I Love Flowers !!!

Plain and simple: I love flowers. I recently got back from a week in Hawaii. The flowers that we pay lots of money for in the states grow like weeds there. My favorite flower is the orchid and I found them everywhere. Growing by the roadsides, the orchids grew in fantastic colors. The residents think of them as weeds and are constantly trying to get rid of them as some varieties can choke out other forms of vegetation. After I got home and re-checked the price of orchids, I started to think about possibly getting a garden greenhouse and finding out how to grow my own.

Orchids date back to the early ages. In Greek history they were associated with virility. Over the years, orchids have been a symbol of love, luxury and beauty. During the Middle Ages, they were used as a remedy for many illnesses. They have also been considered as an aphrodisiac and were the main ingredient in many love portions. In the 18th century, orchids were considered the flower of the wealthy. In the 19th century, whole areas in England were stripped bare after the orchids were sold with no regard towards conservation. Today, most orchids that are grow for sale are done with plants from greenhouse growing.

In my search on the internet for garden greenhouses, I found a wonderful web site that has what I'm looking for in price and design. Outdora carries greenhouses made from utra strong materials such as indestructible polycarbonate walls and rust-proof aluminium frames. These greenhouses can withstand many years of inclement weather. The shape and design offer a great selection to fit your needs and backyard space. Some are onion shaped and others come in the more traditional styles. Windows, adjustable metal hooks, movable hangers, shade cloths, seed trays and more can be custom styled for your personal use. Their line of hobby greenhouse kits are easy to assemble. Some have a slide-together channel assembly and others are a push-fit design.

plain & simple: I Love Windchimes

Plain and simple: as the title of the posts says "I LOVE WIND CHIMES". I currently have 8 chimes in my garden this year in all different shapes, sizes and materials. Even the Shepard's hooks are of my favorite things: cats, butterflies and dolphins. I'm not worried about what the neighbors might think as I love to listen to the different sounds and tones especially at night.

Recently I did an internet search for chimes and discovered a site that has the most fantastic Music of the Spheres Wind Chimes which were developed by a Texas company in 1989. Their chimes, known as the Stradavarius of wind chimes are made of tempered aluminium tubing to keep them rust free and able to withstand the elements.

This line of chimes range in size from regular garden size to the largest: the Basso Profundo Music of the Spheres Chimes which totally fascinated me . This wind chime is more like a work of art. It is 14' tall and has 6 tubes, the longest of which is 8'3/5". It weighs 200 pounds and is considered to be "the mother of all wind chimes". Each hand cut tube is tuned to A440 (the standard orchestral pitch). It has a polyethylene clapper that gives excellent tonal quality and the craftsmanship gives it excellent outdoor durability.

I learned a lot of new information at the Outdora site. I never really thought much about the sound of chimes until I looked at the Music of the Spheres Chimes descriptions. There are many different sounds/tones that are acquired by using the latest technology to achieve the high standards in acoustics and visual quality. The Soprano (30") is the smallest of the chimes. Others, increasing in size include: the Alto, Mezzo, Alto, Westminster, Bass and Contra-Bass.

In The Cool Of The Evening

The weather is changing and it's not just due to the seasons. I really believe that something is happening with global warming because the last few years have seen dramatic changes in normal weather patterns. I live in mid-Michigan and for the past month or so, temperatures have been way below normal. It's only in the mid 70's during the day and at night, the temperature has been dipping to the low 40's. We've been experiencing weather that is normally seen in late October and early November.

I have a screened in patio that I like to use at night, especially when the crickets are chirping (don't like those little buggers chirping when I'm trying to sleep tho). With the lower night time temperatures, it's not really comfortable sitting on the patio, so I started looking for outdoor heaters.

I spent some time searching the internet and found a website that has a fabulous selection of them. Outdora carries both residential and commercial outdoor heaters and offers free shipping. You have a choice of gas or electric in a wide range of styles and prices. They're easy to light and have adjustable heat settings to control the temperature. Safety is also a major consideration so many models will shut off when tipped over and they come with safety latching systems. Infrared heating (which is odorless and eco-friendly) keeps an area warm, and the heat doesn't get blown away in a breeze.

One outdoor heater, the Sunglo 24 Volt Suspended Natural Gas Heater, with Auto Ignition doesn't take up floor space, is compact and has a reflector to maximize the heat. Other models can be ceiling mounted, or wall mounted. There are several table top models available also. Accessories including heater covers, wheel kits and valve and hose kits are available.

Outdora FIRE PITS make memories

A beautiful sunset or a star- filled sky, your special person and hopefully a mosquito free night. What could be better than sharing this time together in front of your Outdora outdoor fire pit . Their large selection of wood burning fire pits offer different sizes, shapes and finishes.

There is a premier line of fire pit table bases in masonry, wrought iron or stainless steel. The granite or slate tops make clean up easy. Most of the tables can be outfitted with either gas or tumbled glass fire.

You can also take your fire with you when you travel. Another Outdora option to the fire pit is their fire rings. They are collapsible and are easy to assemble and disassemble. One of the models breaks into 5 pieces for easy transport and storage.

Several of the outdoor fire pits come equipped with wheels for easy and convenient mobility. Grilling options on some Outdora fire pits (and outdoor fireplaces) are also available with either a grill grate or rotisserie. For those of you who like to grill chicken, here's an easy marinade recipe:

1 teaspoon fresh ginger sliced fine
2 cloves of garlic sliced or crushed
1/4 cup each of lemon juice, olive oil and soy sauce
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 chopped green onion
Combine all ingredients and marinate chicken for at least 4 hours before grilling.

As always, fire safety is #1. With any fire or open flame, take precautions. Wood burning fires smell wonderful, the crackling sounds as the logs burn are delightful and the atmosphere around the fire is invigorating. But there are some things to keep in mind. Always use a spark screen to keep the sparks from escaping (be sure to have 10'-20' around the fire cleared of any fire hazards). Have a fire extinguisher or garden hose handy. Be sure to use either a fire poker or log grabber when adding or moving logs and never use lighter fluid to start the fire.

When you shop with Outdora, you know you will always receive excellent customer service, free ground shipping in the contiguous US and the highest quality products with the lowest price guarantee.