MAKING MY OWN GARDEN ENTRANCE 
L. E. HURST 
A Combination Arbor and Seat that Finishes off the Garden Walk and Furnishes a Com¬ 
fortable Spot to Linger—Detailed Description of Construction with Illustrative Sketches 
[O DOUBT there are 
others who, like my¬ 
self, wish for some 
finishing touch or 
distinctive entrance to their 
gardens and want the fun of 
making it for themselves. So 
I am going to describe my 
“arbor” entrance in detail 
though it is not entirely 
original as 1 deemed it much 
better to copy a good design 
than to originate a poor one. 
With the exception of oak 
for the corner posts and for 
the corner supports, and the 
seat slats which are of white 
pine, the lumber is cypress, 
because of its weathering 
qualities. 
The posts were not long 
enough to go into the ground 
more than 8 in. so a heavy 
piece of tire-iron about 2\ ft. 
long was screwed on each 
one. It would be better, 
however, to plan longer 
posts., The lower ends of 
the posts and the irons were 
painted with tar paint. 
It was impossible for me to lift and set the heavy pieces 
unaided so two men gave assistance on the erection; and if you 
don’t believe a 4 in. piece of cypress 10 ft. long is heavy, just 
lift one! After the frame was up 1 painted it, and then added 
the top pieces which had already been painted. The lattice 
had one coat of paint before being nailed together, and a second 
before it was nailed in place on the frame. 
It would be impossible to give the present-day cost of such 
a structure, as prices have changed so much since this was 
built, but the material 
f - y Y--. used for this one came to f- 
about $12. 
The structure makes 
not only an attractive 
garden entrance but a 
very substantial one as 
well and really was not 
as difficult to make as it 
would seem. 
A white picket fence 
runs off from the gate- r , 
way and encloses part of U Lpt. 
the garden. The pickets 
of lattice match those of 
FINISHED AND IN PLACE 
The home-made entrance arbor with its comfortable seats on either 
side as seen from the garden, which is partly enclosed by a picket 
fence running off from the gateway but hidden from view by the 
mass of Camomile (Anthemis Kelwayi) and other lusty growing things 
« - ? . — 
Fig. 2 
- 3i%- 
— r x - 
Fig. 1 
the gate; the posts being 
4x4 in. oak, set 2 ft. in the 
ground; and the picket rails 
connecting the posts i| x 2\ 
in. x 14 ft. Unfortunately, 
the fence is hidden from 
view in the accompanying 
photograph by the masses of 
tall bloom. 
Its ground dimensions are 4 x 7 ft. 
For the corner posts 4 x 4 in. lumber 
was selected and 2x4 in. for the 
cross supports, both of oak. The 
long pieces are 4 x 4 in. cypress. 
The 2 x 4 in. pieces are gained into 
the posts, being an easier joint than 
a mortise and tenon for an amateur. 
The lower 2 x 4 in. pieces (A. Fig. 1) 
are about 13 in. from the ground 
and on these are nailed the slats 
which form the seat (Fig. 3,) making 
it about 18 in. high. The pieces at 
the top (B. Fig. 1) are notched at 
the ends, the lower joint being cut 
slightly shorter than the upper, they 
project 18 in. over the posts and are 
nailed through to the tops of the 
posts with heavy spikes, holes being 
drilled first as the cypress is very 
haid. On them rest seven pieces, 
1 x 2 \ in. and 5 ft. 8 in. long (C, 
Fig. 2.). It is better to drill holes 
through these also where they are 
to be nailed to the 4 x 4 in. pieces. 
And on these are five strips of lattice 
the same length as the 4x4 in. 
pieces to form the roof of the en¬ 
trance. These may be placed closer together, if desired. 
The lattice is x if in. and is spaced on the sides and ends to make the 
openings about 45 x 75 in. The first lattice down from the top in Fig. 2 is even 
with the lower edge of D in Fig. 1, bringing the second lattice in Fig. 2 on the 
line with the first lattice in Fig. 1. 
The short pieces of lattice in Fig. 1 are 17 in. while the long ones are 6 ft. 8 in. 
The short cross-pieces A and D (Fig. 1) are 21 in. long while those at the ends 
(E, Fig. 2) are 45 in. long. 
The slats of the seat and back (Fig. 3) are fx 25x442 in. and are spaced 
1 f in. apart. The one at the front of the seat rests on 
the 2 x 4 in. cross-piece, projecting over it about f in., 
and is beveled off to the post. These slats might look 
even better if the edges were 
beveled. 
The frame of the gate is of 
if x if in. stuff, the uprights, 
27! in. long, are joined to the 
cross-pieces, which are 36! in. 
long; at the corners (as in 
Fig. 4) the braces are half lap 
jointed in the center and fit 
against the cross-pieces and 
uprights in the corners. 
The pickets are of the lat¬ 
tice, 36 in. high, the end ones 
being placed in the middle of 
the uprights, the others spaced 
about 15 in. apart, the joints 
being cut off at 45 degrees in a 
miter-box. Loose pin, butt 
hinges 15 in. by 3§ in. were 
used and a hook on the inside 
for a fastener. 
Fig. 4 
k-- 11 f— • 
Fig. 3 
GLADIOLUS FOR ALL SUMMER BLOOM 
SUCCESSION plantings of Gladiolus bulbs made at intervals of two weeks from this time until the middle of July will give spikes 
to cut until fall comes. If bulbs of equal si%e are planted at uniform depth the bloom will be pretty nearly uniform too, but it is 
a good trick for the little garden to take bulbs of various si^es and plant them at uniform depth so that the flowering period will be ex¬ 
tended somewhat. 
287 
