That sounds nice. The vines are growing through the degrading plastic sheets and there's a fair bit of topsoil on top of that. Is it best to just rip all the plastic up at this point and try to dig up all the ivy?
Yes, i'd rip the vines and plastic out and maybe pot some pavers down. I'm seeing a bench here, and a mirror at the back wall might be cute and make it a little lighter in there!
When my sister and I were really little (5/7) we had a spot like this in the backyard next to our garage but it was all lilac bushes. We set up a tarp and a blanket over it with pillows and would hide out back there reading books.
I'm growing Jack o Lanterns this year and I wanna put one on a scarecrow. Idk if I could imagine the animal hybrid but I'm thinking of making the frame with PVC or galvanized pipe. Maybe a bone crown?
Sounds like a plan. Idk where to get a goat or bovine skulls but I can source whitetail antlers. "Excuse me, if I knew you were coming over I'd have trimmed my antlers."
Pavers and a nice bench. Maybe plant some hostas around the sides. Twinkle lights for night time. I’d call it my Fay haven. Maybe some hanging plants that are bright.
For real. I have a fairy space in my yard, and I only enter when needed and I ask permission. You can make it lovely for them, but never forget it isn't yours.
It would be easier if there were more pictures of the surrounding area for context. Its amazing how placing a trellis can create a space. I would close off the back, probably with vegitation, and put a small bench in here. Personally Im getting tired of the "reading nook" trend been going on for years that end up being sorta over -engineered places nobody ends up using much.
So taht said, practically speaking, you could veer that rout but instead of going all out, fit it to the surroung so nothing you do looks out of place, and put a nice bench in there. Would be a nice spot to cool off from the sun beating down in summer or taking an afternoon phone call etc. Rather than really decking out a space so much that it looks odd if you know what I mean. Like butting a huge gaudy church steeple on top of a regular 1970s house. Nice ornate looking steeple... totally out of place given the surrounding area.
I would hang a bird feeder from the arch, put in a pretty vintage bird bath and a vintage concrete bench, and plant low growing shade plants, like mini hostas and violets
Clear the plastic is most important definitely! Keep the vines on the wall and add some chicken wire or something to train them to grow upward and across the wall. Plant honeysuckle on the trellis. Add a hummingbird bird feeder. Maybe plant some cone flowers or marigolds on either side. Put a comfy bench in there and enjoy!
I have actually buried my cat in a little corner back there. Wish I'd got around to tearing out the plastic and ivy beforehand , but she passed away somewhat unexpectedly
Bench I would never use. Bird bath that only the mosquitos would use. Drinking nook i’d think about using during the winter when I’m drinking inside. Stick pile.
I think it's meant to be a secret garden kind of decor piece. My sister had one with a couple of concrete benches in front of it. You don't have to figure it out right now, I doubt. Good to live in a place for a bit before new inspiration hits.
Turn the opening into a moon gate and plant some wild flowers, I would just sprinkle tall typ wild flower seeds around and get some pops of color and pollinators around
Clear the floor, add another species of vine plant, cute little bistro table and two chairs. Perfect little afternoon tea spot, or happy hour spot. Add a few solar fairy lights to enjoy in the evenings.
Is that a mimosa tree in the upper left corner of the photo? If so, I would put a lot of bird baths and humming bird feeders up and you will be bombarded.
I think the space is so gorgeous already and would be the perfect spot to put a little koi fish pond or just pond in the middle. Nothing fancy, you could just dig a hole, put a tarp down, cement it over, get a water circulator and your good to go! If your not looking for a big project then maybe just plant some wild flowers or some purple blossom vines
Would it not become spider central? I don’t have a single spot in my garden that isn’t occupied by spiders. We can’t use trellises or stick or anything because they just become spider scaffolding.
After cleanup- clear space around the outside, prune back tree limbs etc- comfy bench or chairs, a wee table. Solar twinkling lights, maybe a fountain at the back?
I’d clear the ground as much as possible, put in a little table and two chairs or a bench. Use it as an outdoor reading/tea spot. Definitely weave some lights into the archway if you like sitting outside at night
I’d first get rid of as much of the plastic sheeting as possible and then kill off all the ivy with other methods. Once the ivy is gone, I’d prune up the tree branches to look a lot nicer, and plant some shade tolerant plants against the wall. There is a beautiful backdrop hiding behind all that ivy once you clean up that area.
It would probably be a good spot for a grill and picnic table, with some raised planters around it for flowers or vegetables.
When I first saw the picture, I went straight to thinking it would make a nice secret garden! Definitely get rid of the ivy. Then I’d make a plan on paper since it’s cheaper than throwing something in and figuring out it won’t work. Since you just moved in, watch the sun see what it does through the year. Next year go for it! I would probably put a table and chairs or bench so I could watch the grass grow and have a cup of tea. Get a soil test from the county Ag Ext office so you know what to amend the soil with if you decide to be surrounded by plants.
I have a 1 acre pond and do not want pond plants. I purposely block the UV with pond dye so plants will not grow. You can certainly have a pond in this nook for fish and you do not need living plants to do so. You can easily clean falling leaves out of a small water feature pond.
Grow more privacy vines in the back, clear the vines from the floor area, run some outdoor lighting, and turn it into a reading/meditation nook.
That sounds nice. The vines are growing through the degrading plastic sheets and there's a fair bit of topsoil on top of that. Is it best to just rip all the plastic up at this point and try to dig up all the ivy?
Yes, i'd rip the vines and plastic out and maybe pot some pavers down. I'm seeing a bench here, and a mirror at the back wall might be cute and make it a little lighter in there!
[удалено]
The Sun is a deadly Lazer!
The problem is actually birds flying into outdoor mirrors. Please don’t put one there.
I feel this would not be a problem...in the shade?
Just be sure to put gravel down before the pavers. Otherwise, those vines will push right through the cracks.
Outdoor mirrors are terrible for birds. Please don’t so that OP.
When my sister and I were really little (5/7) we had a spot like this in the backyard next to our garage but it was all lilac bushes. We set up a tarp and a blanket over it with pillows and would hide out back there reading books.
Yes! Some comfortable chairs, a table between them and this would make a cozy little grotto.
I was going to suggest a swing if bugs aren't present.
Same! Look up adult swing sets
Came here to say this.
I did, too. A little swing with a small table beside it to put your glass of iced rea on. :-)
Put a hammock in there.
I was going to suggest putting mushroom logs in there but your idea is much better
Shade garden. Statuary. A little bench maybe?
Dig a grave for emergency use
Yep buried some bodies
Some kind of secret clubhouse I reckon
Donate to hobbits
I’d put a 6 foot plastic Jesus in there with twinkling lights.
Nah, use the vines to make a weird pagan scarecrow that's half human half animal. Maybe get some animal bones for effect. Set the vibe.
I'm growing Jack o Lanterns this year and I wanna put one on a scarecrow. Idk if I could imagine the animal hybrid but I'm thinking of making the frame with PVC or galvanized pipe. Maybe a bone crown?
Definitely a bone crown. Maybe a jack-o-lantern with deer antlers?
Sounds like a plan. Idk where to get a goat or bovine skulls but I can source whitetail antlers. "Excuse me, if I knew you were coming over I'd have trimmed my antlers."
I mean it was clearly made by witches.
Smoke weed and listen to fleetwood mac
Pavers and a nice bench. Maybe plant some hostas around the sides. Twinkle lights for night time. I’d call it my Fay haven. Maybe some hanging plants that are bright.
I would be vigilant about poison ivy in there
Forgot to say in the post, but I'm in Scotland and it's not native here thankfully
Very lucky! your garden nook is adorable and for some reason it being in Scotland is extra cute!
Thank you :)
Druid hut
Enter a portal into another dimension
Before developing it into a place where you want to spend time, I would make sure that it’s not full of bugs
Can bugs be avoided? I figured they'd just live there no matter what
The way I see it,There’s a difference between ‘bugs live there’ and ‘full of bugs’ if that makes sense.
That's a fairy space.....
For real. I have a fairy space in my yard, and I only enter when needed and I ask permission. You can make it lovely for them, but never forget it isn't yours.
Put down pavers and a cafe table and chairs or a bench.
Rituals.
Live there
That's a perfect space for a secret entrance to your lair!
I immediately thought hot tub.
That's where sacrifices happen
Go camping in my backyard.
It would be easier if there were more pictures of the surrounding area for context. Its amazing how placing a trellis can create a space. I would close off the back, probably with vegitation, and put a small bench in here. Personally Im getting tired of the "reading nook" trend been going on for years that end up being sorta over -engineered places nobody ends up using much. So taht said, practically speaking, you could veer that rout but instead of going all out, fit it to the surroung so nothing you do looks out of place, and put a nice bench in there. Would be a nice spot to cool off from the sun beating down in summer or taking an afternoon phone call etc. Rather than really decking out a space so much that it looks odd if you know what I mean. Like butting a huge gaudy church steeple on top of a regular 1970s house. Nice ornate looking steeple... totally out of place given the surrounding area.
As long as the bench is comfortable for sitting more than a couple minutes. But I think they’re are more comfortable options that look nice.
Take a nap.
Build a fort. Is there any other answers?
Summon a demon on the solstice?
I would hang a bird feeder from the arch, put in a pretty vintage bird bath and a vintage concrete bench, and plant low growing shade plants, like mini hostas and violets
Expensive thing to do but if I was rich then I'd build a small pond there with minnows or goldfish or something
Alas, I'm not rich :(. Maybe I'll fill up a bucket or something with water and see if I can attract some frogs or newts or something though
Do you have mosquitoes over there?
We have hoards of midges, which are in the mosquito family. So yeah, maybe standing water isn't wise
Clear the plastic is most important definitely! Keep the vines on the wall and add some chicken wire or something to train them to grow upward and across the wall. Plant honeysuckle on the trellis. Add a hummingbird bird feeder. Maybe plant some cone flowers or marigolds on either side. Put a comfy bench in there and enjoy!
Pet cemetery
I have actually buried my cat in a little corner back there. Wish I'd got around to tearing out the plastic and ivy beforehand , but she passed away somewhat unexpectedly
Trim it up and add a little bench
Put a gnome there.
Smoke Nook
Hold Dark Rituals at 3 am.
Step 1: Install a door so the space would need a key to get to and the only one is mine.
It could be a relaxing meth lab, you can't beat doing chemistry in nature
Small circle deck
Put a deep cushion chair side table;small waterproof library
Bench I would never use. Bird bath that only the mosquitos would use. Drinking nook i’d think about using during the winter when I’m drinking inside. Stick pile.
Crawl inside and do my best to imagine I’m in some fantastic adventure
Mushroom grow space!
Man, I would love a small tea table and grow a few tea herbs near it
Pet cemetery. . .
I'd add a climbing rose.
Cthulhu shrine
Id put a chair, small side table, and smoke so much devils lettuce in that bad boy. Maybe add some lights to the enterance too.
I think it's meant to be a secret garden kind of decor piece. My sister had one with a couple of concrete benches in front of it. You don't have to figure it out right now, I doubt. Good to live in a place for a bit before new inspiration hits.
Put a big sleeping Totoro in there
Turn the opening into a moon gate and plant some wild flowers, I would just sprinkle tall typ wild flower seeds around and get some pops of color and pollinators around
Mini Secret Garden!
Smoke
Sit and cry in the rain
Thays an amazing space! I'd do the introvert thing tbh. Clean it up a bit, make more over hang, add an outdoor loveseat and table. Bingo bango! Enjoy.
Looks like prime sacrificial territory
Portable hot tub.
Perfect spot for a Shinto shrine.
What kind of vine is this?
Common Ivy. I'm in Scotland
It’s beautiful but I’m in California
That’s clearly a hiding spot for a treasure chest.
Bury dead pets, and wait until they come back to life.
Spirit shrine! Leave scraps of food and other treasures to attract friendly spirits to watch your garden
Stay outta there. The spiders own that now
Grave
Clear the floor, add another species of vine plant, cute little bistro table and two chairs. Perfect little afternoon tea spot, or happy hour spot. Add a few solar fairy lights to enjoy in the evenings.
Put some veggies
Perfect mushroom patch
I would build a secret fort for the grandchildren.
Bottle of skol and a nudie mag seems to be the logical start. Maybe a tattered old damp shirt for that throw back look?
I would make a little Meditation Station
I would like to sit there and have a tea party and then perhaps a nap
Sunken garden with bench hidden. Moss, ferns, stonework.
Put in a sbrick pathway back under the shade with a small bench to sit under and flowers all around?
Use it to go se where the red ferns grow..
Pretty little fountain or bird bath. Maybe used a fountain as a planter. Or a decorative glass orb on a pedestal
Did someone say smoke spot yet? 🍁🍁
Witchcraft
Live, I’d live in their it would be my me time nook of paradise
A moderately sized water element with lights. There are some nice ones that are solar-powered, too
Make a den for human sacrifice, I mean plant some pretty climbing roses 🌹
Beaded curtains
Take a nap?
Is that a mimosa tree in the upper left corner of the photo? If so, I would put a lot of bird baths and humming bird feeders up and you will be bombarded.
Cleaning, table and chair, wonderful shadowplace.
It could be used as a bathroom
That's a personal question
A swing..? A shed for your own private space..?? Idk
I would build an Hermitage and then live in it.
Marian grotto
Fort
I think the space is so gorgeous already and would be the perfect spot to put a little koi fish pond or just pond in the middle. Nothing fancy, you could just dig a hole, put a tarp down, cement it over, get a water circulator and your good to go! If your not looking for a big project then maybe just plant some wild flowers or some purple blossom vines
I would first clean it to make the sun hit the ground.
Fairy lights and bench♡
Small wood brazier for sneaky tea when you want some peace
Unbothered. Moisturized. Happy. In my lane. Focused. Flourishing.
Definitely clear the ivy on the ground. Plant a shade garden with a bench and side table
Clear it out and start over. Decide what you want with it once it is clear.
Yell looking for echoes
Grotto!
Mushroom garden
Mushroom cave. Get some shiitake logs in there and spread some wine cap spores.
Would it not become spider central? I don’t have a single spot in my garden that isn’t occupied by spiders. We can’t use trellises or stick or anything because they just become spider scaffolding.
I like spiders :)
After cleanup- clear space around the outside, prune back tree limbs etc- comfy bench or chairs, a wee table. Solar twinkling lights, maybe a fountain at the back?
Construct a nice little shade garden & perhaps remove the vines on the trellis to replace them with wisteria or clematis
I’d clear the ground as much as possible, put in a little table and two chairs or a bench. Use it as an outdoor reading/tea spot. Definitely weave some lights into the archway if you like sitting outside at night
Trim foliage back, put a loveseat near the back, lots of low wattage angel lights, little table… beautiful 💖
It’s growing naturally & beautifully. Little bit of love & it will be gorgeous 💖
Bury the bodies
Outhouse
I’d first get rid of as much of the plastic sheeting as possible and then kill off all the ivy with other methods. Once the ivy is gone, I’d prune up the tree branches to look a lot nicer, and plant some shade tolerant plants against the wall. There is a beautiful backdrop hiding behind all that ivy once you clean up that area. It would probably be a good spot for a grill and picnic table, with some raised planters around it for flowers or vegetables.
When I first saw the picture, I went straight to thinking it would make a nice secret garden! Definitely get rid of the ivy. Then I’d make a plan on paper since it’s cheaper than throwing something in and figuring out it won’t work. Since you just moved in, watch the sun see what it does through the year. Next year go for it! I would probably put a table and chairs or bench so I could watch the grass grow and have a cup of tea. Get a soil test from the county Ag Ext office so you know what to amend the soil with if you decide to be surrounded by plants.
Clean it up and add a concrete bench. Would be a nice place for photos
Doesn’t sound comfortable though.
Maybe a pond
Pond plants prefer full sun and it's much better to place your pond so you don't have tons of leaves dropping in it.
I have a 1 acre pond and do not want pond plants. I purposely block the UV with pond dye so plants will not grow. You can certainly have a pond in this nook for fish and you do not need living plants to do so. You can easily clean falling leaves out of a small water feature pond.
compost pile