*elp! Weeds and small arches (yes seriously)

[Eyelet]

I'm trying to find a miniature arch, about 1m in height for the entrance to a a secret hideaway for my DC - probably needs to be 50cm wide?

Also - the time has come for me to tackle my driveway - its gravel but has been left for years and parts are almost lawn. We need to smarten it up but recognise no point in putting down more gravel with weeds/plants still in it. We have a bee hive nearby so don't want anything which will harm them - none of the weeds are currently flowering - what is best to use?.

We have a border around the drive which I want to plant for bees - north facing suggestions? i wondered about Lavender but it barely gets the sun, and the bulbs I planted rotted.

Many thanks

[traviata]

could you make the arch out of willow?

bee plants that are ok north facing - cerinthe (annual that self seeds), buddleja, geraniums, aquilegia.

[Plumpciousness]

How substantial does the arch need to be? Could you try a cheap wire one and just not assemble it to the full height? Don't know how wide they are though.

[Eyelet]

It needs to be solid enough for small preschoolers to run through again and again. I think what I've decided to do is rig up a wire fence then cover it with a bamboo or rush screen - by tying the two together I can cut an arch shape in the screen/fence.

I have about a thousand geraniums, can I over winter them or should I dig them up and bring them into the greenhouse (unheated but above freezing).I've also been given a buddlia so can stick that in there.

Any thoughts on the weedkiller?

[Blackpuddingbertha]

I made an arched entrance to an edible igloo for the DDs out of a bamboo hoop cane thing. They come in different sizes and you could tie your wire into it.

I just use a standard round up type spray weed killer on the gravel drive. I don't think any of them will harm the bees but check the packet.

[MaudantWit]

Instead of weed killer, how about a weed gun (ie scaled-down flame thrower) that will burn off the weeds without risk to the bees?