There is something about a proper garden entrance that lifts the whole space. I had always wanted one, and the foot of the lower deck was the right spot for it — a natural threshold between the patio and the garden levels above.

I built the arbour to fit. Solid, proportionate, and designed to last rather than flex in the wind. While I was at it, I looked at trellises in the local garden centre and was not impressed with what was on offer — flimsy frames at prices that did not reflect their quality. So I built one instead, to support a Jasmine Star plant that needed something it could actually climb.

Both structures have settled into the garden well. The jasmine is doing its job.