Twig GazeboAdd a Unique Rustic Accent to your GardenDesigning and building a twig gazebo, the ultimate rustic garden accent, is a challenging project. If, like me, rustic garden crafts fill your garden providing drama and delight, a twig gazebo could be next.A twig gazebo is one of the most dramatic and delightful additions you can make. Lights strung between its rafters make it a perfect spot for a garden party in the evening; comfortable chairs make it peaceful hideaway for quiet time with a book or for coffee in the morning before a busy day. A twig gazebo can be a bower for relaxation, a sanctuary for meditation, or simply a place to hang baskets of flowers or bird feeders. Clematis and other vines twining up its supports give privacy and their flowers attract bees and hummingbirds. What could be more romantic than a summer rustic country wedding in a twig gazebo?
Gazebos in HistoryIn Victorian times, twig arbors and gazebos were popular garden accents, in many cases providing a backdrop for photography sessions. In fact, the trend to twig furniture and trellises in photographs led to a boom in their manufacture.Sadly, twig furniture of all descriptions is by its very nature short lived and very little of these original twig crafts exist today except in pictures. Fortunately, there are books and websites that give detailed instructions on how to build twig crafts and the components are easy to find in hedgerows and hardware stores; we can make our own beautiful twiggy stuff for garden use. 
Inspiration? or Plagiarism?I’ve been fortunate to have easy access to many items to make twig crafts from, as well as exposure to other craft people for inspiration.I was quite amused when I lived in Dawson Creek at the amount of times people would take pictures of twig furniture on display at the local farmers market, to take home and slavishly copy the furniture! Luckily, I never seem to run out of ideas and rarely need to copy anyone else’s designs, and I don’t recommend that you do either. Take a starting point and run with it, making it completely your own.
Planning your Twig GazeboEven though many twig crafts such as twig fences and trellises are built for short term use, it’s worth it when building a gazebo to spend some time planning it and building it as sturdily as possible.You will get more use and enjoyment out of a well built project than one that’s rickety and falls down within a few years. Most of my gazebos have lasted for eight years or more, and would have lasted longer with less haste in the planning stages. I guess I’m just impatient to get going and build.
Woodhenge, pictured here, was built to replace the Twig Gazebo and support the Clematis growing so vigorously.Plan ahead if you have any wiggly driftwood or twigs to use so you can incorporate them into the gazebo. The use of unique and unusual elements is what sets a twig gazebo apart from all others, so make the most of your special found bits and pieces to stamp it with your individuality. If you're considering blending in other home remodeling ideas with your gazebo project, check out the FREE tips and guidelines here! You might be surprised at how inexpensively and easily your individual plans and dreams can become reality! The foundation of any structure is its most important feature. I recommend looking through some books on building outdoor structures, just to get some basic ideas on how to make a safe and sturdy construction. Plan to use concrete footings or pier blocks at the very least. The weight of snow and vines can add a lot of stress to the twigs and branches you’ll use in its construction. The time you take to design your gazebo and learn about proper and safe twig craft techniques will pay off in the end, as you’ll enjoy your lovely outdoor space for years to come.
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Rustic Crafts with hardy and tender succulents...
...go together like a hand in a glove
Xeric gardens, due to the fact that at times the plants look a little tired of never being watered, benefit from really unique focal points to take the eye away from the bedraggled plants.
Here are a few rustic crafts that I showcase my succulents in:
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