The old gate is a fine metal structure but very plain. It is now leaning against our fencing, waiting for ideas.

Then it struck me.

If those vertical slats could be turned into horizontal slats, they would be the perfect place to hang outdoor orchids, baskets of flowers, or a stunning bougainvillea.

Could it be done?

I have spoken before about what an excellent caretaker and gardener have. Armando, our gardener, has been with us for many years and has learned concrete work and metalwork. We had a brief conversation about how to change the old gate for its new purpose and he was full of ideas.

If it had been just me, I would have had the gate cut in half and had pieces of it stuck in the ground. He pointed out that the open-ended pieces would simply gather moisture and rust unless they were fixed in the cement, which he proposed to do.

He immediately got busy with a metal grinder, cutting through the bars and center post and trimming any rough metal left behind. He then suggested that the entire old fence should be sanded down and repainted so that it would last longer in our rainy climate.

I only have one gardener, but he has been engaged in multiple tasks that have nothing to do directly with gardening. This is just another example of that.

While I would love to have him garden exclusively, his skills are such that I have to have him work on other things at other times. This is one of them.

There is always something to buy in cases like this. A quick trip to the market and we had paintbrushes and a nasty black rust-proofing paint for the gate. We also had two sacks of cement. By that time, it was near dinner time and all work ceased for the day.

Armando is right about the rust, but plenty of rain around the lake means plenty of weeds and they are outgrowing my gardener’s few days, especially when he has an extra project.