In the UK, a beautiful and relatively frugal alternative to traditional gazebos are living bowers. Totally earth-friendly, the domes are a collection of woven and tied willow whips. To make one, you’ll need the following:
- Willow whips, 8 to 9 feet + shorter ones for weaving (If you live where willows grow, you can find these in ditches or in your own back yard.)
- Twine or rope for tying
- Climbing plants
For the entire tutorial, check out this page on willowkits.co.uk. If you like the look of these bowers, check out this article about weaving a living willow fence.
A willow bower without its vegetal gown.