Monthly Archives: August 2009

Step 14 – Selecting and Ordering a Garden Bridge

The Garden Artist Posted on by

(If you’d like to follow this project from the beginning you can start at Step 1 here)

Step 14 of Rear Garden Design Project.

I searched online to find a garden bridge to replace our nine-year-old “temporary” bridge and I found a good selection at: gazebocreations.com.

I selected this bridge style from GazeboCreations.com
I selected this bridge style from GazeboCreations.com

I measured across the dry streambed to determine the length I needed to cross the span. The website had very good information about the span size and other stats I needed to make my selection.

It was important to have a bridge that was the right scale for the project, a Goldilocks bridge, not too small, not too big, just right.

I ordered it online with the added options of stainless steel screws and 2 Coats Cedar Stain/Sealer to ensure greater longevity. This bridge has to last a lot longer then the temporary one did.

The boxes arrived by UPS and when I unpacked them I checked the parts list to make sure everything was there. It was complet I’m happy to say.

The bridge parts arrived well packaged and easily inventoried
The bridge parts arrived well packaged and easily inventoried

We dismantled the “temporary” bridge that was always such a joy to the grandchildren on a day they weren’t visiting so the work went more smoothly. I thought I’d be nostalgic but I was far too happy to be finally getting a real garden bridge that I didn’t waste a moment dwelling on the past.

My son Michael helped to dismantle the nine year old "temporary" bridge
My son Michael helped to dismantle the nine year old “temporary” bridge

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Go To Step 15 – Building the Garden Bridge

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Step 13 – Replacing The Garden Bridge

The Garden Artist Posted on by

(If you’d like to follow this project from the beginning you can start at Step 1 here)

Step 13 of Rear Garden Design Project.

Now that I finally, after 9 years have my back entry stone walls and dry stream bed installed it is time for the decorating to begin.

For all these years we’ve been using what was supposed to be a temporary bridge. In 2000, when we originally began this project the construction crew built a plank bridge by hammering a few weather treated boards together and putting them over the dry stream bed.

My own grandsons have been born since the temporary bridge was originally installed and have grown up with the joy of bouncing wildly on the planks, much to the dismay of fathers, mothers and grandparents. Their utter joy in the flexibility of the boards and the semi dangerous and enthusiastic experience has provided untold hours of glee.

I felt somewhat bad for them and wondered how they would react to the disappearance of their favorite playground.

Fear not. They adapted instantly and have gone on to other adventures in the garden. I think they’ve found dinosaurs hiding along the woodland paths.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bmuNpgXaVPQ

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Go To Step 14 – Selecting and Ordering the Garden Bridge.

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