Well, here's the starting pics from my "Castle Project". It's going to be planted with succulents when finished, and will even have a built in fountain feature. It's made using Portland cement soaked cloth over a hardware cloth framework. I still have a bit to finish but I think the hardest parts are done.
1. The initial framework, this was as scratchy a project as I ever want to do.


2. Inside the laundryroom, the center tower gets it's material coat.


3. Installed out in the garden, a barrel stay was used for the base.


4. Starting to fill in the details. The base is poured with Quickcrete and the "steps" of the planter get their material coats.


Today I continue with the details. Some outside windows will be added and I'll snap some pics of where the fountain is going.

Very Nice

WOW! You are so creative, Dee - I can't even wrap my head around how you get from Pic#1 to Pic#4! It will be amazing

Wonderful! I can't wait to see it finished and the fountain running!

Wow! Awesome! Can't wait to see the finished work.

This is great!

I got a little more done. I've installed the side "windows" and have most of the work done on the fountain area.

It's coming along! Looking great!

Looking fantastic Dee! I know that wire had to have been a complete pain to put together but it looks really well made. What are you using to make the top look thicker? A split hose?

I used irrigation tubing, the small kind you use for a drip system. Today I will cover the tubing with cement soaked cloth so the cement will adhere well to the plastic parts. You can see were I've done this in the pic, it's red cloth. I had to do the spiral part post haste as this little bird kept landing on it and there was a lot of scratchy wire poking up, I was afraid he'd hurt his feet.

Fantastic!

Dee, I'm eager to see the completed outside wall where you have your fountain planned. I hope you post another photo. Will you be painting the interior 'building' with the window in it?

Thanks for sharing your project1

Well, the whole project has been on hold. It's funny you should post this today as I'm going out to buy some more fabric, I've promised myself to restart work on Monday. I've mostly just been busy with other things. I really want it finished now, I have a wood rat eating my potted succulents, I moved them out into the open yesterday. The rats and the bunnies tend to leave things alone that are out in view of the sky and the predatory birds. In fact I think many of this springs bunnies have become owl and hawk food. I feed the California Quail by tossing birdseed out on the ground and at one point I counted 5 bunnies at one time eating birdseed! The rats are whole other story, they kind of creep me out.
They're cute enough, there's just something about large rodents. They can just go live out in the forest and leave me alone, LOL.

Well, this unfinished project has sat in my garden for too long. I put some time in this December and here it is now. I still have the castle roof to finish and some kind of cover for the fountain catch basin. But I've made the decision to finish so it will be done soon.

The first pic shows where the water will come out, you can see the silver tubing. It drops into a little cup and then down the ramp falling into another "cup" for the birds to drink from.


The second pick shows a better pic of the ramp and that side of the castle.


The third is the "waterfall" area and below it is where the trash can catch basin will sit. There is a nice "bathing" area for small birds at the bottom of the fall.


This is the last side of the Castle. Lots of room for planting, the whole thing will be filled with soil for succulents.

I'll post again when it's finished!!!

That is so COOL

Did you make your own forms?

Fabulous project! I can't wait to see it running and planted! What is that citrus tree? It's loaded with fruit.

Love it!

Love the elephant too

Yes, I missed that!