Shedding summer

My shedding summer is amped up these last few weekends before Garden Walk Buffalo. My plan is to have the shed as finished as possible before Garden Walk (in two weeks, July 25 and 26). Here is the progress so far on, what is now dubbed, Taj MaShed.


The inspiration.
It's tough to spend time on it, what with meetings about garden tours just about twice a week, Thursday Open Gardens, and a AAA garden bus tour coming through this Friday. I've lost other weekends to family visits and the Garden Art Sale of which I help coordinate. Then there's other meetings, and actual paying work that helps pay for the shed!

The consideration.
I figure the roofing  will have to wait until after the Walk. My minion is out priming the clapboard done so far and pre-painting the shingles that will go on the upper half of the ends of the shed. We've decided to finish cladding one side at a time so that my minion and I can both work on it at the same time – and see progress more quickly. The back side of the shed may not even get sided until AFTER the Walk – no one can see it anyway.

But the finish work that I've started is may favorite part. I do almost wish it could go slower so I have more time to enjoy it. It's the largest handy-man project I've ever tackled. I've built fencing, decking, shelving, a copper fountain, planter boxes, a ten-foot-long picnic table, a potting bench, the vertical garden frame, and much more. It seems all the skills developed from those projects gave me the confidence to start this one.
Windows came from our attic. Door was originally part of the house but was in the garage when we moved in 15 years ago.
Four ceiling panels on the west side are clear panels for light. You barely can see them. I think its the same material  Wonder Woman's plane is made of.
Even the view from inside to outside is fetching.
The rest of the garden cannot be ignored, especially with Open Gardens on Thursdays and a bus tour coming through. Thankfully, my minion has done a good portion of the gardening this year.
The vertical garden is doing okay. Lost about one third of the winter hardy succulents over the long, harsh winter. New hens & chicks plugs seem to be coming in fine.
It's like climbing a wall three inches at a time.

Diamond pattern grass and pavers got edged with alternating hosta and heuchera in the back row. I may end up putting some hosta in the left squares nearest the shed.



Comments

  1. I'm sure you noticed your the window diamonds match those of the lawn. The "shed's" design is totally charming! The time you (and your minion) are spending on it is the secret of its uniqueness.

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    1. Actually, the whole garden is themed on the diamond shape - espaliers, arbors, paver/grass combo, a diamond window in the shed, diamond patterned slate counter tops around the grill, diamonds in the marble "rug", around the outside mirrors, and much more.

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  2. Replies
    1. Thanks Marmee! I hadn't been on your blog in a while - it's beautiful!

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  3. Very well constructed and beautiful design, Jim. You are fortunate City ordinances allow that height. It is in line with your home, right. That makes the difference here.

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    1. Thanks Donna. Will you make it here for Garden Walk?

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  4. Do you do fences? If so, we're hiring.... ;-)

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  5. Do you do fences? If so, we're hiring.... ;-)

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    1. FEnces? I'm hiring out for that. Don't have time to do both. Know any good architects?

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  6. I don't know how you are going to top this creation. Coolest shed ever. Can't wait to see the finished project.

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    1. No need to top this. I will retire after this monster. I will lay down my hammer.

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  7. I love the diamond patterns.and how well it links to the architecture of the house. As a new reader I hadn't seen the vertical garden before. I've often thought of doing one but have put the idea aside as too difficult. How hard is it to establish the plants and keep them looking good?

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    1. I'll let you know after two winters. This first winter was unduly harsh (and long) and I lost about a third of the winter-hardy succulents. This coming winter I will cover them to at least minimize the harsh drying winds that hit that side of the house.

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  8. Wow, Jim, it looks great even unfinished. Bonus points for complementing the look of the house so well.

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    1. I have so many ideas wandering through my head to make this shed more charming - and useful – that I cannot sleep at night. Thanks for the kind words. I hop e we can get you back up to Buffalo for the Walk sometime.

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  9. Looks like it would fit a 17 year old quite nicely...

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    1. She wants me to build a loft in it for sleep-overs. Her and the spiders that have already started making themselves at home in there.

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  10. It's coming along nicely. Display your drawings of the finished product during the Garden Walk if the shed is not complete. Heck, display them even it it is - they are great works of art themselves.
    Ray

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    1. I hadn't thought to display the drawings. I just may do that! And thanks.

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