WOULD DECORATIVE CONCRETE BLOCKS be a nice touch as part of your midcentury landscape? Check out this post that I did a year ago on concrete blocks used for sun screens and decorative walls. The font of all knowledge on this subject truly is Uncle Jack of Very Vintage Las Vegas — and he has been keeping up his archive as well. The image above comes from his site – and he has more info on where to get these there. Thanks, Uncle Jack!

So here’s the second fence post. Ha ha, it was fun to write that. Fence blog post. Fence fence post. Get it? Heck yeah there is more →

Uncle Jack of Very Vintage Vegas has a wonderful website that chronicles mid century modern Las Vegas.

Extremely fun even though I’m totally scared by this city due to my fixation with CSI original Las Vegas version, the only other show I watch in addition to the Colbert Report.

Uncle Jack recently did what must be the definitive series on concrete block decor – including suppliers – so I am not even going to try to replicate it. He’s given us the link to the whole series – click through here to take a look!

All of these shots also are from Uncle Jack’s. He is as obsessed with all the little details of the era as much as we are. A true kindred soul. Thank you, Jack!

On the topic of concrete block — Scathing Jane also has done a ton of research and sent me lots of info – I’ll feature it soon!

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It’s time to ramp up for a weekend — of gardening and planning for summertime outdoor landscaping projects. After last Friday’s post on fencing for Beatnik Babe, many readers wrote to say “More more more on landscaping” and everyone seems interested in fences. So I was grateful when the mysterious Laura B. sent me an email and the scans in today’s post. She actually sent pages on screens and fences. These are the screens, I’ll show fences tomorrow:

Hi Pam – After your post today, I thought you would enjoy these fence pics from my Better Homes and Gardens Guide to Landscaping.

Hope you have a great weekend
- Laura

Thank you, Laura B. You, too!

Lots of interest, it seems, in exterior issues. I received this email from Beanik Babe Ginny a few weeks ago and have had had it queue’d up waiting for spring to sprung here in the great Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Hi Pam!
Love your website! Just bought a 1959 California atomic ranch in Yellow Springs, Ohio after living in cavelike craftsman bungalows for the past 25 years. Your website has been soooo helpful. But I can’t find anything anywhere on what type of yard fencing, both privacy and front yard, was used in the 50s. With four rescued dogs, we want to be good neighbors and enhance the look of our new house. And ideas or suggestions? Thanks.

Ginny Friend / beatnik babe

Thanks, Ginny. I know that Femme 1 is working on some custom fencing, basket-weave style, that sounds fabulous. I’m sure we can get her to send us a photo.

Meanwhile, I have been on the lookout. Not a lot of photos of fencing as far as I can tell, in my vintage materials. I’ll tell you – it seems to me that chain link was pretty darn common in the 50s. Remember, they weren’t so Fancy then.

Nonetheless, I did find these great style options from the 60s — which I think that everyone will like a lot. Isn’t it clever how they made mix-and-match pieces so you could create your own design?

I’ll keep watch for other fence options, and exterior issues in general. Meanwhile, Ginny, let us know how it goes. And send pics of your four lucky dogs — and oh yeah, the 1959 atomic ranch in Yellow Springs, Ohio, too. Beatnick Babe, it sounds like you are livin’ the dream!

Note: All these images scanned and inserted at 300 dpi, so click on them to enlarge for all the riveting detail.