Wednesday, 5 March 2014
Container Gardening
The sweetness of the white Snapdragon above is balanced by the patina of the terrecotta pot and the black granite.
A columnar planter of gopher wire and sphagnum moss below hold a small amount of soil and a nearly indestructible Asparagus Fern Asparagus densiflorus Sprengeri. Laid on its side or upright, this container has an edgy look.
Choose plants that you see doing well in neglected landscapes or containers to ensure survival of your container plantings. Use a hardy palette, a restrained using few plants and strong contrastin your design, a planter full of well amended, well draining soil and you will find yourself a successful container gardener in no time. Dont forget to water once in awhile!
In the muted green ceramic planter below is a native Sword Fern Polystichum munitum rising from a prostrate, woolly, vigorous en petite masse planting of Licorice Plant Helichrysum petiolare.
In the terracotta urn-like planter under the cover of a porch is a Sempervivium succulent paired with year round blooming Euphorbia Diamond Frost, which did not survive unusually cold winter. The sweetness of the flowering Euphorbia is balanced by the uncomplicated Sempervivium.
These planters generally thrive with little care. Plant for neglect, that is use tough, drought tolerant plants.
Below Blue Fescue Festuca glauca consumes Wormwood Artemesia Powis Castle in a planting reminiscent of a prairie.
Tuesday, 4 March 2014
Outdoor Wedding Decorations
Outdoor Wedding Decorations
Outdoor Wedding Decorations
If you are provision an out-of-door wedding then you are probably looking for outdoor hymeneals decorations. and so in front you set out purchasing items for your wedding you should make up mindful of or so of the primal differences in outdoor weddings. patch outside weddings ass offer for an incredible wedding ceremony environment they do present some challenges that an indoor wedding may not have to contend with. Hopefully later on reading this article you leave possess amp greater savvy of what case of outside wedding ceremony decorations that will wooing your wedding the best.
The first of all thing that you should concern yourself with when buying outdoor marriage ceremony decorations is the actual weather of the locating that you have picked out. For instance is the environment typically warm cold humid windy rainy and so on This should play a big factor inwards the choices that you take a leak regarding outside wedding decor. For instance if you cognise that the location is often group A fiddling on the windy side you should take this into account. You might want to look at wedding decor that weighty attached or not easily affected around.
Outdoor Wedding Decorations
Outdoor Wedding Decorations
This displace forbid your wedding decorations from quick about all over the place. It would be type A tragedy if on your exceptional day you have to have your wedding ceremony party chasing wedding decorations all over the place because they are light and easily blown nigh with the wind.
Do you know if the location is ofttimes wet humid or prone to getting amp little rain? If that is the lawsuit then you bequeath privation to look astatine outdoor wedding decorations that are not easily ruined away a niggling moisture. Anything made of paper operating room something along that lines Crataegus laevigata be at risk for getting undone if there is some moisture in the air and so take decorating with hearty items that will hold up in the event that a footling moisture occurs on the Clarence Day of your wedding.
Once you have vitamin A good savvy of the climate of your wedding emplacement then you will deprivation to think what case of surround or mood that you are nerve-racking to convey at your wedding. in that location are so many types of outdoor marriage ceremony decorations that are out there and then there are many types that you can select from. Are you going to be having your wedding astatine a beach location? Is the wedding at a wedding facility? These are all things to consider because depending on the location you will believably privation to decorate a good deal differently. at one time you determine the literal location then you backside comprise a theme that leave fit the surroundings and pair the two accordingly thus that you have antiophthalmic factor substantially suited theme that will endure astir inward the elements of the location.
The stern line is that just the likes of any wedding ceremony that you are planning outside weddings tin can be a great success but you scarcely need to check that you put the proper amount of planning into it. Planning is the key and will assure you can get into into your exceptional day with a sense of puff that you have through with all that you toilet suffice to ensure that wholly of your decisions were made soundly and should hold up and calculate great on your special day. So do not hesitate go ahead and begin checking KOd whole the bang-up selective information available to you regarding outdoor wedding ceremony decorations.
Outdoor Wedding Decorations
Relate Tag : Outdoor Wedding Decorations,Outdoor Fall Wedding Decorations,Outdoor Wedding Table Decorations,Outdoor Wedding Reception Decorations,Outdoor Wedding Decoration Ideas
SUSTAINABLE DESIGN FOR RESIDENTIAL DRIVEWAY
Impervious surfaces (such as driveways) limit the amount of stormwater capture and retention. During rain storms these surfaces (built from materials such as asphalt, cement and concrete) along with rooftops, carry polluted stormwater to storm drains, instead of allowing the water to percolate through the soil. This causes flooding as there is no absorption into the ground. Most municipal storm sewer systems discharge stormwater, untreated to streams, rivers, bays. In New York City, my understanding is that the overtaxed sewage system overflows into the East River.
So,…controlling the amount of stormwater runoff from urban homes is paramount in creating green infrastructure. The challenge is to allow the stormwater to percolate into the soil or ground, thereby reducing levels of urban runoff.
Thanks to a wonderful client of ours in Brooklyn, my partner Dinorah and I designed a sustainable solution to their problematic residential driveway in the midst of redesigning the entire property. The existing asphalt was cracking, pot-holed, consistently failing and flooding during rainstorms. As per local ordinances we could not repave + re-pitch the driveway to direct stormwater into the street. As we were demolishing the pressure treated wood deck in the rear, we chose to create a pea gravel driveway with secured wood boards from the demolished deck (which would then allow the stormwater to percolate down). The broken up asphalt driveway was then used to provide fill for the newly designed above grade stone deck. Only the pea gravel was trucked in, since we used material on-site to produce this. Best of all, the client reaped a tremendous cost savings through this solution!
Old driveway
Old deck
Sustainable Driveway solution
Read More..
So,…controlling the amount of stormwater runoff from urban homes is paramount in creating green infrastructure. The challenge is to allow the stormwater to percolate into the soil or ground, thereby reducing levels of urban runoff.
Thanks to a wonderful client of ours in Brooklyn, my partner Dinorah and I designed a sustainable solution to their problematic residential driveway in the midst of redesigning the entire property. The existing asphalt was cracking, pot-holed, consistently failing and flooding during rainstorms. As per local ordinances we could not repave + re-pitch the driveway to direct stormwater into the street. As we were demolishing the pressure treated wood deck in the rear, we chose to create a pea gravel driveway with secured wood boards from the demolished deck (which would then allow the stormwater to percolate down). The broken up asphalt driveway was then used to provide fill for the newly designed above grade stone deck. Only the pea gravel was trucked in, since we used material on-site to produce this. Best of all, the client reaped a tremendous cost savings through this solution!
Old driveway
Old deck
Sustainable Driveway solution
Fire Pits Can Be Dangerous if You Dont Follow Safety Tips
Hi all, I just came across an article from last week about a 2 year old Minnesota boy who fell into a smoldering fire pit, badly burning his elbow and hand. My first thoughts were, "Where were the parents?"
Although fire pits can be a great way to enhance your outdoor entertainment experience, they can also pose a danger if you dont follow fire pit safety tips. Fire pits that smolder can still cause burns up to 24 hours, so make sure that fire is out, monitored and if there are children around, PLEASE pay attention!
The Hennepin County Medical Center stated that in the past month alone, they have treated several children under five who who burned either by fire pits or campfires. Since 2005, they have treated 150 patients burned by fire pits or campfires, nearly one third of them children.
We posted a blog a few weeks before this article was published highlighting some Fire Pit Safety Tips. Please check it out and have a safe and entertaining summer with your fire pit.
Read More..
Although fire pits can be a great way to enhance your outdoor entertainment experience, they can also pose a danger if you dont follow fire pit safety tips. Fire pits that smolder can still cause burns up to 24 hours, so make sure that fire is out, monitored and if there are children around, PLEASE pay attention!
The Hennepin County Medical Center stated that in the past month alone, they have treated several children under five who who burned either by fire pits or campfires. Since 2005, they have treated 150 patients burned by fire pits or campfires, nearly one third of them children.
We posted a blog a few weeks before this article was published highlighting some Fire Pit Safety Tips. Please check it out and have a safe and entertaining summer with your fire pit.
Outdoor Grilling Tips For You
Whats better than cooking a lovely dinner inside? Grilling a spectacular dinner outside over the flames of some piping hot coals, thats what. The taste of grilled food, and I mean more than just meat (vegetables and tofu included) far exceeds the taste of food that is prepared on a skillet or in an oven. The best part of outdoor cooking is that you can grill, roast, steam, bake, smoke and sear. Below are some grilling tips to ensure that you get the most out of your grilling experience.
First up, preparation! You need to make sure you have everything you are going to be needing and using at your fingertips, or at least within reach. This includes all the spices, oils, marinades, tongs, spatulas and other cooking utensils you will be using. This way you are ensured to stay on top of your cooking process without any chance of needing to run inside to grab something while your meat is becoming too charred because you werent prepared. Also, on the safety side of things, make sure to have a fire extinguisher or a bucket of water on hand just in case your flame gets out of control. The LAST thing you want is to have an out of control fire on your hands with no safety measures on hand.
Secondly, preheating the grill. The most important part, the "golden rule" if you will, of getting the most out of the grill is to ensure that the coals are preheated and hot enough before you put any food on the grill. The best way to figure out if your coals are hot enough is to place your hand over the grill and if after three seconds, you can no longer bear the heat, then your coals are ready for grilling!
Third up on our grilling tips, cleanliness. Be sure to use a stiff brush to clean all the former grime off of the grill from your last grilling experience. You dont want to mix flavors from the last grilling experience, and of course its healthier to be grilling on a clean surface. You dont want to ingest old dried up burnt remnants of past grilling, thats just not safe for you.
Fourth, oil your grill. After cleaning the grill, lightly brush some oil on the grate so that food wont stick to it. This is grilling tip 101 for all aspiring grill masters.
Fifth, grilling isnt just for meat. Utilize the oil and some spices on vegetables and toss them directly on the grill right when the meat is about to be done cooking. You can also wrap vegetables in tin foil with marinade, oil and spices to capture more of a succulent flavor absorption. Another great non-meat related grilling idea is to marinate tofu for a few hours (be sure to get firm or extra firm tofu and squeeze the water out of it prior to marinating, this will help the tofu absorb the marinade itself) and then place half inch slices of tofu directly on the grill. This takes about as much time to grill as meat to achieve a meat-esque-like texture from the tofu, so place them on at the same time and flip them when you flip the meat.
Finally, closed grill vs open grill. A closed grill will prevent flame flare-ups, keep the temperature consistent, retain flavor, moisture, natural juices and overall, makes the cooking process more even and succulent. So close the lid.
We here at Warming Trends hope that these tips will help you fulfill the grill guru that is living inside of all of us. Contact us at any time for any of your outdoor living needs including custom fire pit and burning system needs. 1-877-556-5255
Read More..
First up, preparation! You need to make sure you have everything you are going to be needing and using at your fingertips, or at least within reach. This includes all the spices, oils, marinades, tongs, spatulas and other cooking utensils you will be using. This way you are ensured to stay on top of your cooking process without any chance of needing to run inside to grab something while your meat is becoming too charred because you werent prepared. Also, on the safety side of things, make sure to have a fire extinguisher or a bucket of water on hand just in case your flame gets out of control. The LAST thing you want is to have an out of control fire on your hands with no safety measures on hand.
Secondly, preheating the grill. The most important part, the "golden rule" if you will, of getting the most out of the grill is to ensure that the coals are preheated and hot enough before you put any food on the grill. The best way to figure out if your coals are hot enough is to place your hand over the grill and if after three seconds, you can no longer bear the heat, then your coals are ready for grilling!
Third up on our grilling tips, cleanliness. Be sure to use a stiff brush to clean all the former grime off of the grill from your last grilling experience. You dont want to mix flavors from the last grilling experience, and of course its healthier to be grilling on a clean surface. You dont want to ingest old dried up burnt remnants of past grilling, thats just not safe for you.
Fourth, oil your grill. After cleaning the grill, lightly brush some oil on the grate so that food wont stick to it. This is grilling tip 101 for all aspiring grill masters.
Fifth, grilling isnt just for meat. Utilize the oil and some spices on vegetables and toss them directly on the grill right when the meat is about to be done cooking. You can also wrap vegetables in tin foil with marinade, oil and spices to capture more of a succulent flavor absorption. Another great non-meat related grilling idea is to marinate tofu for a few hours (be sure to get firm or extra firm tofu and squeeze the water out of it prior to marinating, this will help the tofu absorb the marinade itself) and then place half inch slices of tofu directly on the grill. This takes about as much time to grill as meat to achieve a meat-esque-like texture from the tofu, so place them on at the same time and flip them when you flip the meat.
Finally, closed grill vs open grill. A closed grill will prevent flame flare-ups, keep the temperature consistent, retain flavor, moisture, natural juices and overall, makes the cooking process more even and succulent. So close the lid.
We here at Warming Trends hope that these tips will help you fulfill the grill guru that is living inside of all of us. Contact us at any time for any of your outdoor living needs including custom fire pit and burning system needs. 1-877-556-5255
Caribbean Summer Grill Recipes
Alright everyone. We arent going to talk about fire pits today and how awesome they are. Rather, we are going to talk about some great grilling recipes I found to entertain family and friends with while sitting around your fire pit or in your backyard or patio.
Were going to explore the Carribbean today so that all of your food and drink are paired up and living the island dream. This dish is all about the marination involved. youll need to prepare the marinade which takes about ten minutes, and then let it sit over night, but the nice thing is, after a good day of prep, all you need is twenty minutes over medium heat on the grill, and viola!
First up - Appetizers - Nothing says the Caribbean like Fried Plantain Chips. These are so easy to make and taste amazing! Just deep fry the plantains, about a dozen at a time, for three to four minutes and salt to taste. Now you have munchies until your main course is ready.
Next - Main Course - Get out the hootch and enjoy some Jamaican Jerk Chicken, which is a classic Caribbean delight, but this one you can enjoy over the open flame of your grill. Turn these chicken delight into kabobs too! Ps, of the ten people who rated this recipe on AllRecipes.com, rated it 5/5 stars with the other two people giving it 4/5 stars! Youre welcome, oh and thank AllRecipes.com for the ideas. ;)
Finally - Cocktails - This week, a little taste of our neighbors to the south, the Cuban Mojito. It takes about 10 minutes of prep time, and 10 minutes to complete, but trust me, itll be worth it in the end.
Oh, and why didnt I put a dessert recipe? Well, let your friends and family provide the third course, just make sure its got some island flavor to it.
Happy grilling and entertaining!
Read More..
Were going to explore the Carribbean today so that all of your food and drink are paired up and living the island dream. This dish is all about the marination involved. youll need to prepare the marinade which takes about ten minutes, and then let it sit over night, but the nice thing is, after a good day of prep, all you need is twenty minutes over medium heat on the grill, and viola!
First up - Appetizers - Nothing says the Caribbean like Fried Plantain Chips. These are so easy to make and taste amazing! Just deep fry the plantains, about a dozen at a time, for three to four minutes and salt to taste. Now you have munchies until your main course is ready.
Next - Main Course - Get out the hootch and enjoy some Jamaican Jerk Chicken, which is a classic Caribbean delight, but this one you can enjoy over the open flame of your grill. Turn these chicken delight into kabobs too! Ps, of the ten people who rated this recipe on AllRecipes.com, rated it 5/5 stars with the other two people giving it 4/5 stars! Youre welcome, oh and thank AllRecipes.com for the ideas. ;)
Finally - Cocktails - This week, a little taste of our neighbors to the south, the Cuban Mojito. It takes about 10 minutes of prep time, and 10 minutes to complete, but trust me, itll be worth it in the end.
Oh, and why didnt I put a dessert recipe? Well, let your friends and family provide the third course, just make sure its got some island flavor to it.
Happy grilling and entertaining!
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