Close up / smaller yard display questions

[djulien]

I have a smallish front yard, say 40' wide (along the sidewalk) by 20' deep (not counting the double driveway), with a 4' wide brick path from the sidewalk to the house a bit to left of the middle of this plot. A tree dominates the back of the larger section (ie: the portion of the yard to the right of the walkway) so displays will be more visible in front of the tree. This means that displays are going to tend to be pretty close to the sidewalk, because there is very limited visible space further away. Also, the yard is landscaped with various plants and mulch cover, not open and grassy.

That is a similar size to my front yard. I generally use a "row" of props stretching across the yard about half way back, and then some smaller props in front and a few larger props (ie, M-tree) set back a little. I also put a short temporary fence at the front edge of the lawn to help reinforce the idea that people shouldn't go there, and then a security system so I know immediately if they do.

Increasing the height of the props as you get further back gives somewhat of a forced perspective to help things stay in balance. If you can see thru your props, you can set up "layers" without obstructing anything.

You could also mount props on the walls, or just use "wall washers". They take up little/no yard pace and yet can have a nice effect on the display. A garage door is also a nice large, flat surface that can be used as a projection screen, or hold a grid or other non-heavy props.

don

[Zeph]

Don could you say more about the tempoary fance and security system?

Two follks mentioned stringing lights on garden stakes to make a fence like barrier (and I was considering rope light for that purpose). I think you may have had a different fence type in mind, and I'm really curious about the security system. PIR sensors angled to trigger only within the yard? Camera with movement detection mask? (Only for after lights out tho?) Delicately stepping doberman with invisible fence?

Good tips, folks. Keep 'em coming. Any thoughts on the idea of effectively inviting people to walk under arches/hoops to feel inside the display (albeit still on a designated brick walkway)?

[Slite]

Don could you say more about the tempoary fance and security system?

Two follks mentioned stringing lights on garden stakes to make a fence like barrier (and I was considering rope light for that purpose). I think you may have had a different fence type in mind, and I'm really curious about the security system. PIR sensors angled to trigger only within the yard? Camera with movement detection mask? (Only for after lights out tho?) Delicately stepping doberman with invisible fence?

Good tips, folks. Keep 'em coming. Any thoughts on the idea of effectively inviting people to walk under arches/hoops to feel inside the display (albeit still on a designated brick walkway)?

Dobermans might be a bit over the top... You can borrow my BMD's, they look really good in santa hats and red scarves

Joking aside, if you want to allow people in to feel "part of the show" you really need to set up som kind of fence that show clearly where it is ok to walk and where it is not. And the best way to do that is most likely ropelight. And at the same time, that is most likely the worst way. Because then you'll have a static element in your show that just "sits there" and does nothing in realtion to all your other blinky flashy stuff.

[LightUpMA]

That is a similar size to my front yard. I generally use a "row" of props stretching across the yard about half way back, and then some smaller props in front and a few larger props (ie, M-tree) set back a little. I also put a short temporary fence at the front edge of the lawn to help reinforce the idea that people shouldn't go there, and then a security system so I know immediately if they do.

don

Don,

What do you use for security system? Motion sensor that will stop the show, audible alarm, or will it just alert you and keep the show going?


I wonder if a simple IR trip to shut down the show or shut down the electricity to that area would be too much to engineer?

I also have a small yard, and am trying to think of ways to keep it safe. In my neighborhood, I don't think anyone would hop a simple fence, but I do see a dog roaming here and there. The last thing I need to do is to light up the neighbor's dog or even worse a little kid coming after that dog. What do you guys think about the pvc style of fencing some people use for halloween?? I want to set something like that up that can be easily converted from halloween to xmas. Maybe white 1/2" pvc with grey 3/4" over it. The 3/4" can be painted for halloween and lifted off to reveal white with candy cane stripes or whatever. If build right, no kid or dog could go through and would make for easy change-over after halloween.

Any thoughts / suggestions????

-Wayne

[djulien]

Zeph & LightUpMA,

There are some other threads in this forum about security, which have some good ideas in there.

Don could you say more about the tempoary fance and security system?

For the fence, it is just one of those short sectional plastic fences from Home Depot. It's more of a visual delimiter than security.

Rope light or string of lights is a good idea - I've also seen canes used with a string of lights going between them and that looks nice also, and might be more effective since it is taller (if it's lighted it could also be part of the display).

I'm really curious about the security system. PIR sensors angled to trigger only within the yard? Camera with movement detection mask? (Only for after lights out tho?) Delicately stepping doberman with invisible fence?

I don't have a dog but someone had a great idea a while back about playing a WAV file of a large dog barking, triggered by a motion detector.

I use a couple of PIRs aimed so they cover the display area. One runs a pair of security flood lights and the other sounds an audible alarm inside the house. I also set up a set of those wireless cameras and have them mounted at various places for more complete coverage. I started looking at software for motion detection, triggered by the cameras but didn't get that project finished yet.

What do you use for security system? Motion sensor that will stop the show, audible alarm, or will it just alert you and keep the show going?

The PIR + flood lights is a good visual deterent and if they go off then it is quite noticeable so the person will get noticed. However, if a valid visitor comes to the door during the show, then it is a little annoying for anyone who might be watching the show until the floods turn off again.

I wonder if a simple IR trip to shut down the show or shut down the electricity to that area would be too much to engineer?

If you set up something to act as a trigger, it can just as easily be a PIR as other sensors. There are a couple of Vixen plug-ins related to that, described in other threads.

In my neighborhood, I don't think anyone would hop a simple fence, but I do see a dog roaming here and there.

Same here. There was a dog walking by one night along the sidewalk out in front and he turned his head to watch the lights and then tripped on my fence.

Any thoughts on the idea of effectively inviting people to walk under arches/hoops to feel inside the display (albeit still on a designated brick walkway)?

I've seen arches over driveways and sidewalks, and that is rather cool to be "inside" the display. Low voltage lights would likely be more appropriate there as Slite said, unless they are up high and can't be reached.

don

[Zeph]

OK, here's the pic as suggested. This is from the street, at about car driver height.

You can see closeness of the sidewalk and the stucco wall, the walkway bisecting the yard, and the two trees which dominate the two patches - particularly the one on the right which is still leafed out in winter. The tree will tend to push displays even closer to the sidewalk. And you can imagine how I may put arches - or perhaps hoops more like large croquet hoops - over the walkway and let people walk as far as the opening in the wall (where I would put a decorative temporary gate as I don't want to invite them into the courtyard). If so I will make some sort of temporary "fence" along the walkway as well as the sidewalk.

Or close off the walkway and put a midi tree there instead; we can enter via the driveway.

Yes, I DO plan to make use of the garage gable above the garage door, as well; I was thinking of some pixel displays there. And maybe lights or pixels along the eaves.

Somebody asked about the roof. People could catch sight of part of them (two roofs) between the tree and the garage gable (and partially obscured by the barren tree to the left), but it's not a clear stage by any means.

Feb9pano.jpg

I have already received some good ideas, but I said I would upload a picture so I have, just in case that inspired more good input.

[CaptKirk]

Boy that tree is gonna look awesome with about a hundred FAST tubes all over it!

[dmcole]

Random thoughts:

• Outline the second-floor windows.
  
• Outline the garage door and the front door.
  
• Icicle lights on both sets of eaves.
  
• Net lights on the bushes.
  
• Wrap the tree, stage right (visual left) like they do at D'land; something like this: http://autodesk.blogs.com/photos/dai.../img_2455.html
  
• Put some sort of lighted props on the top of the wall -- maybe HolidayCoro.com RGB Megaballs?
  
• Agree with Kirk -- put FASTs on the willow.

HTH.

\dmc

[Zeph]

Boy that tree is gonna look awesome with about a hundred FAST tubes all over it!

heh.

I keep imagining a big reel of EL wire and making it look like the glowing trees in Avatar. But that would be a bit pricey, a lot of wiring work, and maybe not last well in UV....

[mschell]

Is it a busy street? Do lots of folks walk on the sidewalk? Do you have foot traffic at night?

Usually, a simple barrier, like a low fence, lights strung between candy canes or mini trees or something else that presents a barrier will do alot to keep folks from walking in. Put up a few "Warning! High Voltage!" signs just behind the barrier should help as well.

Unless you have lots of foot traffic at night, I wouldn't worry too much about folks seeing your cords, etc. At night, all you see is the glow of lights, and even orange extension cords seem to fade away.

Now, if you're a perfectionist, you'll see the cords and complain, but most folks will look past them at the lights.

Lining the eaves, the garage peak and around the windows will draw attention away from the ground. Mini trees or a mini-megatree will also catch folks' eyes. Some feature in the Willow, such as snowflakes or FAST tubes or something will add interest. Shine some light from the base of the tree or light up the porch with floods. The light colored siding on the house is a good canvas.