Every country has its tradition of small garden structures--as a place to take tea or take in the view, play music, or write a great novel. A pavilion can provide shade in the summer or shelter from a storm, and the perfect focus for a garden party. It's a chance to set your architectural imagination free. A garden structure can be as simple as a poolside cabana, a rustic miniature English cottage, a sturdy Dutch gazebo, or a tranquil Japanese tea house. Such historic forms are inspiration for those who want a sylvan refuge in which to work, write, or entertain friends. Indeed, the garden structure is a building that brings you closer to nature. More practical are those garden structures that, while sometimes framing a view, serve primarily to support vines, roses, and other climbing plants. These are the arches, the pergolas, and the arbors, whose appeal lies not only in their appearance from a distance but in the experience of walking or sitting beneath them. Although a long pergola is suitable only for larger spaces, or to transform an awkward area along one side of a town house garden, an arch is ideal for creating a focal point, embracing a seat, or showcasing a spectacular flowering climber. Excerpted from 1,000 Garden Ideas: The Best of Everything in a Visual Sourcebook by Stafford Cliff All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.
