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It’s no secret that a gorgeous garden bridge will give any landscape a lovely lift.  And, by now, I’m sure that everyone is aware that garden bridges come in a wide range of sizes, and a great variety of styles, including plank, double rail, single rail, spindle rail, and picket rail.  So, when it comes to adding that magical touch to their gardens and yards, most people are familiar with all of the choices that are out there.

Well, make that most of the choices.  Actually, there are still many who don’t realize that, right in their very own backyards, they can have one of the most enchanting structures ever to adorn the countryside – a covered bridge.

Of course, it’s easy to understand why covered bridges don’t leap immediately to mind as options for home landscaping.  Although they were, for many years, common throughout the United States, they have been disappearing at an alarming rate for most of our lifetimes; and even in their heyday, they were rarely found on private property.

Now associated with bygone days, there are relatively few of them left, scattered across the nation.  Nevertheless, the ones that do remain are highly cherished, as, every year, millions of people drive hundreds, and even thousands, of miles just to see them.  Truly, covered bridges are still among the most beloved structures that have ever existed; and they continue to hold the same magnetic allure that they have had since the first one opened for travel on January 1, 1805.

Well, you’ll be pleased to know that the era of covered bridges is not over, after all.  In fact, there’s a whole new generation of them made for residential use; and they’re available in many sizes, with options that include lattice, heavy-duty flooring, custom paint colors, and several types and colors of roofing.

Now you won’t have to make a pilgrimage to find a covered bridge.  No-o!  To the contrary, you can actually own one of these charming pieces of Americana, and enjoy its breath-taking beauty every day.  Furthermore, it won’t just be for decoration; it will be fully functional, and designed to last for decades.  So you will be able to cross that bridge when you come to it!

Yours Outdoors,

Kathy

Tags: covered bridge, covered bridges, garden bridge, Garden Bridges

“TFCSOTSPBWL OCTOBER XVIII MDCCC.” This curious inscription was carved by a stonemason, John Lewis, into a block of granite that he had lain as a support for a bridge that was being built by Timothy Palmer. Because of space restrictions, he simply used initials, instead of writing, “The first corner stone of the Schuylkill Permanent Bridge was lain on October 18, 1800.” When the bridge was nearly finished, in 1804, a Philadelphia judge, Richard Peters, suggested that, in order to preserve its trusses and extend its life, the bridge should be covered. The cover was designed and built, and the first covered bridge opened for travel on January 1, 1805.

Judge Peters had no way of knowing what he was starting. His simple idea for covering that bridge led to a wellspring of folklore, legend, myth, and mystique, that would turn the reasoning behind it as murky as the waters surrounding its original cornerstone, which, it is believed, still supports what is now known as the Market Street Bridge.

The speculations were numerous and humorous. Some people thought that covered bridges were intended to look like barns, to make animals feel more comfortable while crossing them. Others maintained that the covers were there to keep horses from being frightened by the rushing water beneath them. It was also said that covered bridges were designed to keep travelers from seeing what kind of town they were approaching, until it was too late to turn back. Although many people said that the coverings were meant to keep snow off the bridges, old toll signs that designate fares for horse-drawn sleighs contradict that notion.

Covering bridges also enabled them to be used for scores of purposes, other than getting to the other side of a stream. They were used for campaign rallies, religious services, family reunions, meetings, weddings, debates, shelter from a storm, fishing and diving platforms, and even hanging clothes to dry during inclement weather. Favorite places for couples to steal a few kisses, covered bridges were commonly called “kissing bridges.” They were also sometimes referred to as “wishing bridges” because it was believed that any wish a person made while passing through one would come true.

The most powerful effects of the decision to cover that first bridge, however, are intangible. Even for those who know none of the specific details of their history, covered bridges evoke nostalgia and stir strong emotions, while their gradual disappearance from the country’s landscape incites a growing passion to preserve them as precious, irreplaceable landmarks.

Although it’s true that the covered bridges that were built and used by our ancestors are decreasing in number every year, a new era in covered bridges is just dawning, at DesignerBridges.com. The best part is that these new bridges, which are designed for your own creek, stream, or walkway, have all of the charm of their predecessors, but, constructed from your choice of treated pine or Dura-Temp siding, many times the durability.

At DesignerBridges.com, you can customize your own gorgeous covered garden bridge in three simple steps, choosing from a variety of sizes, styles, materials, and accessories. Visit DesignerBridges.com today, and begin your own tradition of swimmin’, fishin’, whistlin’, and kissin’.

Tags: bridge, Bridges, covered bridge, covered bridges

In every garden, it’s important to have some kind of a focal point, whether it’s an arbor, a gazebo, a trellis, a statue, an outdoor furniture group, a fountain, or even a single garden bench. 

Garden bridges also make spectacular centerpieces; but some people think that they won’t be able to use one unless they have a pond or a stream in the backyard.  Not true.  A bridge can add a stunning new dimension to even the dullest landscape, and make the perfect accent for any garden or walkway. 

However, if you want to add a bridge and a water feature, it’s a lot easier to do than it was just a few years ago.  Then, if you didn’t have a natural source of water, the only way to get a pond was to pour a concrete shell and fill it with water.  It was a painstaking – and expensive – process to install it correctly, and to get the desired shape.  A lot also depended upon the condition of the soil, as well as the climate, because freezing and thawing often caused cracking and leaking. 

Luckily, things have changed since the introduction of flexible rubber and plastic liners, which allow almost anyone to build a pond of nearly any size or shape.  Much less expensive than concrete, they are also incredibly durable, with the higher-quality ones lasting as long as 30 years.

You can also find rigid, pre-formed fiberglass or plastic pond shells.  These work well in sandy or soft soil, as erosion and shifting won’t affect the shape of the pond.  The drawbacks are that they are available in a limited number of sizes and shapes, and that you have to be a bit more creative with your border stones and plants if you want to achieve a natural look.  At the same time, because of their geometric shapes, they are better suited for formal gardens, where you may want to use pavers, patio tiles, or bricks, as edging materials.

As for the crowning touch, which, of course, is the garden bridge, well, that’s the easy part.  At DesignerBridges.com, you’ll find all styles and sizes of garden and pedestrian trail bridges to fit nearly any stream, pond, or creek.  You can even customize your own covered bridge in a few, simple steps.  If you’re wondering which bridge is best for your purposes, just call 888-293-2339 and let one of our design consultants assist you.   

Remember, if you’re suffering from a dull landscape, you can easily get over it with a garden bridge.

Yours Outdoors,

Kathy

Tags: bridge, Bridges, covered bridge, garden bridge