Pleasant outdoor spaces for eating

Did you know that some plants attract flies? The otherwise wonderful Euonymus ‘Manhattan’ shrub, for example, attracts flies when it blooms during the summer. Why? According to Leslie Land in The New York Times 1000 Gardening Questions and Answers, the Euonymus is pollinated by flies instead of bees. Other plants that attract flies are hollies, hawthorns, and willows. Land writes that “flies are major pollinators if the flowers are white, pale yellow, or greenish; if they are more wide open than tubular; and if their aroma is more musky than sweet.” This is something to keep in mind when trying to create comfortable outdoor spaces. 

Another pest that you probably don’t want to invite to your party is ants. Ants love the sticky stuff that some flowers secrete. The Peony, for example, attracts ants—as do Penstemons and some tropical plants. In What good are bugs?: Insects in the Web of Life, Gilbert Waldbauer writes that some plants attract ants to help defend themselves against chewing insects. Good for them, but bad for you if you don’t like ants. You may also find ants around Roses, Clematis, Cosmos, and other flowers, but they’re probably there because aphids leave behind honey dew that the ants love. If you want to avoid attracting ants to your outdoor spaces, then you probably want to avoid flowers attractive to ants and to take care of any aphid problems.

In addition to attracting annoying pests, some flowers actually stink. The unique Petunia ‘Pretty Much Picasso,’ with its purple and lime green blooms, is beautiful in every way—except for its aroma. Its aroma has been described as rank sneakers and dog poop. Other flowers that smell bad—and that you may find in your local nursery—are Skunk Cabbage and Crown Imperials. Also keep in mind that some trees emit an unpleasant smell when they’re in bloom, such Ginko, Dogwood, and Pear trees. (The Asakawas write in California Gardening Rhythms that you can avoid the smell if you get male trees.)

What about bees? Yes, many flowers attract bees because flowers are pollinated by bees. But you may not want them flying around your BBQ during a party. You can plant ornamental grasses (they’re pollinated by wind) and plants with colored foliage (that have no flowers). You could also try flowers that aren’t generally pollinated by bees. Based on A Spring without Bees: How Colony Collapse Disorder Has Endangered Our Food Supply, flowers with long tubes and double varieties with “extra petals instead of anthers” aren’t favorites of bees. Also keep in mind that bees prefer flowers that are blue, purple, and yellow. Flowers that are typically pollinated by hummingbirds or butterflies instead are Columbine, red Salvia, and Fuchsia. You could also try self pollinating flowers that do not need help to pollinate, such as Sweet Peas and Tulips.

With these tips in mind, you can create very pleasant outdoor spaces for entertaining humans.

By Shannon Mendez

By: Michiel Van KetsThere is an increasing number of people opting to work from home, however the lack of a secure and cosy office space has many of us setting up our computers and files in the spare bedroom where we are faced with little space and a blank wall to stare at, or the dining room table which can be an inconvenience as we have to move our equipment every time we have guests.

Adding an extension to your home just isn’t feasible for lots of householders due to space and the costs involved, however there isn’t any need to spend a lot of money on a home office, particularly if you have a nice big garden. Just take a look out the kitchen window and let the garden inspire you. There are lots of homeowners setting up a home office in the garden as it makes sense and has space.

Lots of homeowners just don’t make the most of their garden area, especially during the winter months when it’s too cold to venture outside. There are lots of advantages to purchasing a garden home office and one of the main ones is that after you have finished work for the day you can lock the door and ‘head home’. The problem with an office inside your house is that you are always reminded of work by the files and books hanging around, this can make it difficult to ‘switch off’ – one of the most common complaints made by anyone working at home.

An office in the garden can give you the peace you need to be productive and achieve a full day’s work. Working at home has lots of distractions – the doorbell, the phone, your family coming in and out asking questions, and the TV in the background.

If you are lucky and have a landscaped or manicured garden with trees and flowers then your home office can be designed with lots of windows to let you admire the view whilst working. This can be the best place to give you time to think and get a lot of work completed, far enough away from the house to avoid being disturbed. In the summer you can even open all the windows and breathe in the fresh air while you work.

One of your main concerns when considering buying a garden office is security. After all you will want at least one computer as well as other office equipment such as a printer and fax machine, and they will need to be locked away safely when the office is not in use. Ensure all your equipment is insured and check with your insurance company that it is covered by your policy; you may need to take out extra cover to protect yourself as some put a cap on the amount of cover offered.

Top of the range offices come complete with insulated walls, floors and double glazing, or combine an office with a summer house and choose a contemporary design with aluminium frame and polycarbonate roof. A garden office manufacturer can help you with sophisticated electrics and good natural lighting options, although you don’t want to too much natural light if using computer screens or displays as they can be sensitive to the light. Although planning permission is not normally required as the buildings are generally under a certain size or height, it is definitely worth checking details with your local council or local planning office.

Getting the internet in the garden is quite simple, just get a wireless connection for your home and this should be sufficient to reach your garden office as long as it is not too far away from the router. Check it out before making any final decision as to the position of your office.

There are plenty of companies and manufacturers who specialise in garden offices, whether you are looking for something in a contemporary or modern style, want an eco-friendly option, or wish it to blend in with the natural surroundings then look online for ideas. Avoid the rush hour traffic on a cold winter’s morning and take the steps today to making life a lot more comfortable by acquiring a cosy garden office.

About the Author

Michiel Van Kets writes articles for Gardens 4 Living, a well established store in the UK selling garden office and other gardening products online. View their fantastic choice of summerhouses and garden home office to work in, or browse through an extensive range of wooden, metal, large or plastic garden sheds – a must-have item for all gardens. Gardens 4 Living is a shop by garden enthusiasts for garden enthusiasts seeking for gardens for living.

(ArticlesBase SC #1959476)

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/ – Spend Your Working Day In The Garden

By: J. Reed

Outdoor entertaining has come a long way from just setting up a barbeque grill on the back deck or a picnic table on the patio. Now the most exciting new room in the house isn’t even in the house: it’s the new “outdoor room”. Creative homeowners are adding gas patio heaters (the kind you see in sidewalk cafes) and even building fireplaces so their outdoor rooms can be used in the winter. They’re arranging special seating areas to entertain guests. Decorating with different flowers, plants, and outdoor art. And, using large planters as well as arbors, trellises, or other simple structures to help define the space.

Where to start with your outdoor room
So how do you transition from a few pieces of lawn furniture to a true outdoor room? We believe the best way is to start with a central focal point and move out from there. Try centering your outdoor room around the one thing that you’ll be doing in it the most – gathering for a meal. Think about it like an indoor room. What’s the most important gathering place in the house? Where do people come together for conversation, drinks, and meals? It’s the dining table. That’s why we believe the best place to start is to put an attractive dining table in the middle of your outdoor room and work around it from there.

Borrowing from a beautiful Mediterranean tradition
You can’t drag your fine mahogany dining table outdoors, but you certainly don’t want a white plastic patio table to be the focal point for your outdoor room. What are the alternatives? You could go with a teak or wrought iron table. But, if really you want to do something special, then borrow from a timeless Mediterranean tradition and gather your guests around an exquisite handcrafted mosaic table. With its colorful, meticulously arranged hand-cut tiles, the table itself is not only a centerpiece for parties, but a delightful focal point for your outdoor room and a unique talking point for you and your guests.

Choosing the right look for your outdoor room
Before you select your mosaic table, ask yourself which colors you want to pick up in the tiles. Do you want to reflect the sunny yellows and blues of the French Riviera? Or the warm ochre reds found in the zillij (tile work) of Southern Spain and Morocco? Then think about reflecting those colors in the table decorations on top of your mosaic table. Accenting them in accessories like pots and planters. And complimenting them with colorful cushions on wrought iron chairs around your mosaic table. It’s not just the table that’s mosaic. You’re really creating your own mosaic out of the flowers, pots, and other accents that go on, above, and around your mosaic table.

Don’t forget that your outdoor room is outdoors
Of course, you want to make sure that everything that goes in your outdoor room can stand the outdoors. So look for furnishings and accent pieces that work well both indoors and out – like your mosaic table. In harsher northern climates, some homeowners will cover their tables when not in use or even bring them indoors to add color as kitchen tables, accent tables, or even dining tables.

Light for the night. Shade for the day.
Once you’ve established your central visual theme, think about radiating outwards with some unique lighting fixtures. Light the night with exotic Moroccan lanterns or hand-cut metal sconces. Also, consider adding some shade to make your outdoor room more inviting during hot summer days. But, don’t just think about umbrellas. Consider using arbors, awnings, or canopies where you can grow flowers and vines to create natural shade. Then, you can use these same structures to hang your lanterns and lights by night.

An outdoor room can fit any budget
There are many ways to create an outdoor room. You can do it surprisingly affordably with just a few simple pieces like your mosaic table, wrought iron chairs, and a few basic flowerpots. Over time, you can add fireplaces, stainless steel barbecue grills, and water features such as a fountain or waterfall. Again, the main idea is to start with a central focal point – like your mosaic table – and add other elements that complement it.

Make your move to the great outdoors
To get started, try looking online at some Moroccan handcrafted mosaic tables. Look at the patterns in the zillij, the colors, and the different shapes. Define the focal point of your outdoor room. Then, start to explore other accent pieces to compliment your mosaic table. Before you know it, you’ll have added a whole new room to your home – a beautiful place to entertain guests, gather the family for a meal, or escape with a quiet cup of tea and a book.

Copyright © 2007 J. Reed and B. Reed

About the Author

J. Reed is an advertising creative director who discovered the beauty of mosaic tables after traveling extensively in the Mediterranean and has launched an online boutique called My Mosaic Table featuring imported home accents.
www.mymosaictable.com

(ArticlesBase SC #249594)

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/ – Outdoor Entertaining: How to Turn your Patio Into a Year-round Outdoor Room

Author: Leslie Intriago

California Wine Country residents have enjoyed outdoor kitchens for years, and now this once considered luxurious trend is riding a wave of popularity in warm weather states across the nation. As gasoline prices soar, more homeowners are investing in amenities for enjoying good food and friends at home, including high quality grills, outdoor furniture, outdoor fireplaces, and outdoor lighting. Creating an outdoor kitchen in your own backyard also adds to your home’s value, though you probably won’t want to part with your custom kitchen alfresco and may even find yourself out there grilling on weeknights too.

Today’s outdoor kitchens come complete with built in grills that include stovetop style burners, roasting spits, and griddles; bar and service centers with sinks and refrigerators; storage space for cooking gear and dishes; counters for prep work; even built in lighting and stereo systems. Patio umbrellas, custom designed awnings or arbors protect cooking and food prep areas. Outdoor carpets and special rubber chef’s mats cover the “floor” for standing comfortably while cooking. Outdoor fireplaces, patio heaters, and fire pits provide warmth on cool days and evenings. “Exterior decorating” includes wall art and sculpture, and weather resistant outdoor dining sets, couches, and ottomans complete the comfy indoor feel.

What you include in your outdoor kitchen will depend on your budget and how much you enjoy grilling and outdoor dining. Cost ranges from about $2,500 for the basics: a high quality free standing grill and patio dining set, to well over $25,000 for a top of the line built in grill, bar, sink, service center, and more. More elaborate outdoor kitchens include automatic dishwashers and special wine refrigerators. Outdoor “cabinetry” is stocked with top quality grilling accessories, grilling spices, and wine tools, and all indoor cooking necessities are included, right down to the paper towel holder.

The heart of the outdoor kitchen is the grill, and experts recommend purchasing the best you can afford. Top of the line outdoor grills made of high grade stainless steel, such as Lynx grills and Twin Eagles grills, come with lifetime warranties and provide professional grade heat output, restaurant style searing marks, and special amenities, including griddles and side burners for whipping up breakfast alfresco on the weekends. These upscale grills are fueled by gas or propane. Budget conscious homeowners will find fueling with bottled propane the least expensive choice with no need for running costly gas lines from the house to the outdoor cooking area.

Efficient layout is just as important when building an outdoor kitchen as it is with indoor kitchen design. Grilling with ease makes the outdoor cooking experience all the more enjoyable. Design experts suggest that the grill and sink flank the food prep area, and that an outdoor refrigerator or food cooler be available to keep ingredients fresh as you assemble your meal. Providing for even the smallest storage space will cut down on trips inside to retrieve barbecuing accessories, cooking gear, and serving dishes. However, a short and easy path to your indoor kitchen may be an important consideration, especially if you often entertain large groups, requiring use of both cooking areas. Making the most of a pleasant view and providing shaded seating may also be important considerations.

To create an outdoor kitchen on a tight budget or enjoy the outdoor cooking experience in a less permanent way before installing built in appliances, outdoor kitchen designers recommend opting for a freestanding grill with rollers, side trays, and storage. Pair with a comfy outdoor dining set, and you’ll have the basics in portable form while considering the kitchen and dining layout best for you. You’ll also enjoy amazing grilled meals while planning your ultimate outdoor kitchen

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/kitchens-articles/beyond-the-backyard-barbecue-create-your-own-outdoor-kitchen-950659.html

About the Author:

Sue Capella is a Northern California writer/editor who enjoys writing about home and garden. Sue is a copywriter for Outdora, a retailer that specializes in heightening the outdoor
experience.

Located in Sonoma, California, Outdora is committed to customer service excellence and providing top of the line merchandise at unbeatable prices! Outdora offers an extensive inventory of high-end barbeque
grills such as Twin Eagles and Lynx Grills. This summer, the staff at Outdora is excited to announce the opening of the Outdora Showroom in downtown Sonoma which will continue to offer the top names in barbeque grills including Big Green Egg and Viking.