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Now we need something nice to look at.....

10 comments


Well, after much toil and moving of gravel and dirt, we sat back on the decking and looked down on all our hard work. We were feeling somewhat pleased with ourselves as we had started things moving and would soon have fresh, home-grown veggies to eat. We discussed what else we would like to do with the garden and felt it best to break it up into 4-5 sections. One of those sections would be the decking from where we could sit and survey our land.

However, the decking was relatively bare with no plants except Fatsia and the Sweet Pea tubs…oh, and a small Aser. So, that’s when my desire to fill it with colour and make it worth sitting on, became my mission. Everytime we went out, I suggested nipping into a garden centre and inevitably always came out with either new pots or plants or both!! As time went on, we started to fill the area and cover the nakedness of the deck. I even made a 3-tub planter out of the timber left over from the veg patch!

Things were starting to take shape…..

We talked about having a water feature on the decking but couldn’t decide on one we both liked. We knew we wanted trickling water and looked at several online and in garden centres but we always disagreed and they were, in some cases, extortionate.

Anyway, we both like the idea of the wooden half-barrel look, especially if we could drink the contents of the barrel first – alas, no such luck. But, on our more frequent journeys around the garden centre’s, we picked up some bargain pieces towards making our own water feature. So, I’ll try to explain as best I can how it came to be:-

First thing we bought was the half barrel. When I asked the assistant to seperate a stack of them, he siad they were now half price. Happy days I thought – £9.99 was a bargain for the size. Alas, I was wrong, he hadn’t got round to marking them down so it was actually £4.99! Oh dear….better take 2 then coz we can plant in the other one!

We also bought some small, white, rounded pebbles to place around the top. We rushed across the road to another, not-so-nice centre and found a plastic lid used inside of water features. It has a hole in the middle for the water to run back down into the tank. We took it to the counter and asked how much….‘Oh, they been knocking round out there for ages and there’s only a few left. Give us a pound!’ As I tried in vain to release my wallet from my back pocket, the kind gentleman said, ’Don’t worry, just take it. No charge!’ Now we were on a roll.

We got to the car and decided to go back in for the pump we had seen but alas again, we didn’t get this for nowt! £19.95 to be exact! We got home and Ali placed an old ‘Fat Ball’ tub inside the barrel and placed the pump inside of that. She found some chicken wire in the shed that we’d bought for something else and moulded that around the plastic lid.

Once we had got the flow of the pump as we wanted, I intricately placed the white stones around the pump nozzle and added the little frog – cost of £1 – before the grand turning on.

It’s very simple, very relaxing and ALL for less than £40!! Bargain!

Sat out on the decking at the new round table with a Pear cider and the sound of the water and birds in the trees is enough to spend a hazy, lazy day at home…..

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Comments

 

what a difference you have made. sit back and enjoy you deserve it.

26 Jul, 2009

 

Such a good idea billie and it looks impressive and Expensive,well done..........wonder now where i cud get an old Barrel,(empty of course)Lol:~)))))

26 Jul, 2009

 

How clever is that. You make it look easy oddbillie, but I don't think so. Looks wonderful.

26 Jul, 2009

 

Thanks guys. We're well pleased with it and enjoy sitting listening to the sound of the water...when the weather permits!

27 Jul, 2009

 

Very well thought out. I like it.

27 Jul, 2009

 

That's lovely Billie.....very clever......... and worth thinking about for next year when hopefully my garden will be looking something like a garden should look..................
Which reminds me I must get that guttering fixed, its the only water feature I have outside at the moment :0)

28 Jul, 2009

 

What wonderful pictures, thank you for sharing them, I absolutely love them! Also, noticed you enjoy a pear cider -you might be interested in a fun competition running at the moment to win a case of magners pear cider. 1st round of winners will be chosen at random from the Magners twitter http://bit.ly/TwitMag and also from the Magners facebook fan page http://bit.ly/MagnersUK - to be in the running follow and join! 2nd round of winners will be chosen based on the level of activity/engagment demonstrated by the contestant so its good to get involved. Winners will be selected on Thursday - winners will be drawn every week - yes, every week! (must be over 18 and UK based!)

28 Jul, 2009

 

The water feature looks great OB, and adds a lovely finishing touch to your decking area :))

28 Jul, 2009

 

Thanks all. It all came, as I've said in the blog, from us not being able to agree on a bought water feature. A little bit of imagination and bouncing ideas around.

Have to look in to that Pear Cider thing as well...thanks M.

28 Jul, 2009

 

Love the water feature, how creative!
The deck looks great too!

2 Aug, 2009

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