With the searing heat that has been baking a large portion of the country for the past few days, many people have been staying indoors more than usual, trying to get relief from fans and air-conditioners.  An unabashed member of that group, I, too have been skipping a lot of my normal outdoor activities during the day.  Furthermore, I refuse to go anywhere that’s not cool (although that’s my year-round policy).

Fortunately, the evenings, though still quite warm, have been tolerable.  In fact, just to get my fill of the outdoors, I have considered sleeping on a lounge chair in my screened gazebo, under the outdoor ceiling fan.  Moreover, I’ve found that other people have thought about, or actually done, similar things.  The other night, as a bunch of us sat around a friend’s picnic table, one of her neighbors announced that she had slept on her swingbed.  After that, somebody else said that a friend of his had spent the past two nights in his backyard hammock.

Nearly everyone I have talked to recently has neglected outdoor chores as well.  It really is amazing how certain weather conditions can change our lifestyles, and throw us off our routines.  Luckily, it’s a temporary situation, as July is one of the busiest months for gardening, and a time when we can ill afford to postpone yard work.  Maybe our lawns can go for awhile without water, because they’ll recover quickly; but flowers and vegetables need attention, especially in areas that haven’t had much rain lately.

Annuals, for example, may be very thirsty now, particularly if they’re newly-planted and trying to establish roots.  Snipping or pinching off spent blossoms is another good way to revitalize plants, and help their roots to grow.  Cutting them back to half their size, and fertilizing them, will give them a second bloom.  If you want to add a dash of panache to dull areas, get some colorful, new plants that are ready to go right from their pots, into the ground.  Transplant and deadhead perennials this month as well.

Container plants, too, can become extremely parched during the summer, and may sometimes require watering twice a day.  They’re worth the extra effort, though, as planters are also ideal for adding pizzazz to the landscape.   Because they can go anywhere, you can put them in garden beds to fill bare spots, arrange them on patios, porches, and gazebos, or line them up along walkways, railings, or steps.  You can also move them around to give them more sun, or shade, when necessary.  To make things even more spectacular, use a variety of planters in several colors and sizes, along with planter trellises and planter benches.

Indeed, there’s much to be accomplished in the garden this month; but it’s more important to take it easy, even in seasonable temperatures.  If you feel that you need a break, just plant yourself in an outdoor chair, under a shady tree, and water yourself thoroughly.

Yours Outdoors,

Kathy

Today there’s a kind of strange, almost eerie, sight outside my window.  My birdfeeders, which are normally bustling with activity, have gotten very few hits.  I haven’t seen a lot of movement around the birdhouses, either; and, oddly enough, even the birdbaths aren’t getting as many visitors as usual.  So, the heat wave that we, along with a large portion of the country, are experiencing is, not surprisingly, affecting the wildlife as well.

Whether or not your area is now being scorched by temperatures that are nearing 100º, you’ve probably, at one time or another, been in the grip of a heat wave.  Indeed, nearly everyone knows how this feels (awful!), and that, when it gets life-threateningly hot, it’s vital to find a way to stay cool.  Although everybody is at risk, the ones who are the most vulnerable to heat-related illnesses are the elderly, the very young, and those who must work outdoors.

If you’re in that last group, it’s imperative that you take it easy, drink plenty of water, and stop frequently for breaks.  Otherwise, it’s best to stay inside, in the air-conditioning, as much as possible.  Don’t do any unnecessary outdoor chores, either; forget about yard work for the time being.  If you don’t want to stay in, take an ice-cold glass of lemonade out to a patio chair, porch swing, or hammock, and just relax.

Even if you’re in a location, such as this, where it’s going to stay dry for several days, don’t worry about your lawn.  Although it may get thoroughly baked, it will spring back to life when it rains.  However, if you can’t be dissuaded from watering it, let your sprinkler do double duty, and set yourself up in a lounge chair or steamer chair, in a spot where it will spray you, too.

During weather like this, you should also wear light, and light-colored, clothing.  Take cool baths or showers if you don’t have a pool, or have access to one.  Even if you have one, however, the water can get pretty warm under these conditions; so keep cold drinks handy on a nearby picnic table that’s shaded by a tree or, at least, a patio umbrella.  It’s also a good idea to put some ice packs and wet cloths into a cooler, in case someone gets overheated.

Of course, as the birds are reminding me today, this weather is just as dangerous for animals.  So, provide some water for the wild creatures, and, please, don’t leave your pets out in the heat – especially in a car!  They’re depending on you to keep them safe and cool.  You should also check on elderly neighbors, or anyone who lives alone and doesn’t have air-conditioning.

You know, I sure could go for a heapin’ helpin’ of some of that wonderful snow that we had last winter!  No, I’m not just saying that; I’m one of the few who enjoyed it even when it was over two feet deep.  Believe me, I’d rather see 28º than 98º any day of the year.

Yours (I cannot tell a lie – for now, I’m staying) Indoors,

Kathy

Once you’ve gotten hummingbirds to come to your garden, you’ll want it to be a safe, hospitable environment, where they can flourish.  Therefore, there are some safety measures that you should take, so that you don’t inadvertently cause them any harm.

One important point to remember is that hummingbirds have very tiny, sensitive organs, which cannot tolerate certain things.  Pesticides are tops on this list; but, as we’ve already established, you won’t have to use them in a hummingbird garden, as the bugs will be exterminated by the birds.

Moreover, hummingbirds cannot stomach food coloring, or dye of any kind, so don’t buy any commercial brand of hummingbird food that is colored.  Although it is advisable to have supplemental hummingbird feeders in your garden, the best, and most economical, thing to do is to make your own nectar.  Not only is it simple, but, as long as you follow the strict, yet very easy, guidelines, it’s the safest and healthiest thing for the hummingbirds.

All you need is one cup of pure, granulated sugar, and four cups of boiling water.  Just put the water into a large bowl, add and mix the sugar until it is dissolved, and place it in the refrigerator to cool.  That’s all there is to it.  The main thing is to use only pure, granulated sugar, as any other sugar will have a different chemical makeup, and can cause a hummingbird to get sick, or even die.  Never use brown or powdered sugar, saccharin, or any other type of sugar or sugar substitute, maple syrup, or any other kind of syrup, or any of the kids’ drink mixes.

Because you won’t be using food coloring, make sure that your birdfeeder is colorful.  Most of the commercial ones will have plastic, trumpet-shaped flowers on them; but you can also make your own feeders, using old bottles that have been thoroughly cleaned, and decorate them with the red or orange fluorescent flagging tape that surveyors use.

Among the other dangers facing hummingbirds, cats pose the biggest threat, especially when the birds are hovering close to the ground.  This is another good reason to train flowers up arbors, trellises, pergolas, and gazebos, where the birds can feed out of the reach of cats.  Even if you have very little room for a garden, you can use a Skyscraper Garden™ Trellis, which takes up only four square feet of space, and can be used alone, or against a wall, even on terraces or patios.

Once hummingbirds start visiting your garden, you’ll want to be able to enjoy watching them while you’re lazing in your hammock or lounge chair, eating at your outdoor dining table, or having cocktails at your bistro set.  Although, at first, they may scatter when they see you approaching, you can help them get used to you, by spending a little more time in the area.  Start by sitting quietly and, perhaps, having your morning coffee, at your picnic table, or on your porch swing, or outdoor rocking chair.

You’ll be surprised how bold they will get when they become familiar with you.  Eventually, they may even start greeting you by playfully zipping around your head.  If this happens, though, let’s just hope that you’re fully awake, so that you don’t mistake a hummingbird for a fly, and swat it with your morning newspaper.

Yours Outdoors,

Kathy

As I was saying, in March, your gardening opportunities will depend upon where you live.  While some people can do a lot of planting now, others are still dealing with frozen soil; but either way, it’s okay, because winter is simply running out of time.  Indeed, this is a month of drastic changes, wherein many cooler regions commonly experience significant spikes in temperatures, sometimes, to the point where they become unseasonably warm.

So, even if your world looks all white and brown and gray today, by the time April arrives, it may be verdant, and bursting with color.  Heck, a few weeks from now, you may even be complaining about weeds, rather than snow.  Yep, March could come in like a lion, and go out like a dandelion (or, thousands of them!).  Furthermore, instead of seeing it through closed windows (that may be covered with plastic), you may be taking in the scenery from your porch swing or glider, or your favorite lounge chair.

Therefore, now is the time to plan your garden.  Decide on a design, look through seed catalogs, and visit some nurseries.  Perhaps, by the time you’re finished, the temperatures will have risen sufficiently, the danger of frost will have passed, the ground will be thawed, and, well, you can dig it!

Of course, the planning stage is important, no matter what kind of garden you have, or where you live.  Still, many people skip it, and end up disappointed with the results.  To avoid this, first of all, make sure that you know the dimensions of your garden.  Write them down and take them to the nursery, along with a picture of the area that you’re shopping for, and let a professional help you to select the ideal number of plants, in the right sizes and colors.

When choosing flowers, it’s easy to get excited about how gorgeous they’re going to be when they’re blossoming; but consider how they’ll appear for the rest of the year.  Pick some with spectacular foliage, or add some ornamental grasses, to keep the beds looking great throughout the seasons.  Oh, and don’t buy plants that are already in full bloom.  Get ones with healthy leaves and plump buds, and let them peak in your garden.

It’s also crucial to establish a color scheme.  While virtually all of the flowers that you’ll see at the nursery will be lovely, they won’t necessarily look stunning together, so organize an ensemble that adheres to your scheme.  After all, your garden is no place for making strange bedfellows, right?  If you see some irresistible flowers in non-complementary colors, use them as striking accents for your porch, gazebo, yard, or walkway, in planters, planter wheelbarrows, planter trellises, planter tubs, or planter boxes.

That way, your theme will be intact, and there won’t be much ado about hue (I suppose that would be called a “hue-ha-ha”).

Yours Outdoors,

Kathy

It’s no surprise that one of the most popular pieces of outdoor furniture in the nation, the chaise lounge, did not originate in this country.  Well, to be completely accurate, I guess I should say that part of it did; the lounge part.  The correct name of the beloved patio chair upon which we lounge is chaise longue (’shAz-’lo[ng]), which translates, literally, from French, as “long chair” – and, ya gotta admit, that’s a good name for it! Sometimes also referred to as a lounge chair, or a steamer chair, the chaise longue was created in 16^th century France, as an elongated chair with four legs, and a slanted back, for reclining.  Although earlier versions of it (upon which royals, including Cleopatra, relaxed) are known to have existed in ancient Greece and Egypt, the chaise longue was designed differently, so that people could lie on their backs, as well as on their sides.

At first, the chaise longue was often made out of curved wood and woven caning, or rattan.  As it evolved throughout Europe, naturally, there was much experimentation with various designs and materials, as it was adapted for diverse surroundings and uses. The chaise longue is believed to have reached our shores, along with the huge waves of immigrants, sometime during the 1830’s.  Here, it underwent another series of changes, especially because of the many new materials, such as plastic and tubular steel, that became widely available after the turn of the 20^th century.  The large variety of rich upholstery fabrics also allowed endless incarnations of the chaise longue, which was used mainly indoors. Eventually – and inevitably – this country’s love of outdoor living led to the creation of the familiar chaise lounge that graces countless patios, porches, decks, gazebos, and cruise ships, today.  Of course, it still comes in many variations, appearing with arms and without arms, or with a single arm, and may be made from several materials, including cedar, pine, teak, and polywood. By the way, there is one other fascinating aspect of the Americanization of its name.  Besides calling it a “lounge,” people commonly pronounce chaise, as “chase,” so it comes out as, “chase lounge.”  I think that says everything we need to know about this country’s earnest pursuit of leisure.

Yours Outdoors,

Kathy

There are tons of projects for us to do, in and around our homes; but, at least, we get to work with houses that already exist.  Imagine the monumental challenges that our earliest ancestors faced, when, surrounded by wilderness, they had to construct various forms of shelter from whatever was at hand.

Many of those who weren’t lucky enough to find caves to live in (the “high society” crowd), made huts from wood and branches, while others draped animal skins over wooden frameworks, or used the bones of mammoths for the skeletal (literally!) structures, then covered them with the skins.  In any case, it took a lot of effort to build even the most makeshift abode.

Even so, it wasn’t long before people began adding on rooms to these modest dwellings, and furnishing them with chairs and tables that had been crudely fashioned from rocks, wood, and branches.  Outdoor furniture, I guess, was anything that was found lying around on the ground.  Perhaps a felled tree could have been used as a lounge chair, a smooth rock, as a garden bench (or, if it teetered on an uneven surface, a rocker), and an animal pelt tied between two trees, as a hammock, a hammock chair, or even a porch swing.

Naturally, people quickly began accumulating more possessions, in an attempt to keep up with the Joneses – or, the Oggs, as the case may have been.  Then, because of the apparently innate compulsion of the human race to hoard things, even when there’s no place to put them, the first storage sheds were created; and, like many homes, and some inhabitants thereof, they were nothing but skin and bones.

Throughout the ages, they have really fleshed out, appearing in many forms and materials, in virtually every culture, evolving into the good old backyard structures that we’ve all come to know.  In the 21^st century, however, apparently unsatisfied with being used only for storage, the shed has once again changed the way it is perceived in society.

Today, there are several styles of sheds, made from vinyl, cedar, and pine, available with features that include skylights, insulation, window boxes, and dozens of colors of siding and roofing.  Along with their impressive, new looks, garden sheds are taking on daring new roles, as home offices and gyms, studios, playhouses, guest rooms, and hobby rooms.  In fact, because they have proven that they can successfully serve all of these purposes, and many more, sheds have become almost as popular as gazebos.

It just goes to show that great things can happen when you’re courageous enough to shed your old image.

Yours Outdoors,

Kathy

It’s interesting the way that people tend to block out the less desirable aspects of a situation, and remember mostly the good things.  This is true, not only of incidents or periods in our lives, but of the seasons as well.  For instance, when looking forward to summer, most people dream about spending time at the shore, relaxing under a beach umbrella, sunning themselves poolside on a comfortable lounge chair, lazing around on the porch swing, or napping in the hammock.

Then, the weather starts getting warm, things begin to bloom, and reality sets in.  Oh, yeah.  There’s a ton of stuff growing everywhere, and if you don’t take care of it, the place will be a jungle in no time at all.  Now come the memories of trying to squeeze all of that fun summer stuff in between going to your regular job and doing yard work.  Okay.  That’s not so much fun.

But, wait a minute.  There is one more thing to remember – there are alternatives.  Heck, we’re living in the age of alternatives.  Yes, we’re still used to the standard of the verdant, well-manicured lawns, vibrant gardens, and neatly trimmed hedges, all of which have normally been achieved by working in the yard on weekends, evenings, and holidays.  If you take time out from your toil in the soil, however, and look around, you’ll notice that some people have found some very creative – and attractive – ways to avoid spending all of their free time doing yard work.

In fact, there are those who have eliminated much, if not all, of the greenery in their landscapes, and created “hardscapes” instead.  If this idea conjures depressing images of homes sitting on barren, brown terrain, be assured that, with the ever-growing number of landscaping accessories, which include wide varieties of decorative mulches and stones, hardscapes can be as aesthetically pleasing as lush, green lawns, while requiring much less maintenance.  Furthermore, they also greatly reduce the need for water, which is a big concern in many areas of the country, especially during the hot summer.   

Switching to this type of a landscape does not preclude having a luxuriant garden, either, as there are many varieties of plants that can thrive in such an environment; and I’ll discuss them in future blogs.

In the meantime, have fun creating some more good memories of summer, like spending time on your porch glider, having cookouts with family and friends around your picnic table, and kicking off your shoes and running barefoot through the stones.  Ouch!

Yours Outdoors,

Kathy