Easy Garden Obelisk

Happy day to you…my friends.   It is time for another garden project.

This one has been germinating in my brain for weeks now and has finally come into bloom.

A garden trellis obelisk

Why do I call it easy???

Because unlike all the obelisk plans I found online this one has no angle cuts.

Since it is going in the garden and I plan on it being covered with something that climbs I did not care if edges matched up precisely or were perfectly mitered.

I wanted fast and easy…

Want to see how we built it?

The photos are not the best but I had to take them in less than optimum light. 

Materials:

8 – 8 ft 2 x 2’s (I think these are pine or fir)

3 inch wood screws

 

Cut 4 - 2 x 2’s 72 inches long (legs)

Rungs for ladders

2 – 8 inches

2 – 11 5/8 inches

2 – 15 5/8 inches

2 – 19 3/4 inches

2 – 24 inches

 

Second set of rungs to attach ladders together

2 – 1 1 inches

2 – 14 5/8 inches

2 – 18 5/8 inches

2 – 24 3/4 inches

2 – 27 inches

 

Now that you have your pieces cut you are going to build a ladder

Lay 2 of the 72 inch pieces on a flat table.  We used the edge of the table as a straight edge.

 

Measure up 6 inches from the bottom of both legs for placement of the bottom rung or crosspiece.

Fasten the rung  to the legs.  (24 inch piece)

I would recommend pre-drilling but my husband cheats.

When I make the next one I will pre-drill.

He is screwing in at an angle to prevent splitting

(it does not always work, shh don’t tell him I told you)

Since the legs are at an angle and the cross pieces are cut square we only line up the top corner to the edge of the leg.

The gap you can see will be covered later.

We start with the lowest rung then attach the top rung. (8 inch piece)

Same deal, again match up the top corner.

Here is a better photo of lining up the rungs to the leg edges.

Check for square, you do that by taking measurements on the diagonal and adjusting the legs until the measurements match as closely as possible. 

The adjusting is called racking, you push on the corner that has the longer dimension (if they don’t match) by half the distance. 

(clear as mud??)

example: If one side is 1/2 inch longer push the corner a 1/4 inch then re-measure (it is not an exact science but it will bring it closer to square)

Keep racking until dimensions are equal or very close.

Now attach your other cross pieces or rungs.

We measured from the bottom of the bottom rung and the top of the top rung (hook your measuring tape on the bottom rung and pull it to the top of the top rung and read)

We divided that measurement by 4 to get our placements for the rungs.

Ours were 16 1/4 inches apart.  We marked the spots for each rung.

The placements of the rungs  is from the bottom rung at 16 1/4”, 32 1/2” 48 3/4” (see sketch at bottom of page)

Now you should have your first ladder built.

Now the really sweet part of this is the next ladder will be a piece of cake.

Use the first one as a template.

No measuring or figuring this time.

Lay your 2 x 2’s right on the ladder you just built.

Just whip along matching board for board and your second ladder will be complete in no time.

Now lay your ladders on their sides to attach the side rungs.

This set of rungs are 3 inches longer than the ladder rungs, they will overlap the first set as you see in the photo.

Attach the remaining rungs to the opposite side and voila’ an easy trellis obelisk

You can attach a top plate with a fancy topper but I did not have one.

I have considered cutting out a silhouette of a flying pig and attaching it.

Maybe make it a weather vane but that is for another day. 

Now paint it whatever color you wish. 

I would recommend painting or using a protective oil (tung oil) on this since is it just pine. 

If it was redwood or cedar you could just let it weather. 

Current price at our local lumberyard for 8 foot 2 x 2’s is $2.30 each.

So the total for this project for the lumber was about $20. 

We had the 3 inch screws on hand and I drug out an old can of spray paint.

Now I just need to build a couple more and I am set.

Here is a rough sketch of the first ladder if a visual will help you.  

It is all downhill after you get the first side built. 

Happy building.   

 

Fabulous Greek Pasta Salad

Tomorrow will be a bittersweet day.

We say goodbye to some special friends. 

They are moving to be closer to family, which is a good thing for them but a sad circumstance for us.

On the upside, we get to have a large going away party for them and there will be FOOD.

Lots and lots of very good food.

‘Sigh’

I love food.

The sun will shine, the temps may reach the upper 70’s (if we are fortunate, been on the cool side the past few days here on this mountain) and we will be with friends.

My latest fave ‘to go’ dish is….. Greek Pasta Salad.

Most everyone loves it and if you are fortunate enough to get to take any home…

it is even better the next day. 

It is easy to make too…

Can it get any better than that?

Greek Pasta Salad

Recipe from My Recipes

• Dressing:
• 2 cloves garlic, finely minced
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
• 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 1/2 cup olive oil

 

• 1 pound gemelli or other short pasta
• 3/4 medium English cucumber, peeled, halved lengthwise, cut into 1/4-inch pieces
• 1 dry pint cherry or grape tomatoes, halved $
• 1/2 large red onion, thinly sliced
• 1 cup pitted kalamata olives, halved (I cheat if I don’t have enough Kalamata I use black olives to supplement)
• 6 ounces feta, crumbled
• 3 cups firmly packed baby spinach

Preparation

1. 1. Make dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together garlic, oregano, mustard, vinegar, salt, pepper and olive oil until well combined.
2. 2. Make salad: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook until al dente, about 8 minutes, or as label directs. Drain, rinse under cold water and transfer to a bowl. Add remaining ingredients, toss with dressing and serve.

Take a copy of the recipe with you.

You will be asked for it!

Have a fantastic weekend!

Pamela

 

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iPad Display DIY courtesy of Shanty-2-Chic

Did any of you see the great DIY gift idea over at Shanty-2-Chic? 

I LOVED it!  An iPad display aka: Keep your IPad out of the way but visible while you do stuff.

In fact I have enjoyed their blog for a few years now, it was one of the first ones I got hooked on before I even tried my hand at blogging back in 2010.

I immediately was smitten, they were into TOOLS and building things.

They provide easy instructions so I do not have to think…a plus…and they keep coming up with things I have on my to do list.

Just recently they showed a DIY for a hose holder, a nice drink cooler, some really cool tables and, and…

…well the list goes on.

Soooo.. that being said you must pop on over and see what goodies they have for you.

And without much further ado….

here is my version of the iPad Display…I had such visions in my head…

and yet I must admit it did not turn out the way I thought.   I think they turned out too busy..

and if you look close you will see I got the dimensions wrong  on two of them.

1st faux pas….can you see on the Rose display above…..the front is taller than it should be..I still can’t figure out how I did that…

and now look close at the photo above…

the center display is narrower..I did not do that on purpose either, I just had turned it sideways. 

Did I mention sometimes I don’t think??? 

And yet I still had fun with these.  I used chalkboard paint for the background (so you can write love notes when no iPad is present) then added the decorative painting. 

Now, if mine can turn out despite my obvious struggle to pay proper attention then certainly this project is a breeze for someone who can keep their wits about them. 

Now to make it more manly for dad’s, paint sports motifs or just stain it like the gals over at Shanty-2-Chic did. 

It is a perfect holder to keep the iPad from getting buried under the piles in the Man Cave, don’t ya think???

Do visit the ladies over at Shanty, you will be glad you did. 

 

Ta ta…happy building.

 

How I plant Iris

If you have read my posts lately you will know that I do not profess to follow the text book way of gardening.

Not at all..

I am lazy, find short cuts and just free wheel it.

Really..

So if you are wanting to follow standard rules of how and when to do things in the garden then I must warn you, you are in the wrong spot.

My methods have been learned by first hand trial and error over the past 20 years in various climates, conditions and zones.

That being said, on with the show!

If you want reassurance that this method will work just take a quick peek of my latest Iris posts.

Each photo is a separate post filled with my Iris’

 

Despite my disclaimer I am so glad you stayed,I love sharing my garden with you all.

My last post was about ‘how I dig up and separate my iris …’

I will say that the standard procedure for “when” to dig up and transplant your Iris is 6 to 8 weeks after bloom, but I do it anytime after the current blooms fade and are done for the season.

Have you dug up your iris, separated them, cleaned them up? (spraying the dirt off with a hose so you can see if there are  bugs or rot to cut out is optional)

You can plant what you want to keep right away or wait awhile.  They are not too fussy.

Share the extra rhizomes with your friends, they will love you forever.

Now find the keepers a fresh place in your garden…

  a spot that gets a good 6 hours of sun each day and has good drainage.

Iris can withstand drought but not soggy feet.

Here is my spot (nothing special here)

Sprinkle on a tablespoon or so of Bone Meal to help them along

Stir the bone meal up in the dirt, mixing it in lightly

Now you can plant just one rhizome.

OR

if you wish a batch of one color in an area here's the trick.

Plant three with the pointy nose of the rhizomes facing each other in a sort of circle.  Spacing is not critical but I place mine about 3 inches apart.

Water them in and keep them watered through the summer, not soggy though.

Do not bury deep.

Iris like to be close to the surface. I leave a bit of the tops showing when I plant, that way I know they are not too deep. 

In cold, cold climates do mulch a bit before hard cold starts but be sure and rake it back as soon as warmer weather begins. 

 

And one day next Spring, you will have some fresh Iris blooms to enjoy, and if they take a bit longer it will be the following season.  All the sweeter for the wait.

I hope this helps all those out there that were skittish about digging up and dividing your overcrowded Iris.

It really is this simple.

Until next time! Ta…

here is another side note:  My garden soil has been amended over the past 15 years with chicken manure and compost so it drains well, is crumbly and great for planting in. 

The best thing you can do for your plants is feed the soil.  That is different than feeding your plants.

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June 10 Garden Tour

Are you ready for some eye candy?

Florally speaking.

Tess D'Urbervilles

Then, have I got a treat for you.

Seriously.

So come join me on a garden walk again. 

The iris and a smattering of clematis reigned supreme for a couple weeks…

but now the roses and foxgloves are taking center stage.

My Warsaw Nike clematis is still showing off and will for most of the summer.  I have to keep tying it higher and higher.  I love this Clematis, it just does not quit.

This is my back stairs.  Now from the other side,

Warsaw is snuggled up to my Grandpa Nute Rose.

There is a story behind that rose, and I have told it before, but I shall tell it again

One day.

In places, the garden is getting way ahead of me…

believe it or not, there is a pathway thru there somewhere, complete with stepping stones.

Really!

I promise.

Look close and see if you can find it. 

My Tess rose is nearly covering the arbor on one side.  I have Eden on the other but I am planning on putting another Tess Rose in its place so there is red on both sides of the arbor.  Eden will get a nice new home.

Eden will get a nice new home.

Somewhere, around here.

Canterbury Bells provide a splash of purple in what is now a more pink garden.

Soon the garden with be dominated by yellows and oranges.

Below are my Gaillardias, another tough, drought resistant, never stops blooming performer.

Foxglove, this one leans towards a creamy yellow in color.  The only one like it in my garden.

This is barely a smidge of my floral abundance right now but your eyes would glaze over if I kept going

I am not sure why but the deer are not coming around. 

Last night they were in my neighbors back yard but they did not even glance over here.

I do have some tiny wind chimes hooked to different plants and the deer are startled by them when they chime, they run off lickety split. 

Maybe a new tactic to discourage the deer???

Good bye for now, come again.  I will have more to share…and I love sharing.