(from Better Homes and Gardens magazine, Sept. 1996)

Materials: 2 sets of wooden quilter's rings 14 inches in diameter, the stouter the better; 6-four-foot strips of cedar 1/4 inch thick and 5/8th inch wide--this is called bender board or screen molding; 1-three-inch length of 1-inch diameter dowel; one decorative finial; one hanger bolt 3/16ths by 1 1/2 inches--if final has no scre attached; 12 sets of brass bolts with nuts size #8 by 1 inch, 2-4 wooden curtain rod rings--can use metal rings instead if you wish, drill, wood sealer-optional

1. Soak cedar strips for several hours in water to make them easy to bend. This can be done in the bathtub or other long basin. Glue inner and out quilter's rings together and tighten clamps.

2. If no screw is already in place, drill the finial and the dowel at their center and connect them with the hanger bolt to give the final a 3-inch handle.

3. Surround the dowel with the cedar strips, butting their ends up to the bottom of the finial. Slide the curtain rings or metal rings up the bundle of strips to secure it to the finial. More rings are optional if required.

4. (An extra set of hands helps here.) Stand the finial and strips up, and slide the first hoop inside the strips, slowly working it up about 1 1/2 feet. One by one, feed the bottom of the strips into the second ring and slide it up about a foot. The first hoop goes inside; the second, outside.

5. Drill all the cross-sections of strips and quilter's rings and secure with the brass bolts and nut.

6. If desired, when the wood is dry, coat with a wood sealer.

**Another nice-looking pergola suitable for a large container. It is best not to try to stick the legs of this one into the dirt; instead, fill the pot part way, place the pergola in position, and the finish filling the pot so you do not break the legs of the pergola. This is the right size for some container-grown clematis vines.**