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Carol J. Michel

Award winner author of gardening humor books

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May Dreams Gardens

Garden Design Update: Garden Gate

July 31, 2011 By Carol Michel 17 Comments

I’ve always liked the idea of entering the vegetable garden via a gate.

With a gate, the garden feels more like an enclosure, a sanctuary, a quiet retreat separate from the rest of the yard.  I imagined opening the gate, going into the garden, and having the gate close behind me, as though I’d entered a room. 

With my vegetable garden already surrounded on three sides by a privacy fence, and then closed off half way across on the open side by a grape arbor, all I really needed was a gate and something to close off the other half of the open side, to complete my dream.

Today, I got the gate, built and installed by a local craftsman.  It is one of a kind, made of cedar.

It’s exactly what I imagined.

To the right is the grape arbor, as impenetrable as any fence, meaning that of course rabbits can freely run through it, but I can’t. I have to go through the gate.

On the other side of the gate, there’s a small shrub planted next to the gate to mirror a shrub on the other side that was already there. The rest of that border will be filled with red and gold raspberries, already planted this spring.  I’ll run wires between those posts to hold up the raspberry canes and then no one can walk through there, either, except of course, the rabbits.

(Yes, the grass is that dry. We might be setting a record for the driest July on record, though we did get some rain last night.  And even if we don’t set a record for driest July, we may well set a record in five days for most number of consecutive 90 F or above days in a row.)

But forget the hot days, the lack of rain… I’ve got a gate now!

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: garden design, vegetable garden

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Mr. McGregor's Daughter says

    July 31, 2011 at 5:19 am

    It looks grand. Don't forget, it's a tradition for fat little rabbits to squeeze under the gate.

    Reply
  2. Annie in Austin says

    July 31, 2011 at 5:56 am

    I like your vegetable garden gate very much, Carol. It's one of the most important places in your life, and the design reflects its importance. Good for you!

    Annie at the Transplantable Rose

    Reply
  3. Jo Ellen Meyers Sharp says

    July 31, 2011 at 12:28 pm

    The gate is lovely and I'm glad it's what you had in mind. I notice the that the shape of the gate recalls the curve of the privacy fence, which is nice.

    Reply
  4. Lisa at Greenbow says

    July 31, 2011 at 12:30 pm

    This is an impressive gate Carol. It looks like you can get a wheelbarrow, tiller, hoe or a lawn mower through there easily. Cedar should keep you in business for a long time. This dry hot spell has been scary.

    Reply
  5. Pam/Digging says

    July 31, 2011 at 3:04 pm

    It looks beautiful, Carol. Congrats on the addition!

    Reply
  6. Kathy says

    July 31, 2011 at 3:51 pm

    It is beautiful, money well spent. And I agreee: a garden is more like a garden when it has a gate.

    Reply
  7. Sue says

    July 31, 2011 at 4:56 pm

    What does Dr. Hortfreud say about your gate? and the fairies? It's a work of art! Sue

    Reply
  8. Anonymous says

    July 31, 2011 at 8:05 pm

    Isn't it amazing how happy little things can make us?

    Deirdre

    Reply
  9. Gail says

    July 31, 2011 at 10:05 pm

    It's way cool Carol!

    Reply
  10. Kathryn/plantwhateverbringsyoujoy.com says

    July 31, 2011 at 11:06 pm

    It's an absolutely beautiful gate, Carol. Good for you for having a dream and making it happen! You will get such pleasure going through it every day. 🙂 Congratulations!

    Reply
  11. Fairegarden says

    August 1, 2011 at 12:41 am

    It truly is a beauty and I love that a local craftsman made it. Enclosure is such an important part of any garden, but very special for a veggie garden. It makes a lovely focal point from the patio, too. Well done!
    Frances

    Reply
  12. vic says

    August 1, 2011 at 12:51 am

    Isn't it nice when you envision something and the reality turns out to match?

    Reply
  13. ProfessorRoush says

    August 1, 2011 at 1:30 am

    What a gorgeous gate! Nice design.

    Reply
  14. Orlando Realtor says

    August 1, 2011 at 1:41 am

    A perfect plan and impimented to a "T". Every gardener should have their garden design exactly to what suits their own style and personality. Very nice…..

    Reply
  15. Mary C. says

    August 1, 2011 at 6:26 pm

    Nice, I like that embellished 4X4 post in the first pic there.

    Hey btw, I saw this cute shop on etsy with old gardening books and prints and this full set of gardening encyclopedias and for some reason *ding* maydreams came to mind… http://www.etsy.com/listing/75530247/complete-set-of-vintage-gardening

    Reply
  16. Laura @ HV Garden Journal says

    August 3, 2011 at 5:38 pm

    Fabulous! Appearing high on my gardening wishlist is a stable of talented craftspeople to fabricate all the garden structures, accessories and embellishments I can imagine. Score! on finding the creator of your gate, it's lovely.

    Reply
  17. Dee/reddirtramblings says

    August 4, 2011 at 12:57 pm

    It's simply lovely. Lovely!~~Dee

    Reply

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