the big sur gate

When we bought the The Big Sur House, the entry gate was flanked by two enormous pine trees, an extremely low metal arch, and a fence that had seen better days. But I loved it’s Big Sur feel.

Fast forward a year, and the trees had contracted a disease that is killing pines all over the West. They had to be removed, leaving us with two great big stumps and what seemed like a barren and exposed entrance. When our contractor, Brendan Wahl, first saw it with the trees gone, he thought it actually looked better. Suddenly instead of seeing this loss as a negative, I saw it as an opportunity to create something new.

With a clean slate, and the pandemic keeping everyone home, I set to work on the front garden (I will share in a future post!) The gate/entry would be the final piece. I had an idea in my mind of what I wanted. Something substantial, simple, and that would incorporate the old existing gate. I loved the arbitrary nature of the grape stake fences I had seen in Carmel and knew I wanted to implement them as well. I asked Brendan if he would do it. His exact words were, “I would be honored to build a gate to that garden.” Brendan and I have been working together long enough now, that he understands my ideas and we collaborate well. I showed him some pictures and he drew up a sketch. And then came the fun part!

This week the ideas came together to create an entry to our new front garden. We used 8 x 8 redwood posts and grape stakes for the arbor top and fence. To see it come to life and to be involved in the process (from beginning to end) is what I love. I could not be more thrilled. Of course the Virgo in me wants it to be weathered and gray, but if I’ve learned anything living in Big Sur, it’s that things work on their own time here and patience is definitely needed.

I’m still tweaking the garden and most of the plants are quite small, but I can’t wait to share it with you soon!