Archive for the ‘Backyard Living’ Category
Facts And Food For Fourth of July
Perhaps our forefathers could have easily anticipated the firework-filled, meat roasting summer celebration that July 4th has become. Since the birth of our nation, Americans have been known for their adventurous spirit and gluttonous appetite for life. The founding fathers in particular left a long history of Congressional fistfights and scathing diatribes over dinners, particularly during the drafting of The Declaration of Independence.
The Continental Congress convened at various points from May 1775 through July 1776 to debate the language, provisions and rights most appropriate to declare separation from the crown and country of Great Britain. Many compromises and months later, the Declaration of Independence was signed and marked with the date of July 4th. While full ratification and a long revolution were still to come, the signing of this document by the delegates of the Continental Congress marked the beginning of America’s struggle towards independence and our national holiday.
Creating a Backyard Paradise for this Season’s Stay-cation
This year there is no reason not to enjoy a stay-cation in your own backyard. All that is really needed is a few items that can be purchased through Outdora and the backyard will be transformed into a paradise.
To begin the design, decide on a focal point or center the paradise around the patio. Next, address the elements that are essential to any paradise. These elements include fire, water, earth, and wind. Each one of these elements addresses one of the five senses and together creates a complete paradise.
The fire element can be described as the part of the design that brings heat into the environment. It addresses not only our vision but also touch and if food is cooked over the fire then our taste buds come into play. This heat can be created from the spark of a gas grill all the way to a literal fire in a fire ring or pit. Placing a grill on the patio along with a table chairs can create the fire element. Another approach is to use a fire ring or pit that is placed on the patio or moved out into the backyard environment. When using the fire element, always remove any flammable material, such as grass, from the area before lighting the fire.
How to Design a Summer Floral Arrangement for the Patio Table
Table design is not limited to the indoor environment but instead adds another element to incorporate into the outdoor landscape. In the past, the style of the interiorscape was carried over into the outdoor design. Today, either living environments can be different or the same.
When designing an arrangement for an outdoor table, a few things need to be considered. First, the size of the table and its function needs to be evaluated. Is the table small, such as an end table, or is large, dining type table? Another consideration is the function of the table? Are people going to be dining on it or just sitting drinks on it? Also, consider the health issues of those who may be around the patio furniture. Cut flowers still attract bees and this could be an issue for any guests that are allergic to bees.
Before cutting the flowers, decide on the shape and height of the container. The type of container can be very formal in shape, such as an urn, or more informal in nature. Informal containers include clay pots or plastic containers. Always keep in mind though that the arrangement is going into an outdoor environment, so avoid glass vases. Next, consider the scale of the project and how it will work with your outdoor environment. Are people going to have to look over the project or is it going to be so large that it interferes with the natural flow around the furniture. An easy gauge to use with thinking about the arrangement design is that the height of the arrangement will be 2 ½ times the height of the container.
Garden Blues
True blue flowers are the rarest of blooms, but they can be found. While you’ll find many purple and violet flowers, it’s the true blues that remain elusive. Perhaps it is the true blue’s rarity that has led it to symbolize romanticism in literature through the ages. Georg Philipp Friedrich Freiherr von Hardenberg, under the pen name Novalis, was the first to use the blue flower in this context in his unfinished novel, Heinrich von Ofterdingen, in the late 18th century. C.S. Lewis mentioned the blue flower as a symbol of romanticism in his autobiographical work, Surprised By Joy, and contemporary artists have continued to point to the blue flower as a symbol of general romanticism. You’ll even find allusions to it in movies, stage plays and rap!
Surprisingly, blue is the most desirable color for wedding arrangements, not as the primary color, but as a complementary color. In addition to representing romanticism, blue represents royalty, and who doesn’t want to feel like royalty on their wedding day?
Creating a Living Game Board for the Backyard Environment
Playing games outside in the summer has been an old standby for many youth growing up before the invention of the Internet and electronic games. A great way of reintroducing backyard games to the youth of today is to create a living game board.
A living game board consists of using a combination of living plant material and/or hardscape that is built into the lawn. Many different kinds of games can be created through this method and includes chess and/or checkerboard, matching game, tic-tac-toe, and twister.
Shade the Backyard from the Sunshine & Rain on Umbrella Day
When rain drops the size of giants’ tears are falling from the sky, you’re more likely to steer clear of the outdoors and seek shelter inside. Rain is Mother Nature’s way of recharging groundwater and flushing out the toxins, and this precipitation is an important part of the water cycle. However, there’s no doubt that these storms or mists can rain on your parade and put a damper on your plans. Instead of stopping your life for the impending drizzle, you can shade those gray clouds out of your life with a functional invention.
On Thursday, February 10, flaunt your umbrellas and step out into the sunshine or rain with confidence, because it will be Umbrella Day! This is your moment to seize the day regardless of the weather and appreciate the many uses of an umbrella, and all umbrellas at Outdora are up to 40% off the list price.
Landscape Design: How to Use Tantalize One’s 5 Senses Using Stepping-stones
Stepping-stones are a great addition to landscape design. They provide safety and a guide to a visitor as to where it is appropriate to walk. They also reduce environmental impact by providing a surface to walk without causing soil compaction. But a little known use for stepping-stones is to create a surface for a sensory experience in the garden.
A sensory experience is very important for any landscaper and garden visitor or general homeowner. Sensory experiences flood the memory so the old saying, “Walking down memory lane” is true.
To create a sensory experience with stepping-stones first analyze the 5 senses. Vision is an easy sensory experience to address. Colorful stepping-stones and/or textured rocks add a contrast to a green backdrop. Also colorful vegetation adds to what the eyes take in during a split second glance that most gardens receive. Hearing is another sense that is easily addressed by stepping-stones and their surrounding. Everyone has experienced the sound of walking onto a different surface or the sound of two surfaces rubbing together like mulch against stone. Also vegetation adds to this sensory journey by adding crushing, crashing, and scraping sounds as one walks along the path on stepping-stones.
Why It Is Essential To Keep Your Firewood Safe and Dry in a Log Rack
Wood burning fireplaces and fire pits are still extremely popular. This simple and traditional method of heating is enjoyed in homes all across the continent, whether in the living room or the backyard – and oftentimes in both places.
Although burning wood may be considered dirty or messy by some, it is actually a very natural process and, when done properly, is considered environmentally friendly. The key is to have the most complete burn and to use the right fuel in your fire.
Log Racks Hold the Right Fuel
To produce the least amount of smoke and soot you need to use dry, seasoned hardwood in your fireplace. Traditional methods of storing your firewood in a pile between two trees or stacked against the woodshed won’t do anything to keep the logs dry.
When wet wood or logs covered in mildew are used in your fire the result is definitely less than pleasant. Certain smells and heavy smoke are produced, filling your chimney and your living space and possibly even lingering in furniture and draperies..
Essential Tips for Fire Pit Safety
Having a fire pit is a wonderful way to add comfort in your backyard. But to make sure your cozy gathering place stays that way for the entire family, remember to practice a few basic safety tips.
Constructed of steel, masonry or reinforced concrete, fire pits come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Find one that suits your space and always be sure to install it away from buildings and overhanging tree branches or other greenery.
Although fire pits are built to sit up on legs or another type of support, you still need to ensure the area around the pit is made of flame resistant materials. A stone patio or concrete slab underneath will work best, although a level dirt surface is fine. If you’re installing the pit on a wood or composite deck, lay a decent sized patio slab between the two for protection.
Sparks are also an issue with open top fire pits. Place the seating a safe distance away from the pit and use a specially made screen if you’re burning wood that tends to spark, like cedar.
Tracing the Roots of the Adirondack Chair
It’s an outdoor furniture icon with an intriguing past. Supremely comfortable with classic appeal, the Adirondack chair has changed only a little in over 100 years.
Originally designed by American Thomas Lee, the Adirondack chair was made for both indoor and outdoor use. In 1903 Lee was vacationing at his mountainside summer home in Westport, New York and decided that a new style of simple furniture was needed. Using only 11 flat planks, he constructed a collection of Adirondack chair prototypes. With a slanted back designed for the best balance on rough, mountainside terrain and handy, wide arm rests, all of the chairs made Lee’s family a little skeptical at first.
Once they sat down though, it was a different story.
Adirondack chairs, and more recent adaptations like gliders, rockers and benches, have a few trademarks. Besides the flat, slanted back with arched top, they boast a deep seat and tend to sit low to the ground. Newer styles include an angled ottoman for even more comfort and the Adirondack style has also become popular for porch swings.
