Artistic custom plant support

For the past few years I've planted elephant ears (Colocasia esculenta) in the cement planter next to the front door.


I really like the bold effect that the large leaves produce -- they really work well with the high-frequency fine texture of the yew and the nearby grasses. There's just one problem with this plan, one that I fight with every year...


***

The plants are leaning.


They get a fair amount of direct sun here, but still want more and therefore lean away from the house...


...which means that they block the walkway. Both walkways actually, since they sit at the intersection.

Sure it's a bit of fun to have to skirt the big leaves (especially when wet), as if it's a game of freeze tag or touch football and you've just contorted yourself athletically to make a satisfying escape from a touch... but not when carrying packages, and certainly not several times a day.

So I did something about it.


I made a permanent (or at least semi-permanent) support, as artistically as I could. (Well, at least as artistically as time permitted.)


Even though I didn't push the posts into the ground as vertically as I had thought, I'm still well pleased with the result. (I will probably adjust them later.)

Walkways are clear now!


I especially like the way it works with the wooden cubes and other plant stakes:


Simple materials (cedar and electrical conduit) but I like the look!


Looks good from the porch too:



I think there are other areas in the front garden that could benefit from something like this...


...especially since so many plants did not straighten themselves up after the recent storms pounded them. Lazy plants.

What do you think of my solution?

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Gerhard Bock (Succulents and More)  – (July 22, 2016 at 3:23 PM)  

I love it! Another product Nimble Mills should sell :-)

Teri  – (July 22, 2016 at 10:59 PM)  

Very mid-century! Love the look!

Rock rose  – (July 23, 2016 at 1:25 PM)  

What a great idea and very stylish. I live in the land of leaning plants due to tall walls and would love something as artistic as this. How did you bend the conduit so evenly? I might just nab this idea if I can do the bending bit.

Hoover Boo  – (July 23, 2016 at 5:41 PM)  

I think your solution is excellent!

Anna K  – (July 25, 2016 at 12:57 AM)  

Nice! I agree with Gerhard - you could sell those. Beautiful!

Mark and Gaz  – (July 25, 2016 at 5:05 PM)  

Clever as usual! And it goes so well with the pot too!

outlawgardener  – (July 25, 2016 at 10:53 PM)  

I agree with everyone else! Well done as usual and could be easily shipped! Did you use a pipe bender for the electrical conduit or did you use a jig of some sort?

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