Home & Garden Blog » Garden Decor

Saving Water? Try A Rain Chain

brock — Fri, 06 May 2011 17:50:19 +0000

I am a big fan of saving a little money here and there, especially if it involves any expenses with gardening. Gardening has always been a hobby of mine, so when I spend money, even a little, I feel kind of guilty because I feel that money could have been spent elsewhere.

I recently came across a unique and decorative way to save water for my garden that wasn’t an eyesore, but quite the opposite. My father had a big barrel by a gutter downspout to capture water, which is fine in the country, but looks tacky in the well manicured yards of suburbia and even small towns.

The Japanese created rain chains as a way to capture water and while they are primarily decorative now, they still hold water. The chain, which holds a series of decorative cups, is hung from the gutter near the downspout to catch water when it rains. When the water rushes out, the top cup catches the water until it fills and then the overflow is caught by the next cup and so on and so forth.

The chain isn’t just a beautiful decoration, however; when it rains, it creates a fountain effect that is truly breathtaking. Fast forward a few days later (when the plants need watering) and you have a supply of water to fill up your bucket or watering can. No more municipal water for you. It may only save you a few dollars a month, but it adds up.

Before you buy a rain chain, there are a few things to consider. For starters, since you will have to remove and replace the main gutter down spout with the rain chain, water is going to run onto the ground when all the cups are filled. Secondly, you will need to have a container large enough to catch the water, such as a small decorative pool, or a pipe to lead the water to a drain or the street. Finally, most of the decorative chains don’t hold very much water, but there are larger versions available. Despite these minor drawbacks, the rain chains are a perfect way to save a few dollars off your water bill and create a dazzling outdoor decoration that is both fashionable and functional.

Fingerhut Coupons: 8% Off $88 or More

ernani — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 21:13:55 +0000

As I wake up each morning, the weather continues to get better and better. Instead of waking up to a cold wet day, I now wake up to birds chirping and the sun’s warm rays radiating throughout my room. With the days also getting longer, the season has obviously shifted, and the desire to spend time outdoors is endless. Just like many of you, the thought of weekly barbecues, trips to the beach, outdoor relaxation, picnics at the park, outdoor exercise and so many other activities are in my plans. I’ve already started seeing people set up their patios while bringing out the grill. Oh yes, it’s spring, and if you’re not prepared for it, then visit Fingerhut.com.

At Fingerhut, you will be able to find a variety of outdoor necessities for enjoying a beautiful day. Choose from a variety of patio sets, barbecue grills, outdoor furniture, hammocks and so much more. Fingerhut also has a nice selection of power tools, garden tools and storage and sheds, just in case you want to do a little work in your backyard. Here’s the best part: Fingerhut has deals that will help you save as you shop.

Fingerhut is offering 8% off orders of $88 or more. Just use coupon code AFFBITS. This coupon has no expiration date. You can also get $5 off purchase of $75 or more, just by typing in AFF814 when you check out. This offer is only valid through March 11, 2011.

The spring season has just begun, and it’s definitively time to have some fun under the sun! Be sure to keep checking our Fingerhut coupons page to find the latest deals and discounts.

Garden Size: How Much Is Too Much?

brock — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 17:16:43 +0000

When it comes to flower gardens, my philosophy has always been this: Simpler is better. I have seen grandiose gardens with manicured shrubbery, flowers from all over the world that are bigger than my house.

The question I always have when I exit one of those Hanging Gardens of Babylon is this: How much is too much? Is your garden an intimate place where you go for quiet meditation or an expanse that you obsess about and host garden walks in every year?

My garden décor is relatively small and simple. I have three small children, and I need the bulk of my backyard for things like swing sets and sand boxes. The garden area is my place of Zen. When the walls are closing in on me or the world is just too hectic, I like to head out and do a little weeding or just take in the colors.

I can’t imagine going out for hours each day and obsessing over every little detail or making sure that I was keeping up with the Joneses. I remember one day I was out and about when a friend asked if I wanted to see his, I believed he called it, “International Garden.”

So he opens up his back door, and suddenly, I am in a freaking rainforest. Plants 6–8 feet high from all over the world and covering every square inch of the backyard. Every inch except for those in the goldfish pond and waterfall.

I was overwhelmed by it all… and not in a good way. He must spend hours out there each day pruning and weeding to keep everything from being overtaken. When it was all over and I left, I swore I would never make a garden even half that size.

For him, the garden was a matter of status and pride. He wanted to bring people in and see it and then go tell their friends. It wasn’t a place of Zen. It was a place of cluttered flora.

My garden is the perfect size for me, because I don’t need people coming over or having it take over my life. His garden was the perfect size for him. I guess if I had to suggest the proper size of the garden for a person, I would say this: Don’t make a garden bigger than your own head.

Image Source: flickr.com/photos/left-hand/2578131633

Change Things Up: Creating a Spooky Halloween Garden

brock — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 20:10:54 +0000

Gardens are supposed to be beautiful and colorful and able to bring joy to the coldest hearts.

Halloween is one holiday season where we get to turn this concept on its ear and transform our tranquil den of serenity into a scary and spooky hell mouth that even make Buffy the Vampire Slayer would run way in fright. There are some easy ways to make your garden the perfect land of the dead.

Death is always spooky: Fall is the time of year when plants start to die and the land becomes cold and desiccated. This is perfect for making a scary garden. Keep some of the leaves on the ground, so as people walk through they will make the eerie crunching sounds and so will any roaming animals. Hold off on removing those dead plants until after Halloween as they can add an element of despair and creepiness.

Be sparing on decorations: You can find hundreds of outdoor Halloween decorations that range from the inspiring to the lame and pathetic. Don’t go crazy with the decorations in your garden. The garden itself is supposed to be the focal point and not the 5-foot tall pumpkin with its own spooky carousel complete with music. Feel free to bring out a stone gargoyle or two, some tombstones and, of course, pumpkins, but keep it sparing and simple.

Spooky Plants: Not all plants will be dead by the end of October and if you are really a fan of the season you can start growing them months earlier, especially for the season. With a name like Death Lily, it makes sense this would be a perfect plant for Halloween along with the dead-looking Corokia cotoneaster. The Casper eggplant is a pale white and contrasts well with the darkness of the garden. Red October Hostas provide a striking red that will shine in a spooky garden. A good rule of thumb is anything black, red, purple, etc, make good Halloween flowers and shrubs with spider like appendages and pointy leaves will integrate well.

Bring in the Nature: Nothing is spookier than bats in the belfry or in this case the garden. Plant some cornflower, phlox, salvia, silene, spearmint and stock to help attract bugs, which will attract the bats. You can purchase or build a roost to keep them housed during the day and provide a base of hunting operations during the night. A small puddle and some rocks will be a great place to attract frogs, toads and slugs.

Making a creepy Halloween garden is perfect for an added element to the yearly party or as a little mini haunted house for the grandkids. You will be the envy of the neighborhood when all the children want a tour of your haunted garden.

Image Source: .flickr.com/photos/evapro/560786385/sizes/s/in/photostream/

Do it Yourself: Prepping the Garden for Spring

colleen — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 17:16:33 +0000

We may be a little early for April Showers bring May Flowers, but it’s never to soon to start preparing your spring garden bed. Think about the colors and location you would like, make sure there’s going to be lots of sunshine, and don’t forget to think about management. Are you the queen of all green thumbs, or does cutting grass sound like the closest you have come to gardening in the past few years? Once you have your own spring garden in full bloom (sometime in May or June), you can make beautiful Mother’s Day bouquets, gifts, and dinner table centerpieces. Until then, don’t hesitate to order some freshly, professionally grown flowers to brighten up your day.

Gardens are seeds of inspiration, but the decor doesn’t have to be all organic: think about garden decor to take your outdoor space from lush and organic to habitable! You can add some flags, or decorative stones, or pottery. A thermometer or sun dial is always a beautiful addition. Make some wild decisions and look at some exotic and beautiful flowers listed at Buksia.com.

Image Source: flickr.com/photos/tanaka_juuyoh/3909324966

Get Creative on a Budget: Throw a Valentine’s Day Party

colleen — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 18:19:13 +0000

We all want to save a little money during the holiday season, and if you’re anywhere north of Philadelphia and it’s sub 10 degrees outside, you probably want to stay inside as much as possible. Even walking a few blocks to the corner market, or struggling to unfreeze your car lock takes too much effort and risks hypothermia. So how are you supposed to celebrate a sexy holiday like Valentine’s Day when the winter and your budget are keeping you holed up at home? Pair up with a few friends this holiday season and throw yourselves a Valentine’s Day party!

If you are lucky enough to be living in the tropics, maybe some spicy outdoor furniture or garden decor sprucing is what you’ll need: maybe a little barbecue or S’mores around a fireplace? If you’re getting hit hard with the weather of winter, maybe some standard indoor party decorations are better. No matter what, make sure you have the essentials: sexy decadent desserts and flirty drinks. Try out some of the Food Network’s holiday recipes. By splitting the cost with friends, you shouldn’t have to worry about the cost!

Image Source: flickr.com/photos/ciana13/2294688119

Take Full Advantage of the Rainy Season with Rain Barrels

colleen — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 19:13:25 +0000

While the weather is becoming wetter and the rain clouds start rolling in, I like to look at the brighter side of things. The streets aren’t flooded quite yet, or turning to ice, and the rain does wonders to bring out the smell of the fallen leaves or leftover vestiges of grass. So break out the umbrellas and rejoice! Rain does not ruin your day, even though the sun may not come out. Think of all the great ways rain helps you: it cleans off your car and your windows, helps lull you to sleep in your cozy bed at night, and waters the potted plants that still survive outdoors. But what else can you do to take advantage of the rain? Why not try the time-old tradition of rain barrels, placed strategically under your runoff roof pipes, to use the water for indoor houseplant watering or baths for your pets or outdoor furniture.

Here are some of the top, stylish, functional rain barrels for you to take advantage of nature’s splendor this holiday season:

50 Gallon wood grain rain barrel from Composters.com $183.49

40% off sale from over $300 original price, this rain barrel is functional and quality to put next to any Colonial or brick-style home!

The Raincatcher Rain Barrel at 56 Gallons from Composters.com: $146.11

With more volume and a durable plastic frame, this barrel is here to stay! Marked down from a suggested retail price of $243, this rain barrel is also on a 40% markdown sale!

Shop for more discount rain barrels at Smarter.com.

Deals and Steals at Walmart.com

colleen — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 22:17:59 +0000

Walmart.com’s Clearance sale has a perfect selection of outdoor garden and lounge furniture. Think of happier days when the weather was not getting colder every minute–what would you do to be sitting outside, sipping margs with the neighbors in some beautiful teak or wood furniture? Here are some clearance specials to make your dreams come true:

Delahey 6-Piece Wood Furniture Outdoor Set from Walmart.com: $298.00, marked down from $349.00

Bravo Mesh Bench Seat from Walmart.com: $140.00, marked down from $174.00

Shop for more discount furniture at Smarter.com.

Decorating Tips for Small Gardens

homegarden — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 19:00:04 +0000

Just because you don’t have much space in your outdoor garden, doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy beautiful garden design. It simply means that you have to rethink your garden decorating scheme to accommodate a smaller scale. No matter what size outdoor space you have, you can create a beautiful oasis to enjoy throughout the seasons.

Here are a few garden decorating tips to help make small spaces flourish:

Pots and planters – Even if you don’t have the space for expanses of long flowerbeds, you can still create visual interest and add lots of color by using garden pots and planters. Pots come in all shapes and sizes, as well as many different materials, so selecting a pot that you like and that fits in the space should be easy. Pots and small planters can contain flowers, herbs or even vegetables, so you can make the most of a small space by planting wisely.

Statues and decorations – If you want to make your space truly unique, you can still do so even without owning a lot of real estate. While you may not have room for a bird fountain or garden bench, you can still add your own personal touch by hanging a wind chime along a branch, or placing small garden statues near your flowers, pots, etc. They add just that little extra personal touch, and do not require a large scale to be effective.

Outdoor furniture – No matter how much space you have outdoors, it is always nice to have a place to sit outside to enjoy the view. If you don’t have much room, you can still invest in a small bistro table set so that you have a place to sit, and even to enjoy a meal or a few drinks. Bistro tables are small tables for two and usually come with matching chairs. There are some that are made to withstand outdoor use and they are generally not that expensive. If you don’t want a table and chair set and prefer something else, a small garden bench can be equally as inviting.

Colors – Vibrant displays of color add that special “wow factor”, no matter what the size of the space, so choose some vibrant colors to accent your space. Whether you go with a mix of colors or stick to a more monochromatic palette, you are sure to create an eye catching space with the myriad of colors that flowers can bring. If you want a space that energizes you, consider bright reds, yellows and oranges. If a relaxing space is more your style, then plant blues, purples and whites to create a soothing color palette.

No matter how much space you have outside of your home, it is always possible to create a visually enticing sanctuary with the use of a few garden accessories and the addition of beautiful flowers. Your garden should be the place that you look forward to unwinding after a long stressful day, or a place to sip lemonade on a warm sunny day. Personalizing that space with your own touches will add to the enjoyment that the space provides.

Shop for discount garden decor at Smarter.com.

Image Source: pinknews.co.uk

Eco-Friendly Designs: Cyber-Plants?

colleen — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 18:28:48 +0000

Remember back in the day when you could customize your desktop to have a cyber friend? Sometimes it was a dog, sometimes a cat, sometimes a paperclip, but either way you had a little friend that told you about updates, software, and gave advice and assistance for the programs you were working on. The cyberfriends have been replaced by stark white search boxes, tool bars, and help menus, and the tasks and tools that these cyberfriends provided have been thoroughly covered and replaced. But what about the need to have a little cyber friend? One that you could care for, feed, water and play with, even for a short time (and even if the cyberfriend didn’t necessarily need it. Let’s face it…does a paperclip really need to have a facelift?)

New on the market: Cyberplants! A real, living plant can be attached to your monitor by the flowerpot and cared for at your leisure. The hardy plants come in patented, artificial soil, and need only 1 tablespoon of water every 2-3 months. But think of all the useful and positive agents of a plant accompanying you on cyber surfing journeys. You can choose from a variety of plants for your pot, from a bamboo plant to a mini palm plant. One catch: this plant item is part of a promotional company and can only be purchased in bulk, the minimum being 125 plants, pots and installation materials. So think of this as a clean, low-maintenance way to make your office space into a greener environment, or maybe a present you can give to your friends for years (and years) to come!

Promotional Cyberplant from Iaspromotes.com: $6.80/each for bulk of 125.

Shop for real plants and seeds at Smarter.com.