Hey all,
Working on the next steps of my backyard bonsai “garden”. Thanks @KurtP for asking the monkey pole question on the Garden Design Behind the Branch. Wondering if I can get some of you to share how you made your monkey poles for your garden? Materials? Height? Would love to see some pictures if some of you are willing to share.
Thanks,
Jeffrey in Spokane
Yup. Watchin live! Thnx.
Bonsai On!
KurtP
Interested to see what designs folks post, too. The bonsai nursery I work at is in the process of brainstorming some display spaces and I’m collecting all the inspiration possible
I WAS hesitating to do monkey poles… Ryan’s garden re-hab for the win… Now I gotta get organized and do my garden…
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I recently demolished / re-built a 40+ yo kiwi arbour. Removed two truck loades of limbs last fall. Went with 2 1/2" black steel posts set 2 foot deap in concrete; with 1" cross bars. This puppy ain’t going nowhere… Crazy new growth already.
I have 6 leftover 6 foot x 8" round REAL ceader support logs in amazing good condition..
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Bonsai stands! easy peasy…
Going to bury them (securely) down to waist level. NO CONCRETE… I have lots of left over rebar. I will drill and drive two 4 foot sections at an angle east and west for longitudinal support.
Spike / heavy duty zinc lag bolt two 2x8x12 redwood boards down to the top (leftover from a 40 yo deck…). With two 2x4x24 redwood under support cross beams just outside of the post diameter for stability.
Then grab a ~12-16" stainless steel lazy susan from hardware store (amazingly cheep…) and affix with ss screws. Follow the instructions… it is NOT intuitive. Top with a pre-sealed water resistant 1x24x24 outdoor plywood platform. Maybe finish the rough edges with neutral colored epoxy resin to protect it. Make shure everything is heavy duty enough for your LARGEST tree to be safe! Do NOT under build… Maybe affix several ss tie-down D-rings with screws underneath the edges… gets windy here!
Everything set so the bonsai will be viewed at mid trunk level.
3 coats CLEAR Thompson Water Seal on everything…
Lemon squizy…
I have everything but the lazy susans laying around…!
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However… GOTTA … place those five 2 ton boulders FIRST… fancy Japanese entry way gate…fenceing… water feature… rusted arches…
The 30’x30’ rock patio, 10’ x 30’ pergolas with shade cloth, and winter storage are already in place! Also, grew a large maple tree for shade and a large forsythia hedge for privacy.
I DO just happen to have plenty of bonsai to finish it off!
JeffryC! You up for this? I will try one this weekend. '47 farm house…I don’t need no stinKing HOA’s permission…!
Bonsai On!
KurtP
