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…
.
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..
.
.
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…!
.
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
Go big or go home Kurt!
I am up for helping you do some of these and see what they look like. Don’t think I can bury anything that deep in the ground in my area.
Anyone else? Interested in seeing a variety of your monkey pile designs, materials, techniques…
Jeffrey
Prototype mostly done…
Gathered parts n pieces, cut to specs.
Pre-drilled holes… who knew 40 yo redwood was this hard… Used heavy duty deck screws…
Started digging.. Valley rock! Courtesy of the local glaciers..
Set the post
checked level, Added top with two 2x4" on edge ‘T’ underneath to screw into post for stability, checked north… (ya, I’m obsessive..)
I have two heavy duty lazy susans from old bank crt displays… decided I can turn the trees by hand for now. Maybe later. Minimalist, ya.
Probably can’t swing from it; however, it’s good for ~100 lbs..
Wife Approved… I will pretty it up with a 40 yo 5 quarter thick barn board skirt— pre-patinaed n everything… Will waterproof the cut ends.
Materials mostly free. Hour n a half my time.
Just another pretty face… If ya can’t be handsome, be handy… No duct tape involved.
I do not like the esthetics of these 40 yo 6x8" Inland Power cross beams left over from fencing, I might use be them out back behind the bonsai shed…, any opinions?
5 more to go… Any thoughts?
Bonsai On…
KurtP
That is beautiful Gary! Love it. Afraid to ask how much the stone pillar cost you? You are certainly under no obligation to answer!
Jeffrey
$650. Delivered and installed, I dug the hole. I asked for it to be 5 ft. It was 7. My shoulders ached after I was done digging
