I am truly impressed and inspired. Thank you for sharing your progress. I can't wait to see the final results with water and plants.

Vic, I made the whole thing from a hardware cloth framework draped with toweling soaked in Portland cement. Much like the cloth pots you see around. I just took it one step further. I made several draped pots years ago and they hold up great, just like regular cement. It's amazing how solid a little hardware cloth draped with soaked toweling can be. Of course I paint a few coats of Portland over the top but still. I did coat the finished project with cement sealer. As soon as the rain stops I'll be able to finish, Yeahhhhhh.

What a great looking project, Dee! I can't wait to see it planted and the water flowing. You're a real inspiration for those of us having unfinished projects!

Awesome craftsmanship! Will the castle be painted as well?

I didn't realize I hadn't posted finished pics! Yes it is painted. I like to "sponge" paint cement projects. It gives them a nice feel. So I used white, grey, and just a touch of black. I use outdoor acrylic paints mostly, they hold up pretty good.
I still have some planting to do, using succulents. Some will drape out the windows.

View facing the house.


Close-up of the "fountain" feature.


The back side.


Close-up of the waterfall and the bird bath area on the back.

Wow! That is amazing Dee! You really do great work/art.

That is BEAUTIFUL

I love it, Dee! You do such great work. You could sell those for big bucks if you wanted to. Lots of work, though. Please keep updating it as your plants grow.

Dee - that is just a beautiful piece of garden art. Thank you so much for sharing your steps with us!!

I love the castle.....


Ummm is that an elephant?

Oh, that's funny, you spotted "Tiny the elephant". I bought him at an auction, he's bronze. The auction was going so badly I bought him for a song and a dance, I didn't think I'd be able to afford anything at that auction! He has a pipe from his back leg through his body and his trunk and has a pump to make him spit water! He is fun.

The elephant is very realistic

I haven't been here in ages. I just moved the castle about 4' over and I'm going to make a waterfall all the way down the stair-step exterior. I'd like it to be a real draw for the birds. It sits outside my office window, a perfect place to watch the birds from. It was a real project getting all the dirt out of it. I'm going to figure out a way to use "pots" for the plants so if I ever move or my kids want to move it someday they can. I'll try to remember to post new pics as I get the work done. I'm thinking small vines now that I've removed the succulents. I'm growing several types of Asarina and I think they would look great climbing up the outside of the walls.

Can't wait to see photo's along the way

Welcome back, Dee!

Everyone is so supportive it inspires me to get back to work on this. It would be nice to have the new water feature done for spring.

it sounds like it will be amazing! Good luck with it.

I'm anxious to see the new look too.