Nova bonsai garden

[markyscott]

And springtime has come to my little corner of Virginia. Amur maple and Siberian elm seedlings are sprouting (thank you @cmeg1).


Cedar elm and japanese black pine seedlings have sprouted as well (not nearly as far along as the elm and maple above). Quince is in flower, Trident and Japanese maple are in leaf, red and black pine candles are extending, and Cedar elm is about to break out. I think it’s going to be a good year!

 

[markyscott]

Finally - I leveled a pad for the outdoor garden area. I scheduled a gravel delivery for Thursday - then I’ll get to building benches and a shade structure.

 

[rockm]

Finally - I leveled a pad for the outdoor garden area. I scheduled a gravel delivery for Thursday - then I’ll get to building benches and a shade structure.

View attachment 479417

Beautiful set up with a lot of space.

 

[cmeg1]

outdoor garden area

Nice to have that exposure on the cloudy days
That is happier growing for sure!

 

[markyscott]

First farm auction today. Amazing to reflect on how much life has changed in some ways and come full circle in others. I haven’t been to one of these since I was a teenager. Also - started out wet, but turned into a beautiful day.

 

[markyscott]

Bench prototype.



Legs are treated 6x6, 30” tall. Bench top is made of rough sawn oak 2x6. It’s about 28” x 14’. Very heavy. I wanted it stable but not sunk in the ground so I could move it if I needed to. Thoughts?

S

 

[markyscott]

A nesting pair of Eastern Bluebirds are keeping me company in the garden.

 

[Underdog]

Those are good ones. I have one or two Blue Jay every year. They are mean azzes and chase everything out of my / his pond and garden. LOL He even looks like an angry bird.
Loving your posts and we are all living vicariously through your progress. Great work

 

[rockm]

Bench prototype.

View attachment 480598

Legs are treated 6x6, 30” tall. Bench top is made of rough sawn oak 2x6. It’s about 28” x 14’. Very heavy. I wanted it stable but not sunk in the ground so I could move it if I needed to. Thoughts?

S

Bench prototype.

View attachment 480598

Legs are treated 6x6, 30” tall. Bench top is made of rough sawn oak 2x6. It’s about 28” x 14’. Very heavy. I wanted it stable but not sunk in the ground so I could move it if I needed to. Thoughts?

S

I might sunk the corner posts into the ground.

Bench prototype.

View attachment 480598

Legs are treated 6x6, 30” tall. Bench top is made of rough sawn oak 2x6. It’s about 28” x 14’. Very heavy. I wanted it stable but not sunk in the ground so I could move it if I needed to. Thoughts?

S

You're going to move that?

 

[Maiden69]

Legs are treated 6x6, 30” tall. Bench top is made of rough sawn oak 2x6. It’s about 28” x 14’. Very heavy. I wanted it stable but not sunk in the ground so I could move it if I needed to. Thoughts?

Simple, but as you say heavy. The oak seems thin to be a 2x6, looks more like 5/4 x 6" decking material. I think that due to the length you have between the posts, the weight of heavier trees and the weather will make those planks bow down. I like the old farmhouse table style legs for something like this, as it would add a header into the middle of the distance between the posts. Also, having single posts trestle (or X style as the one on this link) legs will save you some material. 6x6 main posts, 2x6 or 2x4 braces, and a 2x6 stretcher with a header would be a better option, and as a "farmhouse" table would go with the barn better than a squarish workshop stand.

 

[TN_Jim]

Bench prototype.

View attachment 480598

Legs are treated 6x6, 30” tall. Bench top is made of rough sawn oak 2x6. It’s about 28” x 14’. Very heavy. I wanted it stable but not sunk in the ground so I could move it if I needed to. Thoughts?

S

Definitely looks solid/good -believe at these dimensions 4x4” legs would save weight and maintain the physics and rigour required.

 

[R0b]

A wise man in action. That is money well spent, enjoy!

 

[markyscott]

I might sunk the corner posts into the ground.

You're going to move that?

Yes! I’m extremely strong. Also - I have a tractor with a set of forks. LOL

- S

 

[markyscott]

Simple, but as you say heavy. The oak seems thin to be a 2x6, looks more like 5/4 x 6" decking material. I think that due to the length you have between the posts, the weight of heavier trees and the weather will make those planks bow down. I like the old farmhouse table style legs for something like this, as it would add a header into the middle of the distance between the posts. Also, having single posts trestle (or X style as the one on this link) legs will save you some material. 6x6 main posts, 2x6 or 2x4 braces, and a 2x6 stretcher with a header would be a better option, and as a "farmhouse" table would go with the barn better than a squarish workshop stand.

Yes - I measured the oak fence boards and they were thinner than 2x6 dimensional. I like your suggestion of trestle legs with a header. I might mock up something like that also.

 

[markyscott]

Hmm - growing area needs a name. I think I’ll go with “Beer Garden”!! Laid down gravel and leveled the “beer garden”. Finished the bench prototype (I ended up going with 2x6 treated pine for the bench top), leveled it and put on a few trees. Here are some pictures of the days work.

 

[Mike Westervelt]

Have you considered decking the lower stringers using short boards running perpendicular, for pot storage, and or shorter shade loving plants/accents?

 

[markyscott]

Have you considered decking the lower stringers using short boards running perpendicular, for pot storage, and or shorter shade loving plants/accents?

Yes! I was just thinking about that today! I think it would be good to keep that possiblity open. I’ll be building a shade structure for less sun tolerant plants on the other side of the garden, but you never know. It’ll be nice to have that option to expand.

Here is the bench V.2. 2x4‘s now run on the inside of the legs.

 

[Carol 83]

They are mean azzes and chase everything out of my / his pond and garden. LO

They are!! Here, they even fight with the squirrel's.

 

[markyscott]

They are!! Here, they even fight with the squirrel's.

One unanticipated benefit of building my garden in the middle of the field is that the squirrels must cross quite a lot of open pasture to reach it. There always seem to be several dozen Cooper's or Red Tail hawks hanging about just waiting for one of them to do so. I've seen at least a 1/2 dozen carried off to oblivion by my personal army of guardian raptors. lol.

- S

 

[Carol 83]

One unanticipated benefit of building my garden in the middle of the field is that the squirrels must cross quite a lot of open pasture to reach it. There always seem to be several dozen Cooper's or Red Tail hawks hanging about just waiting for one of them to do so. I've seen at least a 1/2 dozen carried off to oblivion by my personal army of guardian raptors. lol.

- S

We had a hawk take up residence in one of the trees in our yard. It swooped down after our daughter's Pomeranian and he wouldn't go outside anymore unless I was right beside him. But they didn't thin out the squirrel population much unfortunately.