Wood Arbors And Gateways Stage A Strong Revival

(HIT) - With the spread of civilization and the development of sophisticated architecture, the design of gardens was elevated to an art in every culture. Along with the hybridizing of native plants for the beauty of their flowers and foliage came the creation of structures to support them and enhance the delight they gave to the eye and the heart. Almost universal in the gardens of those early cultures was the arched arbor, evocative of cool, shady lanes between lines of trees.

Arbors were popular with the Romans, who were wild about roses, which they carried with them to every part of their empire. During the Dark Ages that followed, the trellis and the arbor endured throughout Europe in kitchen and castle gardens. Later, when Marie Antoinette played at being a simple dairymaid, leafy arbors for rustic love trysts became a favorite feature of Versailles and other playgrounds of the aristocracy. Then as now, the middle class mimicked the rich and famous and the cottage gardens of France, Germany and England blossomed with, scaled with unpretentious charm to the dimensions of their more modest settings.

Arbors Make Their Way To America

From the earliest days of settlement in New England, European immigrants brought with them to America their beloved climbing roses, honeysuckle and berry vines and also their trellis and arbors. As more recent times saw a shift of emphasis to lawns in open, park-like yards, there came neater, less rambunctious flowers, stiffly-manicured floral borders and fewer garden structures. The last few decades, however, have seen a resurgence of the informal garden with its romantic profusion of old-fashioned roses and luxuriously flowering vines like clematis and honeysuckle. And, of course, arbors.

Arbors have become popular, too, for the charm they add to a property when used as an entryway. Casual, unforbidding and decorative, they pride a welcoming note. At the same time they make a positive statement to the visitor about the owners and the pride they take in their home.

More and more, owners of both traditional and contemporary styled homes are finding a place for an arbor either as a decorative element in the garden or to frame the entry to their premises.

Building Vs Buying A Wood Arbor Or Gateway

While a small arbor is essentially a simple structure, an arbor is not an easy do-it-yourself project for the average homeowner. It requires a good grade of lumber, preferably rot-resistant, quite a few joints and careful workmanship to ensure that it will stand up to all sorts of weather. The best-looking arbors and gateways include lattice in their assembly, and that can create a deterrent to the home craftsperson, both in purchasing it in the smaller amounts required and in cutting and fitting into the framework.

Having a wood arbor or gateway custom built can be a spendy proposition. So it is not surprising that reasonably priced ready-to-assemble arbors are making an appearance in home centers and building material and garden supply retailers.

Probably the most attractive and certainly the best values in ready-to-assemble wood arbors are the Woodway® units, manufactured by the LWO Corporation, a leading manufacturer of quality wood lattice. Their Glenwood arbor model is in the classic round-top design, while the Rosewood arbor model is a pergola type, straight-topped and suited to both traditional and contemporary settings.

Both arbor models are nicely detailed and well-constructed of premium grade Western Red Cedar, a species that nature has made so resistant to rot and insect attack that it does not need chemical treatment. The latticed side panels of each arbor are factory-assembled, with glued furniture type joints, reinforced with rust-resistant screws. These arbors are truly easy to assemble using only a screwdriver and light hammer. Full detailed instructions are provided together with all hardware. Each arbor is individually cartoned to protect it in shipping and dealer storage to reach the buyer in clean condition.

These well-crafted wood arbors, with their high resistance to weather and decay and their inherent compatibility with foliage and flowers, are the natural choice for the dedicated gardener. Unlike the industrial-looking plastic versions, with their glossy finish and their mechanical aura, Woodway arbors seem at home in the garden. They can be painted or stained to any color of your choice, and take all finishes beautifully. Many owners, however, prefer to leave the arbors unfinished, to weather to an attractive gray. With their durable red cedar construction and good craftsmanship, Woodway arbors will last for many years with minimal maintenance and provide a joyous, colorful spot in the yard or garden.

Woodway arbors and gateways are distributed nationally. For more information visit LWO Corporation online at www.lwocorp.com.

Courtesy: Home Improvement News and Information Center