On a recent visit to one of the local home improvement centers, I spent some time perusing the DIY library near the checkout stands. With summer almost here, it brought to mind a host of outdoor projects I’ve been wanting to start. Here’s a list of ten that I’d love to build in my backyard.
- Gazebo – This seems like it would be an ambitious undertaking, but you’ve just got to love the results. Whenever I see a well-built, ornate gazebo sitting in someone’s yard, I’m (at least momentarily) inspired to build one for my own. What a great place it would be for reading, bird-watching, entertaining guests, or just relaxing. I want one.
- Water Wheel – These things are so attractive, and their mechanism so soothing, that they’re almost hypnotic. The chance to build a water wheel might even provide me enough incentive to first build one of these:
- Koi Pond – I have seen examples of these, built by friends of mine, and was surprised at both the simplicity of their construction and the hardiness of the Koi fish. They cannot only survive, but flourish, even when the pond has literally frozen over in winter.
- Footbridge – I’ve seen footbridges that spanned garden ponds and streams or small gulleys along walkways and wood trails. They make a wonderful accent or centerpiece in a garden or courtyard.
- Observatory – No, not one of those huge rotating domes. These are backyard observatories that resemble a common tool shed or child’s play house. The difference here is that it’s constructed with a concrete-anchored mount for a telescope, and a retractable roof . You can stargaze year-round, impervious to the adverse optical, as well as physical, effects of temperature changes and wind conditions.
- Tree House – How great would it be to have a get-away like a tree house right in your own backyard? It’s the perfect antidote for children who’ve become tethered to their computers and game consoles. And there’s no better venue for the young – or not so young – explorer and adventurer.
- Brick Barbecue Pit – I’ve already got a gas grill and two smokers; nevertheless, I have always wanted to have a brick BBQ pit. It seems like everything just tastes better when grilled on a brick pit.
- Tiered Landscaping – This is a terrific option for property that is on a slope. Using landscaping timber – or, alternatively, decorative stone – you can create a tiered effect that is not only supremely attractive, but easier to cultivate and navigate than terrain with an unbroken slope. Add some plants, a vegetable garden or even a waterfall for a fabulous look and feel.
- Wagon Planter – You can find plans for wagon planters of various sizes online. They give a marvelously rustic appeal to your yard, and make an ideal – and portable – display for your green thumb’s handiwork. As an added bonus, your plants and flowers are placed at a convenient height for maintenance and watering.
- Pergola – You can build a pergola inexpensively with reclaimed lumber such as barn wood, or and create a sun-filtered, ivy-covered shelter for outdoor dining or entertaining. There are some very inventive yet easy to follow plans available.
So it looks like I’ve got a busy spring and summer in store for me. So many magazines to browse, and so little time.
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