own property becomes the focus of development. Your effort and planning deserves some permanence. Thanks for the behind the scenes role you played in Rendezvous.