Build A Unique Garden Gazebo

I finished my gazebo a month ago. I set 4 cedar poles 2 1/2- 3 ft. deep, about 6 in. from the edge. no concrete, just packed with sand and rocks. I added 4 cross pieces and angle supports from cedar. I covered the hole in the top by siliconing 3 glass lamp shades on top of each other, and painted the underside like a sky. I also planted the edge of the dish with daisy's, hens & chicks and sedum, and drilled small holes for drainage. I'm hoping the plants survive the Michigan winter and will add more next summer if they do.

After you dig out the holes for the columns. Set the colums in
place and then you could try ramming sand mixed with dirt or clay
in around the columns in lifts of about three inches at a time. It
can be pretty stout in some areas. Depends on where you live and
what is available.Then for the floor you could level the bottom and
lay the decorative block in a thin bed of sand and then pour sand
over the block and using a straight board screed the sand into the
block pattern. I wouldn't suggest wearing high heels on it though.
Moist sand may pack in better. Just a thought. Might go to a
sattelite installer and ask where some of the big dishes could be
found.

Yeah your right!, let's skip building the gazebo and go straight
to the BEER!

Just a minor problem for us living in the UK, our satellite dish
are only 1mtr in Dia. I supose it will be OK as I dont have any
friends to invit over any way

OUR dishes are that size now. But there are MANY old ones
around.Put up the gazebo and buy some beer and I'll bet you make a
few more friends.

OUR Sat dishes are smaller now too, but there are still plenty
of the giant ones littering the countryside.If you build that
gazebo and bring some beer, I'll be you gain a few new
friends.

Using less concrete is environmentally correct -air pollution
from concrete itself and stormwater runoff pollution. better ro use
those decorative blocks filled with gravel (can put top 2" as
decorative gravel rock).

I got mine from www.freecycle.orgIT was POSTED on there but I
see them all over and I bet if you post a WANTED there you'll find
one that someone will let you have if you come and get
it.

Does anyone have any specific ideas of where to locate and
aquire used satelite dishes in or around the Bay Area in
California?

If you want to be really frugal, how about white washing old
barn lumber for a floor and making the sides from old wood
pallets.For decorations you could have hummingbird vines,
honeysuckle vines, climbing roses, etc. up the poles and/or colored
shears between the poles for privacy and bug netting.

why cant you use a post hole digger and set the 4 post in
concrete and have a wood floor.

Anyone have an idea for doing this without pouring all that
concrete? Ilike the idea and I have a spot that needs this AND I
have the dish. But that's a lot of concrete to put out in
nature.