Sandy - I keep looking at your pergola shade garden. Can you take another photo of it from a different angle or further out. I have been trying to create a good semi-shade garden somewhere in my yard for my epis and other shade loving plants. Looking at your photo gave me a whole new idea to do a shade garden on the west side of my yard next to my house. It is a narrow length of area with an Oak tree, the A/C unit, trash cans, etc. But I could hide all those things with a narrow pergola/arbor to run half the length of my house in that area towards the back near the backyard gate. I won't attach it to my house but instead make it free-standing. I REALLY love yours! What a GREAT idea! I've been struggling as to what to do about that area for years .... your photo just opened up a whole new purpose for that area! It would also serve to make my yard more private on that side of the house should neighbors ever clear the lot right there and move in. I hate it when neighbors looks out their window right into your window.

I also love your garden art! Very unique, quaint, and cheerful!!!!

Brian, I love the flowers that the cacti produces.
Becky, I too have a pergola or something similar in mind, mainly for my grape vines. I would like to build an enclosure to keep the animals away from the mature grapes so that we can enjoy them. In side that enclosure there would be a second trellis unit for the grapes to climb without reaching the outer unit.

Hi Becky....glad you like the pergola! I've got several arbors etc thanks to my hubby! I don't venture to that part of the yard in winter, but I'll post some additional pics from years gone by, there is really only one distance shot, but maybe these will help. Plus a couple photos of other arbors in my yard!

Here's a good one from when we were building it, before we made the side lattices.

Sadly, a storm combined with the weight of this Silver Lace vine pulled this arbor down after several years

Sweet Autumn Clematis on an arbor

Here's a better view when not covered in foilage!

Beautiful photos!!

Sandy - I love all your arbors and the pergola! Thanks for sharing those additional photos. The first and second photos are VERY helpful! I really, really like it and the shade garden you get from it. Truly beautiful!!!

Wood rots so quickly here. I do use wood on some arbors and the mini-pergola in my backyard. We use cattle-panel for the trellis on most of them now. It will outlast the 4" x 4" posts! LOL! Very strong, too. I don't think anything could bring that strong wire fencing down. It's made to hold in cows, so it's got to be durable and strong. When the vines or plants cover it, you can't even see it. My dh and I have several made several arbors with that cattle panel. I have roses on one and Morning Glories on the other. And one is where I currently hang some of my epis from under the shade of the trees.

The pergola your dh made would work really well on my side yard and I could actually grow shade plants! I love the path you have going down the middle of it, too! You have a good eye for designing garden beds and hardscaping. Absolutely lovely. My kind of taste in a garden area. Thank you for sharing the photos! Gives me some more ideas!

Sandi, those arbors are so beautiful! with Becky. These pictures are my kind of taste in garden areas.

Sandi, my mom is looking for a vine with white flowers, do you have a preference between the clem and the silver lace vine? Are either of them fragrant?
your yard is very nice, looks like you got a great hubby, lol do you rent him out...
My hubby went last night and loaded some very large rocks for me. Have to unload them tonight. Too sore to move today.

Sandi, love your landscaping prowess.
Frillylily, the clematis blooms in the fall while the Silver lace bloom mid summer to fall. It would be nice to combine both. I am going to get a cutting of the clem from a friend of mine that have a large one. The clem is fragrant.

Sitting here with cold feet, hating to go outside in chilly FL, for goodness sake, loving the super photos and wishing very hard for spring to finally get here. Thanks to all for a tour of your beautiful gardens.

Frilly: I'd probably go for the Silver Lace Vine. I adore the Sweet Autumn Clematis but it is not as fragrant as I would have hoped. I miss my Silver lace Vine and may just have to plant another one this year!
Thanks Again to everyone for the kind comments. Oh, how I'm looking forward to spring....I am to the point I can't deal with the COLD any more! Usually it takes till the end of Feb, but I'm about done with these single digits and sub zero nights. I need to dream of my yard/gardens a little more if you don't mind?

Can you see the chain link dog kennel I moved right next to our patio?

Hodge podge of plants...

Loved these annual Slipper Flowers I planted in pots going to the pool...and yes, that's the common orange lily by the pool, my very first daylilies LOL!

Gaudy Gaudy by faded copper headboard...

LOVE LOVE LOVE this kale I planted, look at the color contrast it provides

Self sown sunflower, reached about 12 feet tall, we tied it up for as long as we could...

Pond area in June...

Driveay to hubbys garage in spring

Lovely Morning Glories...how Becky and I first became acquainted

Thank you for putting up with me posting more photos! I needed that!

Keep posting! I LOVE these photographs of your garden. Giving me tons of ideas and inspiration.

I would love to know the name on that gorgeous Kale if you know it. and maybe where you found it??

Great pictures, Sandi. I love your garden areas

Hi KimKats

Regarding the Kale, look up Lacinato Kale or Dinosaur Kale online, you'll find info about it.

I found it at a local garden center. I know it can be found in seed catalogs too. The photo was from later in the season once the nights started getting cool. In summer it is a very dark greenish black which is still very attractive in the garden. I will probably be buying more this year, if you need me to pick some up for you let me know.

Here is is in it's immature stage (to the right of the canna).

Thanks for sharing, Sandi! Keep dreaming of spring and sharing your garden with us. It helps us all to make it through this cold winter by thinking of the promises of spring.

Casshigh said:Thanks for sharing, Sandi! Keep dreaming of spring and sharing your garden with us. It helps us all to make it through this cold winter by thinking of the promises of spring.

Yes thank you. It's neat even immature. I will be keeping a look out for that locally. I like the texture and it looks like I could squeeze that in betweeen in some of my beds.

Sandi, very, very nice !!!!!!!!!

Sandi, you're gardens are an inspiration! Loved all the whimsical things, and garden structures along with all the beautiful flowers! Thanks for the lovely tour!

Susie, I like your new avatar photograph.

Thanks Mike! Dreaming even harder of spring with the arctic blast headed our way again