I hope I’m not pigeon holing our readers too much… but as I spent much of my weekend glued to the weather channel, it seems that the majority of our fine nation was dumped on with snow recently. Here in Pittsburgh, we’re still in a state of snow emergency… with the national guard and over a hundred out-of-state workers trying to dig us out.

But, enough about us… I’m sure you’re much more concerned about your gardens and lawns than the city with six superbowl rings (congratulations Saints)

So, when looking out your windows how, exactly, will you deal with all of that snow and ice covering your garden and landscaping?

Determine Snow-Type: Natural coverings of snow, from falling and drifting, are actually not damaging your flowers and vegetables. In fact, it serves as an insulating layer, and slow melting will provide a lot of much-needed moisture to winter’s dry vegetation. The problem comes when snow plows, snow blowers, and even shuffles pile dense and heavy snow that are slow to melt and too heavy for most trees or shrubs. If your snow removal is within your control, do your best to keep it away from any kind of growth.

Evaluate Trees and Shrubs: Even natural snow in large amounts can be too much for tender branches. To avoid damage to your tress or shrubs, take steps to protect the branches from drooping, bending, or even snapping. Leave you shovel on the driveway and pick up a broom, car brush, or just your gloves to gently sweep the snow from the branches. Remember, a broken branch is like a broken bone, so be careful! Don’t ever shake the plant as the brittle and stressed branches may snap. And, brush in an upward motion to avoid using force to further bend or break a branch. You’ll find best results if you do this before too many inches of snow accumulate… the more often you clean off your trees, the better off you’ll be. A word to the wise: these are great steps to take with snow… but ice is a different story. If the branches are already covered or incased in ice, no matter what you do, any sort of interference will cause more damage. Just let them be to melt naturally.

Protect Structures and Furniture: Though the snow piling up on the arms of your adirondack chairs or atop your accent table look comical and help to really define exactly how much snow has fallen… it’s best to remove the accumulation as quickly as possible. If you can do so safely, sweep snow from the roofs of gazebos, cabanas, and sunrooms. So much weight isn’t good for even heavy structures. If you have any arbors or lattice, you would be surprised at the immense weight piles of snow can boast, and should protect these more delicate garden enhancements. Sweeping the snow from your patio groups, dining sets, and picnic tables should be much less work and require less attention to safety measures… so don’t avoid cleaning them off. While the most durable of woods may not show damage from days under snow piles and ice…such heavy levels of moisture aren’t good for any material. Protect your outdoor furniture so it will serve you best in the spring!

After braving what many newscasters have called, “snow-magedden,” make sure to hang all wet and snowy clothes to dry fully without collecting mildew or mold from being stuffed back into closets or drawers, and make a hot cup of tea, coffee, or hot chocolate. No matter how intelligent our weather-predictors get, you know (perhaps from years of trying to manipulate your garden to produce prize-winning flowers) that nature will always win over human strength. Shovel as you can and don’t let yourself be overworked. In fact, make sure to pull your family and snow-friendly pets out from under their beds’ blankets to make snow angels, snow men, and maybe even adventurous snow tunnels. Protect your lawn from the snow… but don’t forget to enjoy it as well!

now that’s a way to warm up!

See you Outside!

Hazel

If you remember, I talked about five useful January projects about a month ago.  Unsure what to do this month?  I’m here to help!

1. Prune Deciduous Trees.  By now, the winter has really started to take a toll on your trees or shrubs.  The snow and ice can weigh down branches and the cold, dry air isn’t helping either.  Tend to these plants by removing dead or dying branches that have been injured by disease, insects, animals, or weather.  Getting rid of the dead or dying branches will make room for new growth as weather gets warmer.  Pruning your trees and shrubs now will also improve their appearance for the spring.  You will have plenty to focus your attention on in April and May to keep your garden looking great; this is a step that can be done early to keep your entire lawn neat and fruitful.
2. Plant Bare Rooted Fruit Trees and Shrubs. Unlike many other plants, you can plant dormant bare-rooted trees and shrubs anytime the ground isn’t frozen.  Just like pruning your deciduous trees, this is a garden project that can be started now to make time for other activities in the coming months.  February is the perfect time to start planting these (as long as the ground isn’t frozen, of course!) because not only are the prices low while the weather is still cold, they will have plenty of time to take root and thrive in the coming seasons.  Choose a tree or shrub with strong, fresh, and plump looking roots and branches, and then plant it as soon as you get home.  Remember, the roots will perish if not kept covered and moist!
3. Start your Seeds. If you live in a part of the world where the cold creeps into March and even April, it can help to start your seeds indoors.  Purchasing fresh seeds meant for the upcoming season will give you the best results, and then it’s just a matter of creating your garden inside.  All plants and vegetables need rich soil, water, and light.  Line your containers up on a window sill or near plenty of natural light and keep an eye on moisture levels to give your plants a head start.  If it starts to warm up toward the end of February, you can prepare your plants for the outdoors.  Start by letting the containers sit outside in a shady area for a few hours or the day, then bringing them in to protect them from the cold nights.
4. Get Inspired. If you’re spending time looking out the window above your kitchen sink wondering how you want to make this spring and summer better than the last, finish the dishes and grab your keys.  Don’t let yourself get into a routine of planting the same flowers and vegetables every year! Stretch yourself and get a little uncomfortable by trying something new, interesting, and different.  Take a trip to a green house, conservatory, or nursery to gain new ideas and talk to experts in the field.  Or, if all else fails, grab a pile of gardening and outdoor magazines and start tearing out pages of gardens or plants you particularly like.  Get the family involved by asking your kids if they have any ideas for the garden, and let them help you choose which flowers to pursue!
5. Plan Landscaping Projects.  Speaking of trying new things, now is the perfect time to start planning any landscaping projects.  If you’ve always fancied a garden bridge or gazebo, don’t wait to start exploring the opportunity until the spring is here.  Designing structures and planning whole landscapes needs time to ensure every detail is perfect, so don’t sell yourself short by waiting until the last minute.  Starting your planning now can also ensure that installation will be completed by the time you would like to start enjoying it.  Gazebos erected and finished early will get a lot more family use when everyone can’t wait to be outside.  Spend time browsing selections of pergolas, gazebos, and cabanas to decide which will suit your needs best.  If you haven’t taken time to see where structures have evolved lately, you may be surprised to see the variety of gazebo shapes, sizes, roof profiles, and materials.  The same goes for pergolas and sunrooms.  Remember, don’t be afraid to employ an experienced landscape designer for more intensive projects; again, the earlier you get into the appointment book, the more time they will have to dedicate to your project.  Starting early will allow more warm months to enjoy your hard work!

See You Outside!

Hazel.

This is the time of year when our thoughts are preoccupied with comfort foods, hot beverages, sitting around fires, taking vacations to tropical islands, and anything else that will help us to get warm.

Therefore, it’s no surprise that coffee houses, which are usually pretty lively anyway, are even more crowded now, as they also serve hot cocoa and tons of decadent desserts.  Naturally, in the winter, people also prefer to spend more time in their homes, where their sunrooms are the hot spots.  These two places are so popular, in fact, that many people are actually turning their sunrooms into coffee nooks.

If you want to try this, it’s really easy to do; and you can re-create the tranquil charm of an old-fashioned, mom-and-pop shop, rather than the jam-packed chain establishments that are so prevalent.  To get the atmosphere of a traditional café, furnish it with a wood or aluminum bistro set, accessorized with checkered or floral print placemats and napkins (with napkin rings), sugar bowls, creamers, fresh flowers, candles, and containers with individually-wrapped biscotti.  Make it really authentic by producing colorful menus on your computer, then fold and stand them upright on the table.

Create a lounge area by adding synthetic wicker chairs and sofas with soft cushions in colorful patterns, as well as coffee tables, end tables, and accent tables, topped with magazines.  If the sunroom is big enough, you may want to put in a partition, and have a dining set on the other side, for larger gatherings.  If you prefer a rustic décor, choose cedar or pine furniture; for a more elegant motif, consider a teak or cherry dining set.  Put up shelves and stock them with mugs and cups of different sizes and colors.

Of course, you’ll need the main attraction, too, so get a bunch of brightly-colored containers and fill them with an assortment of specialty coffees and teas.  You won’t even have to worry about being an expert at making coffee, because, with the great coffee, espresso, and cappuccino makers that are available, along with the wide variety of coffees, you’ll soon be whipping up concoctions that are every bit as good as (or even better than) anything you’ll find at even the most popular coffee franchise (not mentioning any names, of course!).

Yours Outdoors,

Kathy

Another year is ending, and millions of people are making their New Year’s resolutions; but I am not in that number.  It has never made sense to me.  For one thing, no one ever keeps them.  For another, if there’s something that you really want to – or have to – do, why in the world would you wait until the next year to do it?

Still, the tradition of making resolutions goes back, at least, to 153 B.C., and the Roman god, Janus, for whom the first month of the year was named.  With an extra face on the back of his head, he was the god of beginnings and endings, and the symbol for resolutions.  At midnight on December 31^st, Romans imagined that he was looking back at the old year, and ahead, to the new one.  Many began exchanging gifts with, and asking for forgiveness from, their enemies.  They often gave branches from sacred trees, for good fortune, or nuts or coins imprinted with the image of Janus.

Certainly, no one knows exactly when the first New Year’s resolution was made; but this is believed to be the oldest celebrated holiday, begun by the Babylonians, more than 4,000 years ago.  I’m sure that there were people back then who thought that they could magically quit their bad habits at the stroke of midnight on the first day of the year (which, at the time, was on what would be March 23^rd today).

Still, I say that the best strategy is to just try to improve yourself every day, regardless of the date; and that’s also the philosophy here at CedarStore.com.  We have always been dedicated to enhancing the outdoor living experiences of our customers, by offering the highest-quality wood, metal, and synthetic outdoor furniture, along with garden structures, such as gazebos, sheds, pool houses, cabanas, and sunrooms.

We speak with – and listen to – our customers every day, and work year-round to provide them with everything that they need for comfortable, stylish, and gracious outdoor living.  That’s our resolution, 365 days of the year; and we’ve kept it since our first day in business.

So, here’s listening to you in 2010, and hoping that it’s a great one for us all!

Happy New Year!

Kathy

As I was driving home from a family Christmas with a boyfriend that braved a holiday with my well… interesting… family, I made an observation. I said, “To me… January and February are the absolutely WORST months!” Naturally, he inquired why I thought so. “Because it’s just the dead grayness of winter. In November and December the cold and snow are still new and exciting… and you have Thanksgiving, The Winter Solstice, Hanukah, Christmas, and The New Year to look forward to. But, January and February have almost nothing but cold darkness and dirty snow.”

I thought about the Christmas gifts I bought for my family; mostly the antithesis of the upcoming months. I grabbed The Skyscraper Garden for my green-living urban-gardening sister-in-law, and the Lighthouse Birdfeeder for my backyard bird-watching, retired Naval engineer grandfather. It would seem that I was doing my very best to make sure everyone else got through these months as well. I love to be outside, and these months seem to just trap me indoors.

As I’m sure many gardeners (and those that don’t so much do work outdoors as lounge in Adirondack chairs, hammocks, and gliders) agree, I thought I would do a push for ways to make your spirits bright with tips to bring the outdoors indoors until spring comes around again.

Why not try to grow an orchid this winter? Though widely accepted as incredibly difficult plants to nurture and manage, there are many that are surprising doable for even a novice gardener. There are several varieties that will bloom without greenhouses, sunlamps, sunrooms, or advanced skills. Plus, tending your flowers will keep you happy and ready for the serious gardening sure to come!

The Nun’s Orchid and Tropical Lady Slipper are probably the two least fickle orchids, and are unlikely to be over-watered, as they are almost always thirsty! The Moth Orchid is another good beginner flower, though it is not as water-loving as the formers, and would prefer slightly dryer roots. My personal favorite, however, is the Cymbidium. Why you ask? Well, unlike me, it responds to the short winter days by flowering and expressing colorful blooms to brighten your days.

The Cymbidium

It’s best to purchase your orchid at a plant nursery rather than a supermarket or home improvement store because nursery orchids are more likely to have solid roots and a strong beginning. It will be easier to grow and maintain an orchid that you bring home already strong and healthy. In many orchids, parts of the roots are visible. Make sure you choose a plant with firm roots that aren’t dried up or rotting. Besides the roots, take a good look at the leaves. Leaves with yellowing or black spots indicate disease or insufficient care. Lastly, though an orchid with several blooms may appear the most attractive at the store, it’s better to choose one with several buds that have not yet bloomed. An abundance of blooms indicates that the orchid’s show is almost over— and you wouldn’t buy tickets to a concert after intermission would you?

There’s no reason to abandon the beauty of flowers just because your garden may be covered in snow. Go out and buy three or four orchids, to set on tables, chests, buffets, trunks, and shelves. The sun may be slipping under the horizon before dinner time, but you’ll have gorgeous, exotic blooms around you to keep your chin up!

And, whether you plan to spend your warmer months pulling weeds and planting tomatoes, or gently swaying on porch swings, lazily rocking on rocking chairs (what else could you do on one?), or just enjoying your gazebo, cabana, or pool house… these seemingly difficult orchids will keep you both occupied and flower-filled until you’re out in your garden again!

See You Outside! (or… inside…)

Hazel.

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As you may or may not know, today is the Winter Solstice for those residing in the Northern Hemisphere.  Though many believe that the biggest celebration of this week is coming up on the 25^th of December, varied cultures have been celebrating this momentous occasion for several centuries.

The Winter Solstice occurs sometime between December 21 and December 22, depending on the shifting of the calendar, and is commonly known as the shortest day of the year.  No, there’s no need to change your clocks; the sun’s maximum position is at its lowest on the solstice, therefore producing the fewest hours of sunlight.

You may be thinking—Why would so many cultures be celebrating the darkest day of the year?  Well, in truth, most were not celebrating the darkest day… but the return of light.  After the Winter Solstice, the sun slowly starts to increase its arc creating more daylight to each 24 hour period.  World Wide, countless generations have feasted on the Solstice to celebrate the rebirth of the sun and the meaning of hope.  And now, within the Christian age, people celebrate the birth of the Son and a similar sentiment just a few days later!

The importance of the Earth’s phases and astrological cycles have been a central point to a multitude of cultures and societies; making this turning point a vital day across the globe.  Many of the ancient wonders of the world, like Stone Hedge and the Pyramids of Giza, are very intimately connected to astrological happenings. 

Far Eastern traditions see the Solstice and the changing in light as an essential part of their balanced and harmonious Taoist philosophy of the Yin and the Yang.  While Western Slavic cultures saw the Winter Solstice similarly to the way we see Halloween, as a night when evil spirits come out to enjoy the night, but are eventually defeated by the resurrected sun.     From India to Chile, ancient traditions have marked the Winter Solstice as a feast day to celebrate the return of sunlight. 

Now that I have you all excited about the return of lazy summer afternoons where the sun stays out long into the evening… you can start dreaming of outdoor barbeques and quiet mornings with coffee… despite the snowy piles outside your window.  With garden benches available in Western Red Cedar, Synthetic Wicker, and even luxurious Teak, how could you not be ready to pull your whole family outside? 

But, remember, though we’re celebrating the return of the sun… we still have plenty of Winter ahead of us.  But, don’t worry! Cedarstore.com and GazeboCreations.com have Cabanas, Poolhouses, and Sunrooms available with insulation to keep you warm while enjoying outdoor living until the Spring Equinox comes around!

See You Outside!

Hazel

If the thought of winter has you wanting to run for the sun, you won’t have to book a trip to Florida.  You can always escape to the comfort of your “Florida room.”  Okay, if you’re thinking that you don’t have one of those, remember that that’s just a fancy name for a sunroom.  So, good, that’s settled; you can spend your time there instead.  What?  No sunroom either?  All right, now you’re just making things difficult.  No wonder you want to go to Florida. 

Wait. Just kidding.  You still don’t have to leave home.  You can have your very own sunroom, before you can say, “What?  I’m not building an addition onto my house!  Are you crazy or somethin’?”  If you are, indeed, asking that right now, I’ll have to answer, somethin’, because it’s true.  These days, the fashionable – and very sane – thing to do is to put up a separate sunroom in the backyard.  And if you ask that last question again, I’ll have to reply, somethin’ again, because you really can!

Furthermore, you won’t be the only one doing it, because sunrooms from GazeboCreations.com are charming their way into backyards all over the country; and it’s easy to understand why.  For one thing, they’re the perfect way to bring the outdoors inside, and vice versa, as they provide the best of both worlds.  In a sunroom, you can be surrounded by a breath-taking winter wonderland, while being sheltered from the cold, wind, and snow.  It can also be a blessed backyard retreat, where you can go for some rest, recreation, rejuvenation, and reinvigoration.     

You can use our Sunroom Designer to create a spectacular sunroom right on our site, choosing from dozens of options, including several colors of vinyl siding, shingles, and trim, as well as finished interiors, insulation, ceiling fans, cupolas, window boxes, and more.  Besides adding these features, people everywhere are filling their sunrooms with outdoor furniture, such as synthetic wicker sofas, loveseats, dining sets, accent tables, rockers, swingbeds, gliders, and lounges, and turning them into spare rooms, entertainment rooms, family rooms, home offices, guesthouses, studios, and tons of other things.  Many are even installing hot tubs and creating their own backyard spas.

Now, is that a great way to spend the winter, or what?  No, the answer is not what.  In fact, our sunrooms are REALLY somethin’!

Yours Outdoors,

Kathy

Speaking of sunrooms, which I have just decided to do, they have always been among the favorite rooms in homes everywhere.  You might even say that they’re coveted.  Yes, that’s it – they’re coveted!  People love ‘em, and nearly everybody wants one. 

Whenever you visit someone who has one, you end up in the sunroom.  That’s where the lucky sunroom people like to entertain, while their guests openly admire (and secretly covet) the room. 

Believe it or not, as beloved as they have been for centuries, sunrooms are becoming even more popular now, mainly because of the huge trend toward bringing the outdoors inside, and vice versa.  Bright, airy, and cheerful, they give us the best of the outdoors, while protecting us from the worst of it; they impart a sense of serenity, lending themselves to everything from quiet meditation to lively conversation.  

Another great thing is that there are so many new choices for furnishing them.  As indoor/outdoor rooms, they’ve long been in a kind of gray area when it comes to decorating, because regular furniture may be a little too formal, while outdoor furniture can be too casual.   

Today, however, with the cedar, pine, oak, teak, cherry, polywood, vinyl, aluminum, and synthetic wicker patio furniture that’s available at CedarStore.com in a wide range of colors and styles, you can create any décor imaginable. 

Of course, the really big news is that, even if your home doesn’t have a built-in sunroom, you can get one without moving to another house, or putting on an addition!  That’s because today’s sunrooms have taken a cue from their relatives – the gazebos, sheds, cabanas, and pool houses – and decided to stand on their own.

This decision has had spectacular results, because, when freed from its ties to the main house, a sunroom can really shine!  The natural surroundings of the backyard give it more of a showcase, and make it more of a showplace.  While it is still perfect for entertaining, relaxing, or enjoying the view, it also provides more privacy than any room in the house. 

To get one, just go to GazeboCreations.com, where you can customize your ideal sunroom, by selecting the size and style, then choosing from a list of options that includes skylights, flower boxes, partitions, cupolas, ceiling fans, decorative, standard, and sliding glass doors, insulation, and several colors of siding, trim, and shingles.  With all of those features, you can use it as a guesthouse, cottage, home office, or anything else you wish. 

That means that you’ll have a heck of a lot more choices than those formerly known as the “lucky sunroom people.”

Yours Outdoors,

Kathy