First problem to tackle is our ‘beloved’ water tanks. These would usually be underground but thanks to some rough and ready tradies ours are not, so the choices were cover them in soil or make a feature out of them. After some time on Pinterest, some time in the library and a lot of time just sitting staring at them, we decided to go for something a little different.
The idea was to build a circular fence around each one using ponga logs. Then we’d fill them with gravel, add some outdoor furniture and hey presto, two new spaces to sit and think about what to do with all the other spaces.
First up was an order with Landscape Supplies for 70 pongas and a cube of Landscape Gold gravel. That was the easy part.
Carrying each log across the section, digging a metre deep hole and burying each one individually was a little more difficult. Nonetheless, after just three weekend’s work we now have two ponga fences and two outdoor areas that we love. The bad news is we’ll be finding ponga dust in our pockets for the foreseeable future…
These should have been underground. Clearly they are not. Way to go tradies.
Weekend one and ‘some’ pongas are in. Both praying the vicious wind doesn’t send them flying into next door’s land…
Once they’re in the ground it’s time for Shane to cut them very neatly into shape. Or just ‘go at them’ with a chainsaw. Whichever’s easiest.
It’s gravel day! Which means two trips to Tauranga, lots of shovelling and heaps of takeout coffees. Incidentally, despite me appearing in none of the photos, this was a joint effort. Apart from when I had a ‘shovelling’ tantrum and downed tools.
Love gravel.
So there we go. All that’s left to add is some corten steel structures we’ve had commissioned in Auckland to cover the tank lids (delayed, along with everything else this year). And our little living fence is already sprouting growth. Or horns…
The Napkin House 