| As individual as the garden in which it | | | | the shape of golf balls, popular cartoon |
| resides, a uniquely conceived, well-crafted | | | | characters, Tudor houses, family crests and |
| mailbox can punctuate a landscape with just | | | | emblems and rendered images depicting the |
| the right amount of panache. Designed and | | | | owners' interests -- ranging from botany to |
| constructed with various combinations of | | | | the railroad locomotive. |
| wood, stone, plastic, metal, tile and paint, | | | | |
| an artful mailbox can enhance the | | | | And today's mailboxes can become tomorrow's |
| architecture and landscape which surround it. | | | | mementos. Designing and maintaining a mailbox |
| The mailbox, standing sentry at the front of | | | | can become a genuine part of the love and |
| the garden, can provide a glimpse into the | | | | dedication a good gardener pours into the |
| minds, hearts and souls of those who reside | | | | landscape. Rose Tourje, whose Pasadena garden |
| inside the house behind it. | | | | garnered the Golden Arrow Award, presented by |
| | | | the Pasadena Beautiful Foundation, has two |
| With the abundance of home and garden | | | | mailboxes. She has a standard box for |
| megastores, neighborhood nurseries and | | | | receiving mail and an antique box that was |
| Web-sited manufacturers, available resources | | | | preened over by her father 60 years ago. As a |
| for boxes have multiplied, and mailbox art | | | | boy, he was charged with annually applying |
| has taken on new life. Ohio landscape | | | | flesh coats of paint and restenciling the |
| architect, Patrick Cloonan, says that his | | | | family name onto the metal structure. This |
| clients have "a lot more fun with mailboxes | | | | proud relic now holds an honored position in |
| these days. The possibility of creating a | | | | the family's patio garden. Even with decades |
| custom box is usually mentioned during | | | | of rusted and patinaed finish, the Tourje |
| initial conceptual discussions, when material | | | | name is clearly identifiable. |
| for architecture and landscape are reviewed." | | | | |
| More often than not, Cloonan states, "the | | | | The price tag on a custom mailbox is less |
| design will reflect those elements, but in | | | | than one might imagine. A quick check among |
| many instances, it has relevance to a | | | | manufacturers represented on the World Wide |
| client's hobbies, careers or special | | | | Web places the average cost at $99 and up, |
| interests." | | | | depending upon the complexity of design and |
| | | | the materials used. Dozens of novelty boxes |
| During the course of a recent landscape | | | | are already standard in most product lines, |
| commission, in order for his client to pay | | | | making the chance of finding an appropriate |
| homage to the beloved "stogie," Cloonan was | | | | expression of your interests quite likely, |
| instructed to design a mailbox that would | | | | without further customization. Another |
| incorporate a sculpted hand. Strategically | | | | resource for locating a quality manufacturer |
| placed between two of the sculpted fingers | | | | is the American Society of Landscape |
| was a cigar. | | | | Architects, which sponsors a Directory and |
| | | | Buyer Guide of recommended products. |
| "But styling often seems trendy and it | | | | |
| reveals itself in spurts," Burwell says. Some | | | | As for the placement and size of the box, |
| months, the bulk of his thriving | | | | landscape architect Cloonan says "almost |
| manufacturing business is consumed with the | | | | anything goes." In checking with the postal |
| construction of replicas of beloved | | | | service, one uncovers only general |
| pets--dogs, cats, cows and pigs. Then a | | | | guidelines. A curbside mailbox, for instance, |
| "shift toward more rusticated product might | | | | should be 40 to 48 inches off the ground. |
| take place, with a demand for redwood boxes." | | | | Openings should be wide enough for mail to be |
| This type of mailbox can contain elaborate | | | | placed inside with one hand movement by a |
| carvings of animals, and this work often | | | | postal delivery person. And at minimum, a |
| leads to additional commissions for garden | | | | mailbox should be approximately 19 inches |
| carvings of totem poles, ship figureheads and | | | | deep, 6-1/2 inches wide and 8-1/2 inches in |
| angels. | | | | height. Further information relating to |
| | | | approved specifications for mailboxes can be |
| Clients arrive at The Mailbox Factory in | | | | obtained through the local post office. A |
| various states of preparedness. For those | | | | representative will consult with customers on |
| with only a sketchy idea of the finished | | | | guidelines for box size, strength and quality |
| article, Burwell and his team of | | | | of construction. |
| multi-disciplined artisans provide the | | | | |
| requisite expertise to complete the design | | | | Now imagine you're outside toiling in the |
| and fabrication of the mailbox unit, which is | | | | front garden, wiping perspiration from your |
| comprised of the mailbox itself and a post | | | | forehead and reveling in the inspirational |
| onto which the mailbox is secured. Other | | | | quality of such hard, but loved labor. Then |
| clients might arrive at his shop with fully | | | | give some thought to this object that could |
| developed drawings and specific material | | | | be a focal point for those would-be admirers |
| selections and requirements. Over the years, | | | | of your landscape endeavors: the mailbox. |
| completed products have left the factory in | | | | |