But it took me longer than usual to figure out what to use to stake the tomatoes and cucumbers and some of the beans. Finally I remembered that I'd cut down about a half-dozen young trees and the branches were piled in the yard.

After carefully trimming some into nice straight stakes with the little branches removed, I realized I didn't need to work so hard - a strong network of branches gives more places for the plants to climb/be tied to. And it looks natural; earthy.

I try to avoid staking if I can - I grow beans and corn together so the beans can climb the corn, and usually use tomato cages. But this year I can't afford anything beyond absolute essentials. And when I'm forced to find a creative solution, I usually like the result better anyway.

What a hoot!

I'm always looking for ways to use any kind of wood (used & natural) I love the way it makes everything look.

This is a pic with wood. That's a pallet on left, branches from the woods on right side of that, and tiers are from the a small local mill that makes lumber from whole trees, they are thin enough to bend.

This is what it looked like when the morning glories filled it in.

When we get the wood from mill I go all crazy as there's is so much potential, all kinds of interesting shapes and sizes. My other beds also have wood and pallets. My dh also goes crazy as he is creates novelties from it. I haven't made it to the woods yet, but I saw this really cool pic of a stump with hens & chicks planted on it.

G_M

Thank you all for the kind compliments.
G_M