Friday, July 29, 2011

Green Gates and The Green Man

In 2008, writing about honeysuckle and hummingbirds this was a picture of our back garden gate that leads to a larger garden area down wooden stairs.  This is what it looked like three years ago:


Unfortunately, we had some very cold winters that killed off the honeysuckle vines.  We took down the archway, cut back the dead branches, and were left with just the gate that looks bare and in desperate need of a face lift.

So I went looking for garden gates that were green in color, hoping to find something I liked and would inspire me to repaint the wooden gate.  Here are some pretty gates that I found while doing an internet search:

 
from pinterest 

(from dreamstime)

Using oil paint from a tube, paint thinner and a linseed oil mixture with instructions here, this is our newly refurbished stained gate:


This is the gate yesterday prior prior to staining:


What a difference a little paint makes!

This is a Green Man, cast in iron, similar to one that I just ordered to attach to the fence:

The Green Man
...is that spirit, energy, presence, inherent in every cell of the vegetative realm, and transmitted to the animal/human realms through the foods we eat, the flowers we smell, the trees we hug. He is Pan.

10 comments:

  1. I LOVE it, great job! I have been wanting to staing our deck out back! Thanks for the inspiration:) Have a blessed day dear Nancy, HUGS!

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  2. Hi Nancy *hugs*
    Your fence looks wonderful with that shade of green. I love a good green colour. Isn't that too bad about the fence not having the flowers it had before....those pics are so pretty.

    I like the green man you've ordered. I can't wait to see it when you have it up.

    You have a lovely garden area.
    I hope you can enjoy your garden today.
    Judi

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  3. Your original set up was so pretty and gave the whole Secret Garden vibe. Your new finds are just awesome! What will you get?

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  4. Out of all the pictures, I love the first one of your gate and garden the best...beautiful!!!! What a shame you lost your gorgeous vines. Green is my favorite color, so it's a given I would LOVE your refurbished gate!
    It is amazing what a little paint can do.
    I'm looking forward to seeing your garden once you're finished with it..with green man, etc. Great job, Nancy!!

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  5. Love that gate. Great shade of green!

    I hope your daughter is well.

    Cathy

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  6. Gorgeous post...wonderfully inspiring..love all that peaceful green...and such a fabulous greenman...magnificent! I bet your greenman and mine would be great pals!
    beautiful post!
    victoria

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  7. HI Nancy ... Since you said the honeysuckle died, I wanted to mention that clematis is a lovely flowering vine, and if you cut it back in the fall, it will come back every spring!

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  8. What a fine change Nancy. Like you, I have lost some beautiful honeysuckle over the years. And it's fun to look at pictures to get a new idea. 'Pan' will be a fabulous edition and boast a great new look. Your gate was beautiful with the honeysuckle. Have a good weekend!

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  9. Nancy if you can't get hold of M.R. DVD, let me know and I will see if I can get you a copy to post over to you.

    Lorraine :-)

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  10. The green gate looks lovely. nice and bright

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