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Arbor arches can have many configurations.a dome of an arbor construction image by sootra from Fotolia.com
Stack your rocks or broken cement blocks one on top of the other until they are one to two feet high, depending on the local amount of rainfall. More rainfall requires a higher foundation to keep the pillar dry from downpour splashing. Arrange your blocks or rocks so the best side is visible. Line them up carefully. There should be a stacked foundation for every pillar you plan to build. If you are making an arbor to stand under, be sure your pillars rise over five feet. Depending on the design, a PVC pipe, willow sapling or bamboo length will arch over to its matching counterpart. - 2
Sculpted clay makes great conversation art.t?ate sculpt??e "grotesque" image by Bruno Bernier from Fotolia.com
Dump two buckets of your soil onto the middle of your mixing tarp. Take a big handful of your short or chopped straw and sprinkle the straw into the dirt as you stomp, twist and mix this earth with your feet. Add water while doing this. Wear old shoes, tennies or boots.
Continue to mix, stomp and twist while adding water. Fold the mix into the center by pulling the tarp edges and folding into the middle. Again, jump, stomp, twist and mix with the feet.
When it begins to look like a firmly folded burrito, you are almost finished. Firm earth clay kneads like flour dough and looks and feels like finished dough ready to bake. Clay molecules bond to the sand in the mix for a rock solid drying effect. Take the dough-like mix and plop it onto your foundation. - 3
Carve and plaster the clay images.metal carving image by timur1970 from Fotolia.com
As the mix is formed upward from the base, be sure to overlap the foundation with the bottom trunk of the pillar, so no water can seep under or between the rock/cement block base and earth pillar. This overlap also helps the pillar hold firm to the base. Work the dough slowly with hands and fingers while forming the pillar. When the mix begins to dry and has a leather-like consistency, begin carving designs onto the sides with the carving tools while working upward in height. Form the pillar into your desired shape--square or round. - 4). At the top of the pillar sink your willow sapling, PVC pipe or bamboo length about 6 inches into the top of the pillar, and arch it over to its mate, sinking this into the top on the other side. The lengths are determined by your arbor design. Be sure the saplings are fresh so arching is easy and no breakage occurs. PVC pipe also works very well. Plant your climbing vines at the base of the stone or cement pillar foundations.
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Adobe walls are thick.Windows to the kitchen of an adobe house in the Southwestern USA image by John Sfondilias from Fotolia.com
To seal the pillar surfaces and protect them from rain and weather wear, bring two gallons of water to a boil, and slowly add the wheat flour while stirring constantly. As you add flour and stir, watch for a consistency of cake batter. If you have concerns about tough weather exteriors, add Elmer's glue to harden the paint. Linseed oil with melted candle wax also adds protection. Apply with brushes while still warm for ease of application. Another option is to paint the pillars with water colors, then cover with the oil/wax mix when it is dry.
