- Brent

Next year, we plan to side the house with a taupe/beige. Meanwhile, I keep buying plants!

We didn't do the pavers ourselves, though I helped build the stone walls. It was a BIG project, but I am (mostly) pleased with the results. There are a few things I'd change...but they are related to the low wall you can see in the middle picture. I wish we'd had the mason include an opening with a threshold in that wall--for sweeping debris through--AND for bringing the lawnmower that lives in the shed down the hill through. Wheelbarrow too...both the mower and the wheelbarrow get hauled up and over that wall. Live and learn!

melanie

We added it to visually "tie" the house to the raised septic system and soften the tall aspect of the home on a low lot. Trompe l'oeil, I guess. It spans the continuation of the driveway to the back of the house. It is tall enough to accomodate a full size pick up truck/SUV, but NOT with a roof rack. The bay window in the bedroom dictated the height at the mid-point. We spent a lot of time working on proportion, so it would have enough mass to work with the proportions of the house; and not look too "spindly" or "cheap".

Planting it has proven more problematic. It is a partial shade garden throughout the growing season here in Maine. I have Sweet Autumn clematis on the first (eastern) post, another clematis on the second (which I don't think will remain there throughout this season), and a lovely clematis (Triternata rubromarginata) on the third. I had an Akebia on the western post, but lost it to a brutally cold winter with no snow cover in 2003-4. I love Aristolochia durior and am thinking of adding it to either that post or the second one. But what I thought would be an easy planting exercise has been tougher than I expected, funny how that works, huh?

Didn't want another side of posts with the plumbing under the pavers so it's very skinny and we will use 4 large square cobalt blue pots to grow grapes & vines up the posts.