Fasqiruaanred

FOR A RELAXING SPACE THAT SOOTHES THE SOUL, THERE’S NO BEATING THE PERFECT PERGOLA

2018-01-08 -

It’s hard to believe that four bags of quick-set concrete, eight uprights, four bearers and some slats can completely alter the character of your garden, but it’s true. This magical structure is a pergola.

TBeam me up!

Lee Ann Bramwell GARDEN EDITOR

here used to be a pergola over our courtyard that was built by a handyman with an obsession for solidity and no aesthetic awareness. The pergola, therefore, was sturdy in the extreme and possibly the ugliest structure I had ever seen.

My fault, really. I didn’t realise the man had never seen or possibly even heard of a pergola and I should never have given him carte blanche to put together something for which I had definite expectations.

Fortunately, when the Partner arrived a few years later, he hated it as much as I did. Together, we ripped it down with great enthusiasm, liberating the courtyard from its oppressive presence and reclaiming it as a stylish space that’perfect for a 5pm glass of bubbly.

Over the aforementioned glass of bubbly recently, the Partner shared his idea for a new pergola and planning speedily got underway.

A pergola, according to the Oxford Dictionary, originates from the Latin “pergula”, referring to a projecting eave. More commonly, it’s described as an arched structure in a garden or park, consisting of a framework covered with climbing or trailing plants.

And for those who have always wondered, it is (also according to the Oxford) pronounced with the emphasis on the first syllable. I never should have trusted a handyman who couldn’t even pronounce what he was building.

Pergolas are (or can be, provided you don’t have an obsession with sturdiness) delightfully simple things. Four uprights and four cross-beams can constitute a pergola. Depending on how smart you’d like it to be, it can be erected by an amateur in an afternoon, by a professional in half the time or by anyone who can unwrap a flatpack kit set and read the instructions.

I think every garden should have one – whether it’s a simple, uncovered version or something with a roof and a library. Yes, Aussie landscape designer Jamie Durie designed one with a library.

Because this is going to be a DIY job, ours will be the four uprights and four cross-beams variety, although those numbers may change depending on how large it needs to be to accommodate a barbecue, table and chairs.

It will provide a focal point for our overly large front lawn and lead the eye through the structure to the native garden beyond. Big pavers set into the lawn will provide a connection to the house. The floor will be a combination of decking and pavers to provide a relationship with existing landscaping, and there’ll be a rill along one side, where I can dangle my feet in the water in lieu of a lap pool.

The pergola itself will be the easy part. There are numerous how-to videos on the internet and even sites where you can download free plans for the pergola of your choice.

When you’re making your decisions about what to build, try to choose something that’s within your skill set. And remember, it doesn’t have to accommodate an outdoor kitchen, a 74-place dining setting and a 5m-wide, top-of-the-range TV. You might be just as happy with a couple of chairs, a side table and the dog basket.

Findyour inspiration

has The Heroic Garden Festival

since been a favourite of mine it started more than 20 years

which ago and this year’s event,

10-11, takes place on February

20 is showcasing more than gardens around Auckland.

–

The variety is impressive

country stylish urban spaces, big gardens, communal gardens, art spaces and eclectic designs. Keren McDonnell’s Remuera

so put it garden is pretty special, on your list. It’s a contemporary

area space with a fantastic pool

for a that has been designed