While loading bikes for the Village Bike Project (great folks!), Tom came across this old frame–a vintage Robin Hood stepthrough from Nottingham, England. Lovely bike, beyond reasonable hopes for restoration. So he took it home and hid it on the side east side of the house until he was brave enough to tell me that he wanted to use it for a pea trellis. He knows I am not fond of “gimmicky” structures in the garden. What’s next? Old boots planted with strawberries? But since he thinks I’m too controlling about the garden (me?!), I had to prove him wrong by pretending to be excited about the bicycle trellis. And I have to admit, it’s kind of cute.
We planted Cascadia and Sugar Sprint snap peas, and Oregon snow peas. As always when planting peas, I added a few sweetpeas here and there to mingle, adding a bit of color and beauty.
This was a sweet little bike in its day, with its 3 speed Sturmey-Archer thumb shifter , and its traditional stretched leather saddle, now a skeleton.
Even if I don’t LOVE it, it really does make a perfect trellis, and it will soon be covered with peas–nearly invisible. I’ll post a photo of the bike trellis in its future glory.
Update: here are the before and after photos, showing it twined with lovely peas.
Nancy Stillger // Mar 31, 2011 at 4:57 PM
Now you will give my Tom an excuse to collect more bikes!
lyanda // Mar 31, 2011 at 8:16 PM
Oh, dear–sorry Nancy!
Tracie // Apr 4, 2011 at 10:58 AM
I think it is lovely–and I can’t wait to see it covered in peas. Of course, I have plans to make an herb bed out of an old iron baby bed–so pay no attention to me. ; )
lyanda // Apr 4, 2011 at 1:05 PM
Thanks, Tracie. I’m sure your new “garden bed” will be beautiful!
Dana // Apr 15, 2011 at 11:12 AM
It will look so charming covered with peas! I’m not a huge fan of garden kitsch because I’ve lived near neighbors who used things like old toilets to grow their zucchinis in. That’s just not cute to me – it’s gross to look at! The bike is much better.
Bicycle Peas Treillage | Snap Peas Reviews // Apr 30, 2011 at 5:58 PM
[...] Even if I don’t like it, this is really a trellis perfect, and it will soon be covered with peas-nearly invisible. ? I’ll post a photo of lattice bike in its future glory. original article: Bicycle Pea Trellis. [...]
Kitchen Table Seedlings: Watering from the Bottom-Up // May 18, 2011 at 11:27 AM
[...] Seattle gardeners, I know we’re not alone. The peas, which are supposed to cover up the bicycle trellis I only sort of like, are a full six inches shorter than they were this date last [...]
Trellis Whimsies: Bicycle “After” Photo, and Other Experiments // Jun 29, 2011 at 3:51 PM
[...] the Bicycle Pea Trellis that I only sort of liked? I promised an updated photo after the peas grew. Here’s how it [...]
The Concorde | Don't Pee on the Lavender // Apr 5, 2012 at 12:26 PM
[...] Here is an idea: Using the entire discarded bike as a trellis. Just plant the bike, basically. I don’t like this idea at all – but in the interest of being exhaustive in my research: [...]