If you’re having a picnic in your backyard, it’s no big deal if you forget something when you’re setting up your picnic table and grill.  In most cases, you’ll either have it in your house, or you’ll simply have to go to a convenience store and get it.  However, when you’re going to a park, or out to the woods, you will have to be extra careful not to leave anything behind.

Just for starters, make sure that you not only have the right containers for transporting everything, but that you have enough of them.  I mean, one picnic basket is rarely sufficient for all of the food that you’ll be taking (and that’s not even counting the stuff that will have to go into coolers).  You can use a couple of baskets for food, and another one (or more) for carrying the dishes, glasses, utensils, and napery.  You should also have coolers of all sizes, whether they’re the regular, old-fashioned kind, or the newer ones that are like combinations of coolers, backpacks, purses, briefcases, and luggage (some of which even have wheels).

The type of tableware that you’ll use will largely depend upon the occasion, and the location of your picnic.  For casual get-togethers, regular paper plates and plastic tablecloths and utensils will do just fine.  If, however, you want to dress things up, you may decide to use one of your better tablecloths; but if you do, bring an old sheet to put under it as a liner to protect it from snags.  You can also find festive-looking, heavy-duty plates and napkins, as well as multi-colored plastic dishes and glasses that look just like the real things.

Now, if it’s going to be really fancy, and you’re bringing the good tableware, pack it in with the blankets, which are also prerequisites for any cookout.  Even if you’re going to be eating at a picnic table, you’ll want to have a place to stretch out and relax afterward; and don’t forget to pack some plastic sheeting to put under the blankets if the ground is moist.  You can also bring along a hammock, and, just in case the trees don’t line up right, a hammock stand.  For extra seating, load up some outdoor folding chairs or steamer chairs as well.

If you’re cooking out at a park, you’ll probably be in a pavilion with a nearby park grill; otherwise, you’ll have to bring a tent, if you want shelter, and a small charcoal grill or a fire ring for cooking.

Leaving the area spotless is a must, too, so pack paper towels or cloths that you can use to clean the picnic tables, and put all of your trash into waste receptacles.  If you’re going to be in the wilderness, where no trash cans are provided, bring some large garbage bags.

Of course, in the latter case, it’s extremely important to make sure that any fires that you have built are put out completely.  In fact, it is, literally, a matter of life and death.  So, since Smokey Bear isn’t here to write this himself (he’s terrible at typing, anyway!), I’ll say it for him: “Only You Can Prevent Forest Fires!”

Wow!  I just realized that’s the second blog in a row in which I’ve quoted a bear!  Quoted a bear?!  Even that sounds crazy (well, if the quote fits)!

Yours Outdoors,

Kathy

Unlike spring, summer, fall, and winter, cookout season has no official beginning.  It all depends upon where you live, and what you consider suitable weather for cooking outdoors.  Sometimes, even people in cold climates do it year-round; but, for most of the country, the period that is generally viewed as cookout season is quickly approaching.

Millions of people are looking forward to firing up their grills, and eating at their picnic tables.  However, before they cook their first burgers, everyone should make sure that their grills, whether they are gas grills, charcoal grills, or electric grills, are in good operating condition.

Remember, a grill that is kept in a shed over the winter often has company, other than stored patio furniture.  It may be visited by rodents and bugs that are looking for a place to hole up during the cold months; and, while they can cause some damage, the grill can also be adversely affected simply from standing idle for a long stretch.

So, if your grill has been in storage, see that it is in top working order before you use it.  If it’s a gas grill, check the tubes that lead into the burner for blockages that may have been caused by spiders, insects, or grease; and if you find a clog, use a pipe cleaner to push it through to the main part of the burner, where you can remove it.  Although a wire will work, too, it can also damage the tube if you’re not extremely careful.  Examine hoses for brittleness, and make sure that there are no cracks, holes, leaks, or sharp bends in them.

Inspect gas cylinders for leaks as well, by applying soapy water to their hoses, and looking for bubbles; don’t count on being able to smell gas escaping.  If you find a leak, turn off the gas tank and grill, wait for the leak to stop, and have the unit serviced by a professional.  If the leak doesn’t stop, call the fire department.  Likewise, if you smell gas while you are cooking, get away from the grill, and call the fire department.

Any gas cylinder that was manufactured after April 2002 will have an overfill protection device (OPD) that will shut off the gas flow before it reaches capacity, decreasing the potential for the release of propane gas if the cylinder heats up.  The OPD will have a triangular hand wheel.

If your grill is in questionable shape, or needs costly repairs, it may be time to get a new one.  Look for features such as stainless steel cooking grids, drip pans, lid thermometers, and rotary igniters.  Of course, even a basic charcoal grill, or a simple fire ring, can work just fine.  The important thing is to get a grill that will serve your purposes and suit your lifestyle.

By the way, if your grill has suffered any ill effects from being stored, you may want to get a grill or barbecue cover; or, perhaps, a new shed!

Yours Outdoors,

Kathy

We’ve been to Tuscany, Japan, and Paris.  But, perhaps we should veer our travels to a more exotic climate.  Imagine an outdoor living space in your own backyard that likens itself to the Brazilian or Caribbean Tropics.  Drinking out of the ordinary cocktails and snacking on pineapple and guava, you’re sure to feel complete and total escape from the daily grind of temperate climates.  But, you might be thinking that you just live too far north to feel such equatorial repose.  You’re in luck!  I can show you how to recreate a tropical paradise no matter where you live.

Recreate Tropical Vegetation:  Even if you don’t live in a tropical climate, you can recreate a tropical feel by planting foliage in layers to mirror natural growth patterns.  Mix and match broad-leaf greens of different hues, shapes, and sizes with vines and ferns to create a holistically wild feel.  Then, add tropical-style flowers in vibrant colors.  The kind of flowers will depend on your gardening zone, location, and maintenance time… but hot pinks, purple orchids, fiery reds, and striking yellows will give the warm and close look of the rain forest.  Have fun, and don’t worry too much about everything going together perfectly.  You’re not paying homage to the manicured gardens of English royalty; you’re mirroring the untouched wilds of the rain forest!

Use Wicker Furniture with Teak and Eucalyptus Accents: Allow your outdoor furniture to mirror your tropical garden with inspired furnishings.  The deep and natural coloring of wicker patio furniture is a perfect choice, and the softness creates the rustic ideal of a hidden retreat.  Teak, a material harvested in the rain forest, is also a wonderful pick; whether you accent with a Teak side table, Teak garden bench, or even teak chaise lounges, the durable hardwood will bring out a tropical feel.  Lastly, for an even more exotic look, try FSC Certified Eucalyptus from Brazil.  It has an organically, completely authentic, tropical sense with hints of deep red in the tight-grained wood.  Again, don’t let yourself have a moment of anxiety over some kind of exact ratio of materials.  Use whichever material you like the best, and mix and match it to your liking!  An exotic approach means a relaxed approach, so let your more experimental design instincts run wild!

Having outdoor furniture that reflects the rest of the vegetation will bring your entire outdoor living space together.  Whatever material you use, it’s also very important that your patio furniture reflects your personality and desired use.  Chaise lounges and garden benches are perfect for families looking to lounge and socialize all afternoon; while picnic tables and outdoor dining sets are best for people hoping to eat most of their meals outside.  If you plan to do a lot of entertaining, a bar set or refreshment stand will offer both style and function. Of course, if you have enough space to allow it, you can have both a living area and a dining area for complete versatility!

Use Bright Colored Fabrics: While your garden furniture highlights dark, natural colors… you’ll want to bring out the vibrant shades of your tropical flowers with fabric accents.  Outdoor furniture cushions, patio umbrellas, table cloths, or outdoor pillows are all great ways to add lively hues to your decorating scheme.  Choosing solid colors in the same or similar shades to your most used tropical flowers will bring the whole space together.  Use stripes and patterns carefully, or even sparingly, to keep the more simple and rustic theme in tact.  The best place for busy patterns is on dishware or urns to reflect the rich and brightly decorated pottery often found in tropical climates.

Couple a Fire Ring with a Water Feature: Even if you live in the most temperate climate, you can give the steamy feeling of the rain forest by mixing fire and water. Of course, you can choose to install a swimming pool for the height of luxury and function, or have a small garden or koi pond put in.  But more than having a pond or pool, moving water, like a water fall, is really ideal for a tropical garden.  Whether you have a fountain, or water gently flowing over rocks, the sounds of water through out the garden will be the absolute best for exotic gardens.

Adding a fire pit or fire ring will create wonderful contrast.  Like striking camps set up in the rain forest, a place for a true burning fire will make the entire area seem authentic while creating an inviting appeal.  Plus, having both fire and water work together will lend the steamy appeal without all the humidity!

Create a Hidden Retreat:  For the ultimate in tropical outdoor spaces, create a hidden retreat.  Accessible by a winding garden path away from the rest of the house, the sky and your imagination are the only limits to creating a unique area.  For people interested in large-scale entertainment, a tiki bar gazebo can be a wonderfully conversational garden structure that will have guests flocking.  But, if private repose is your prerogative, a spa shelter for a hot tub will certainly serve you like a fresh hot water spring!  A Red Cedar Cabana or Gazebo also make perfect hide-aways.  Decorated with the same wicker, teak, and eucalyptus outdoor furniture, you can also install an exotic outdoor ceiling fan with palm or tropical leaf blades.  Try setting it up with a small desk with typewriter and leather bound notebooks to give the appearance of an explorer’s outpost.  Or, use chaise lounges and a well placed hammock to make a tropical retreat fit for royalty.  After all, you will be the King or Queen of your retreat!

Traveling and vacationing are wonderful pastimes, but creating brilliant outdoor living spaces with the design and luxury of far away retreats allows both your family and your friends to escape at any time, all year long.  A tropical outdoor living space will allow you to feel like you’ve flown to a resort in the Bahamas at a moment’s notice.  Integrating large-leaf foliage with bright colored flowers along side natural wicker, teak, and eucalyptus furnishings accented with bright, solid fabrics will set a calming and interesting color scheme.  Mixing fire and water features will give the appearance of steamy climates without the humidity, while creating a hidden retreat can be both a hub for entertaining and an escape for true repose!  Experience the versatility of a tropical outdoor living space!