Here is a picture from last year you can get an idea where the enlarged floor will go. It will be bricked and there will be larger planting beds built into each corner. There are several water features and bird feeders in the area around the Gazebo making it a lovely place to sit and relax. It is close to the pool so it is also a nice shady spot to sit and watch the swimmers. My parents really enjoy sitting in the shade and watching their Great Grandchildren playing in the pool.

Holly.........I remember your gazebo well. It's really taken shape nicely and the expanded brick area you are planning to add will greatly expand your gardening options. I think I'll have to look into some climbers for mine. I lurked at the Mid Atlantic forum over at DG from time to time and remember when Ric injured his hand. Did he recover fully? I managed to stick my hand with a knife last summer, got some really bad care at one of those Emergi-care places and wound up with a nasty infection and missed 2 weeks of work. It was very frustrating not being able to go about my regular gardening routine etc. and Ric's injury was much worse then mine so I bet he was fit to be tied.

Becky...........I did the garden in late summer/autumn of '08 so last year was the first growing season. I planted quite a few daylilys, cone-flowers, roses, several clematis and many other varieties as well. I planted quite a few foxglove that I started from seed so they should bloom this year too. Most of what I do here could best be described as cottage gardening and it reflects that style.


CircleBack

Yes his fingers have a small amount of nerve damage which is slowly repairing it's self. But they work pretty well he has some trouble with fine skills like buttoning buttons he can't always feel them. He was very lucky. I love the Gazebo very much it has added a focal point that my gardens are expanding from. As we put in some large and permanent features like the GH and the pond we will be able to tie those areas to the gazebo with paths and beds. I am planing a small Topiary area between the Gazebo an the brick patio. Seems like it was just the thing I needed to work a garden plan. Can't thank you enough for the idea.

Holly - I love your gazebo and the brick patio! Looks awesome! A neighbor of mine has a gazebo that looks very similar. I love the corner shelves on it, too! I agree with John that the expanded patio will give you more room for plants! A very nice area for everyone to sit in the shade and enjoy the view! I can't wait to see your topiary area and the paths. It's looking good already and will just get better as you add more. I hope you will continue to share photos of your expansion.

John - You garden area is shaping up nicely with all the plants you have added! I love the cottage garden theme! Perfect! I still can't get over how beautiful those stained windows look! I love that idea! And I still can't get over how cheap you built it! Amazing!!! I would love to see close-ups of your plants when they start blooming! It's going to be stunning this year!

Holly, your gazebo is so beautiful! Just like something out of a magazine!

I wanted to give you an update. We got the floor expansion finished. I don't have a pic of it all dressed up but I will post a few more pictures later when I can. I am not completely sure what I will plant in the corner beds. I have decided that I will plant them all the same. For this summer they will have large Port Odora EE with cannas and coleus not sure what else I might find to put in there. This fall I will fill them up with spring bulbs.

Holly - Ooooh! That turned out REALLY nice!!!! I love the corner beds, too! Beautiful!!!! Nice job you did! I look forward to seeing it with plants in the corner beds!

Holly, the rail road ties with the brick are so attractive. Great job!

RRties and brick aren't as modern as everyone is using pavers and those concrete decorative blocks to build patios with these day. But I like the look and it matches what we already have in place back here. There is a wrap around raised brick and RRtie patio at the back corner of the house you can see it in the background of the pic. Ric built that for me a good 20 years ago. Sometime in the future I hope to put in a very wide brick & RRtie walk from the patio to the Gazebo but I want to get the foundation for the GH in before we start on that walk.
The raised patio extends to a small walk around the side of the house to the parking area.

I prefer a more antiquated look too, it looks more appropriate with the old house I live in. I love old fashioned, cottage garden plants too, the brick and ties kinda has an English feel to it that appeals to me.

wow! Holly that turned out nice!

What did you set the bricks in? is it sand and baserock? I really like that look!

For the Gazebo, we removed the sod then put down a layer of stone with a layer of sand over that. These brick are laid tight without much space between them so they just got a little sand in between the cracks. My son Josh brought over a tamper from work when we did the center section. We just used a hand tamper when we did the the extension. We are going to brick a 14ft X 14ft area of the stone parking area at the side of the house so we dug the stone out of that for the extensions.
The Brick Patio around the house is a couple of feet high and has everything including the bathroom sink under there. We started filling in around the house with anything that wouldn't break down. I had a friend at work that was digging up a concrete walk, I loaned him my trailer and he would fill it with broken concrete and unload it at my house. There is my Mom's ceramic bath under there including the sheet rock. One of the neighboring farmers would call us when he had a load of rocks from his new field and we would go and pick up his wagon. Then we topped that off with stone and quarry waste then sand.
Ric playing around with his brick pattern.

Holly - The brick areas look very lovely. A lot of work, but it has paid off in the final creation! You and Ric really built a nice area to relax that you will enjoy for years to come! Awesome job!!!

Thanks everyone, The whole idea for the Gazebo really came from seeing a picture that CircleBack posted several years ago. I just copied and adapted it for my use.

Greatest form of flattery or compliment is copying someone's creation/idea! You picked a good one to model after!

Holly............Wow! The updated photo of your gazebo looks great! I love what you did with the rr ties and brickwork. Look like a great place to spend some time.

Here are a few recent photos of my sitting garden..........


CircleBack

A closer view..........


CircleBack

Another..........



CircleBack

And finally, an "artsy" version.


CircleBack

Circleback - I am speechless when I look at your garden photos! The artistic expression in your garden/seating area is stunning! I think each year, the plants get bigger and bolder and more beautiful (if that is possible)! Those windows that you added to that area was a brilliant touch! I am in awe!!!