As I sit and think about this......

Would it somehow be possible to build one side of this with a shingled roofline, so that the hooks I would put on it for hanging flower pots could be used to hang a tarp enclosure in the spring?

Could that be used as an area for hardening off plants, or as a type of makeshift greenhouse structure type of thing??? Hmmmm.

I think you probably have a pretty good idea about converting a structure into to use it for hardening off plants.

Here's the arbour bench that DH built - we got the plan from Lee Valley

Search pergola and/or arbour at Pinterest and you'll be overwhelmed with ideas.

Hey now that arbour bench looks sweet. By the looks of it I don't think it can be built cheaper. It has an efficient use of materials.

Hey Pudge, that's the picture I was referring to =:)

I haven't searched yet, as I'm sure I'll end up looking for hours and hours.

Thanks!