Gardens and Gazebos
By Elizabeth Dougherty
As millions of Americans jump
into their car this weekend and
drive somewhere to celebrate
Memorial Day weekend, many
of us prefer to relax by not
going anywhere further than our
own back yard. Most families
that enjoy backyard relaxing or
entertaining have a screened in
porch or pool.
But there is a more peaceful
way, an elegant way, indeed
an ancient way to relax in your
backyard. Instead of sitting on
the deck, walk across the soft
green grass of your backyard,
through the gorgeous pink,
white and reds of your blooming
garden and escape into your
screened gazebo. If you don't
have a gazebo yet, you will be
amazed at how relaxing it can
be to sit, sip and relax in one.
Although it is only
a dozen yards
or so from
the main
house, it
seems like
a different
world.
(Leave your
cell phones
in the house,
please.)
Not only is it incredibly relaxing
and peaceful, but when it comes
time to sell the house, a gazebo
adds value well beyond the
cost of construction. Buyers
can picture themselves actually
relaxing in their new home.
To get the feel of living with a
gazebo and garden, you
might want to make
an appointment
to see First
Realty's listing
by Alan Dorn on
Ferndale. Just
a stone's throw
from the main
house, this shingled
and screened wooden
gazebo is surrounded
by green grass, a palm tree or
two and blooms of pinks, blues,
reds and whites. Just outside the
screen are hanging ferns and
other plants. The barbecue grill
is just a few steps away, but far
enough to keep the smoke from
you while you sit in the shade
and relax with your friends.
While the origin of the word
"gazebo" is unknown, there
is no doubt that this ancient
structure has been helping
people relax in their gardens
for more than 5,000 years.
Although the structures were
always a little different, they
were common in ancient Egypt,
ancient Rome, 10th century
Persian gardens, ancient China,
and in Japan where they were
used as Teahouses for the
revered Tea Ceremony.
France had four Gazebos
constructed for the Louvre
Museum in the 14th century. They were popular throughout
Europe in the 1700's and caught
on here in the States in the mid
1800's. They began reappearing
in the U.S. during the 80's and
are here to stay.
Whenever or wherever
gazebos are used, they all have
something in common. They a
regarded as a bit of a status
symbol, but past that, they are
designed to be peaceful places
of ultra relaxation surrounded
by gorgeous gardens and
landscaping.
Today Gazebos come in
all styles, sizes and prices.
Commercially they are used by
community parks, churches for
weddings, hotels, restaurants,
golf courses and as "outdoor
smoking rooms." You can build
one yourself from
scratch or from
any number of
kits. You can hire
a local contractor
(look under pools,
decks and spas
in your Google
search). Target
has them, as do
Lowe's and Home
Depot. They will
not only sell them to you, but
also install them for you.
Gazebos can be the traditional
wooden square or ornately
decorated, turn-of-the century
looking octagon types. Then
again, they can be as simple as
aluminum poles, a roof and a
screened enclosure. (Although
these are technically sold as
"gazebos" they really look more
like beach going tents – they
will keep the sun off and the
mosquitoes away, but are very
low on the relaxing ambience
scale.)
If you are going to have a local
contractor build your gazebo,
follow HomeSeeker TOP 5 Tips
for hiring a contractor. Make
sure they are licensed and
bonded, have insurance, etc.
Home Depot's website has quite
a few gazebo choices and a
large range in pricing. You could
spend as little as about $200 for
a very bare bones gazebo (think
beach tent, from the paragraph
above) to $5,900 for a kit that
contains (after construction)
a very good looking, white,
gazebo in the classic octagonal
structure.
Here's the rub. This gazebo is
made of very attractive, white,
maintenance free material
(vinyl). While this works for
many people, my own preference
is wood – real wood, not
pressed wood, wood resin,
amalgam or anything like that
– pure natural wood.
If you would like to view some
absolutely gorgeous gazebos,
get online and go to Amish
Country Gazebo's at
http://www.amishgazebos.com/index.html. Here you can desjgn
your own real wood gazebo
and, although headquartered
in Pennsylvania, your gazebo
will be boxed and shipped to
you and then they will install
it – anywhere in the county.
Whether you are serious about
a beautiful backyard gazebo
or just dreaming, you should
check out their gallery of
majestic, romantic, all wood,
octagonal, high ceiling gazebos
in traditional white or natural
wood. They are spectacular. The
only difficulty is that you need to
get a quoted price.
If you want to see great looking
gazebos with listed prices,
try Gazebo Garden at http://www.gazebogarden.com/. The
prices run from about $2,000
for an 8 foot, natural wood,
hexagonal gazebo to the $8,000
12-foot, octagonal that has all
seasons paneling, a two tiered
roof and cupola.
Whatever type of Gazebo
you choose, do not forget to
surround yourself with tranquil
gardening. Your choices for great
help in gardening are plentiful.
They include Blooming Colors on
Donahue, Plant World Nursery
on Lee Road, Creative Habitat's
Landscaping on US Hwy 280 and
Out In The Garden on Lee Road.
When you are through building
it, take a pitcher of sweet tea
and some good friends out back
to enjoy the fruits of your labor.
Liz Dougherty has been a freelance food
writer and culinary consultant through
her company, Culinary Pursuits, Inc., for
the past six years. She trained under a
maniacal Swiss-German chef and later
received her Bachelor's degree, Magna
Cum Laude in Hospitality. Prior to that,
she was a licensed real estate broker and
mortgage broker with a total of over
ten years experience in real estate and
finance. She can be reached at
EADougherty1@aol.com
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