Two of our backyard retreats close to each other

I’m just sitting here shaking my head at the beauty and ingenuity.. this is so beautiful, in such a gorgeous setting. Yes, the rug in front of it really turns it all into a different “space”.

Your work is inspiring!! Thank you

-- - Debbie, SW Ontario Canada (USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a) http://www.execulink.com/~yohan

This is just lovely. You haven’t missed a detail for comfort and beauty. I’m wondering——do you have time to sit down to enjoy it?LOL
Seriously, John, as I’m looking at your pictures, it looks like there is no motar bewteen the blocks? Does the stability come from the thickness of the fireplace walls? Perhaps this is something I could try in my yard——in a much smaller version, of course.
I agree with Debbie, your work is inspiring!

-- 'To plant a Garden is to believe in Tomorrow'

I just love it!
Wanted to do one with rocks! Maybe one day, I will!
You are quite the inspiration!

-- Eklectic, Follow my Bliss, South East Ontario 5a

No mortar, so hence no cracking walls. The stability does indeed come from the thickness of the walls which are two bricks thick, as you can see. Of course, there is an 8 inch pad on which it is built which also adds for the stabiltiy. Because there is no mortar, if it does shift, it is easy to straighten up again with a few taps of the wooden mallet.

I am a retired teacher who specialized in math, drama, and teaching the gifted. The drama flair always comes out in gardening, or any creative work.

-- jroot

A master of the garden describes you for sure…Just beautiful!

-- Xploreorganics, 5b Canada, LFD 06-20

the gifted teaching/inspiring the gifted.

-- - Debbie, SW Ontario Canada (USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a) http://www.execulink.com/~yohan

What a beautiful sitting area you have created Jroot.So peaceful.I just love the fireplace.

-- Bon,Hastings,Ont.....zone 5a....Always room for one more

Just like another room on your house.
Great idea and one that is in my head and never gets done as I have 200 projects ahead of it.
Good to know you have emergency weiners just in case I come visiting.

Bob

-- I want to believe in a lot of things but, in the meantime I have to deal with the truth

I like the fact that it’s dry stack. Makes for easy removal in the event that you want to do something else there, or to move it to a new location.

-- Planting Daylilies in Kentucky, zone 6b

Can you snap a picture of the back? I’d like to see how you laid out the vent holes, however pretty sure I’ve got a picture in my head of the stacking layout.

-- Planting Daylilies in Kentucky, zone 6b

There is a photo of the back where you can see the pattern and also the propane tank in the blog: http://gardentenders.com/members/jroot/blog/489#comments

-- jroot

Nice.

Its on my list…sorry “wish list” for this year. I have collected concrete block, re-bar, fire brick to make an outdoor fireplace/smoker/BBQ/outdoor wood fired oven. Now I just need to find the time

The photos make me wanna get busy

-- Central northish Ontario

If I can ever get my hands on a backhoe…

Nice fireplace Jroot! I want one as well but lack the backhoe for the rest of that project…at this time anyhow! We can burn wood here…I’m thinking of a fireplace that can burn like 3’ logs, ya know? Stone pavers, elevated Koi pond, Whole hog BBQ grill!. Now you know why I need the backhoe!

-- Mama plants, Dadoo kills, and Chippy buries it.

I love the setting, what a beautiful place just to set and think.LOVE IT!

-- Louise Edgwood,Md.

Thanks, Louise.

-- jroot

Welcome to the forum jroot

I love your fireplace

Looks so cozy and inviting

Looks like a great snuggle nook, lol,lol

-- NS Zone 5B 200 KM East of Halifax cheers Bunting------Having a place to go – is a home. Having someone to love – is a family.

This is a great little room I could live there. just pull up my chair and a book. Wow it’s beautiful!

I really like your fireplace. We are looking at putting a fire pit in our back yard, but this makes me think that with a little more effort we could really have something impressive. Nice work!

-- If you don't have time to do it right, when will you have time to do it over?

Thanks, Zeddicus. If I were to do it again ( and I might ), I would make sure the chimney was done properly. We usually have propane burning there, but when I decide to get rid of some lumber “ends”, it certainly does smoke.

-- jroot

This is amazing, jroot. What can I say to add to the compliments? Not alot. Thanks for inviting us to see it. I think I’ll go and get a cup of tea and sit in it for while from here!

-- Desktopgem

The outdoor fireplace and lower patio – our own personal retreat area #1. See above.

A wonderful place to observe nature, especially in the evening with the setting sun pouring light through the stained glass in the bird house below, and also watching the pair of bats as they search for their evening meal. I can’t forget to mention the silly chipmunks that tickle our feet as they run over them. There is nothing so rewarding as to watch a flickering fire in the fireplace, and have endless wall space before, beside and behind us. We feel at peace with all when we sit down here.

Of course, if it gets damp or too cool, or the bugs get bad, we can always retreat into the screened in area just beside the fireplace. – our personal retreat area # 2

Shot from inside the screened in area under the deck facing the fireplace.

Some night shots looking out from the screened in area under the deck. We have added some LED lights for atmosphere, and use candles also.

As a former theatre guy, just to add a little drama, you will note that there are spot lights facing up on the stone faces. These are solar spot lamps charged during the day from the deck above.

-- jroot

Those glowing heads might be eery… but I love them! Did you make them?

-- Zone 4a or 4b... depending on where you are standing!

No, those heads came from Britain. I used to make them with my students at school, making a plaster mask of themselves, and then making a positive mask. It was a lot of fun. However, I will admit that these did come from Britain. I had them at my former house on the entrance to the gazebo, but I thought that I would put them in this screened in area under the deck. Until this year, I had candles there, but I got the idea of the solar lights, and it works well.

-- jroot

Updated tonight. Check out the night shots from under the deck.

We love a good competition, as we get to see some truly neat ideas from all contestants.

-- jroot

I do love your TWO retreat areas jroot!!!! Such peacefulness … you have done a marvelous job with these two areas … beautiful plantings, awesome fireplace and that enclosed porch looks so snug … :-)

-- "A beautiful garden is a work of heart" -- Royal Oak, MI - Zone 5

Thanks, GrandmaT.

We just got home from a quick trip to Ottawa, and went out to enjoy the peace & quiet – a lot different from a 7 hour trip on Highway 401 in a rainstorm !

-- jroot

Love both areas Jroot.GramT said it all and I agree.Love those stone heads that light up too.Nice accents.

-- Bon,Hastings,Ont.....zone 5a....Always room for one more

jroot I saw this posting today and was aghast to see the beautiful additions you have made. You really know how to nejoy life. The solar lamps is a good addition. Everything is so good, it will take pages to describe it. I long to see your place but alas we are too far off. Sure you will maintain good health in such surroundings.
Sharad

-- Bagwan-- “If someone feels that they had never made a mistake in their life, then it means they have never tried a new thing in their life”.-Albert Einstein

You have the most beautiful back yard!

-- Alice, Mountain Home, ID Zone 6a

do you have chairs?

-- Central northish Ontario

Thank you Sharad & Alice. Much appreciated.

Greenthumb, Yes indeed we have chairs in front of the fireplace. Many lingering nights are spent there with friends sipping on “whatever”. You should come and visit sometime. You aren’t that far away. A good opportunity to get away from the FIL. :)

-- jroot

Thanks and the day will come.

You have a beautiful place JRoot.

-- Central northish Ontario