Hello Lisa.

Welcome back to another edition of my newsletter, THE PENCIL CASE! As always, each issue focuses on a theme to encourage a fresh look at garden design and graphics. This week let's learn about a fabulous garden structure: the arbor. ♥︎

A BIT OF ARBOR HISTORY

Arbors have been around for thousands of years, their exact origin unknown. There are accounts of arbor-like structures in the times of Ancient Egypt used to provide shade in the heat of the desert and early settlers described indigenous peoples homes '"like gardein arbours”: covered shelters made of tightly knit vegetation, large enough to accommodate several people”, in the early 1600s.

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The term arbor may come from the latin word meaning tree, hinting at an arbor’s tree-like canopy. But, others argue it comes from the latin word, bur, meaning room, hut or dwelling. It could also be a fun mish-mash of both: a tree-like dwelling. 

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Learn more about the arbor from two of the resources we used at the History of Early American Landscape Design and Utah State University University Libraries.

ARBORS IN THE GARDEN

Arbors can be a beautiful addition to your garden. Use them to:

• Provide an entry point into a garden space
• Create a lovely transition from one outdoor room into another
• Define the edge of a garden space as part of a fence.
• Act as a focal point
• Grow a favorite vine
• Create a small shady nook in which to tuck a bench

ARBOR INSPIRATION

Confusion often occurs between various garden definitions. Take a peek at GARDEN TERMS: TRELLIS, ARBOR AND PERGOLA to learn more about these structures.

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I've been collecting images for years on my TRELLIS | ARBOR | PERGOLA Pinterest Board. Super inspiring!

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One of my favorite books is GARDEN STRUCTURES by Linda Joan Smith. Interesting note: she refers to the arbor as "the arch". Always fun to see how we all use different terms for the same structure. 

LET'S DO THIS! 

How do you use the arbor in your garden? Do you use a different term for this structure? Hit reply and let me know. I'd love to hear from you!

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In about a week I'll be opening my design membership, THE GARDEN DESIGN COLLECTIVE, for my Founding Member's Group. If you'd like to know when it opens, jump on my waiting list here.

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If you know someone that needs design inspiration, please feel free to share this newsletter. Anyone can subscribe right here. I also keep a VAULT of past issues in this secret location.

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Thanks for letting me visit your inbox. I look forward to seeing you in two short weeks. ♥︎

All my best, 

Lisa 

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PAPER GARDEN WORKSHOP

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A big thank you to Mandy Orgler for helping me write this issue of The Pencil Case.