Home & Garden Blog » Patio

What is your garden missing? I think a little tropical recluse is always a lovely touch to any green scene. Nothing soothes my nerves after a long day like the sound of trickling water.

The Stone Hill Tranquility Pond would make a wonderful addition to any garden, small patio, deck, balcony or backyard. Water gently cascades from the top tier to the bottom, the fountain is lightweight, durable and the pump plugs directly into a standard grounded outlet.

Originally the Stone Hill Tranquility Pond costs: $79.99 but is currently on sale for: $71.99! (you save: $8.00 10%)

To purchase the Stone Hill Tranquility Pond, click here.

To shop for more discount Ponds & Fountains, click here.

Spring is in the air! The winds are warming, my thong sandals are coming out of retirement, and I am finding that second layer of clothing pointless at dusk.

Now is the time to dust off your patio furniture, brew yourself a nice pitcher of iced tea and enjoy the longer days and warmer nights.

Check out this great deal on discount patio furniture by GrandinRoad, Affordable Styles.

The Kamea Sectional Outdoor Seating Set is a plush outdoor furniture collection that offers a diverse range of seating pieces, so you can pick and choose what best compliments your open air setting. The beauty part is each piece is only cost $99.00!

Here are the features:

• Chair frames are crafted to oversized proportions for supreme comfort
• Sturdy, weather-defying alder wood construction is sealed with a lustrous, four-season finish
• Each seating option includes double-piped, 100% solution-dyed acrylic seating cushions

To shop the Kamea Sectional Seating Collection from GrandInRoad.com, click here.

To shop for more great deals and discounts on patio furniture, click here.  

Lots of dogs love water, and there’s not much cuter than a swimming pooch, but a pool can equal danger for dogs.  And just as you shouldn’t leave kids unattended poolside (duh!), the same goes for your family pet.  While the SPCA says the number one way to prevent your dog from drowning is supervision, they also promote the use of the Skamper Ramp ($49.50), a worthy invention from Skamper Ramp Industries that allows dogs to get out of the pool safely. The design allows your pet to get a grip much better than the tiled sides of a pool, which can be slippery for a wet and tired dog.  You still have to train your dog to use it, but the time spent is well worth it.  It could also save an unfortunate cat who plops in, but good luck training one to use it.

Please read more about pet pool safety here.

Compare Prices on Skamper Ramps here. 

Skateboarding is not a crime, and I’m not sure it should influence furniture design either. Well, not for adults anyway. But, alas, I don’t make such decisions. To the right is the Skateboard Table/Seat ($208.99) by Ski Chair. The good thing is that the top is made with recycled skateboards, and the bottom is made from recycled plastic. I can certainly get behind that, especially in a kid’s room, which is where something like this belongs anyway.

These are also made by Ski Chair, if you’re so inclined:

Red Splash Water Ski Chair and Ottoman, $499.95

”Totally New York” Baseball Bat Wooden Adirondack Chair

Patio chairs are definitely pricey. Even something simple can run you hundreds of your hard-earned dollars, which I’m sure you’d rather not spend on outside furniture. That’s why this folding bamboo table and chair set caught my eye.

This combo is very stylish and would be a nice place to park yourself on a Sunday evening. The chairs have a Mission style charm about them, and that little tray table will come in handy. You can put a glass of wine and a cheese plate in between you and a loved one if you take my advice about Sunday.

Folding Bamboo Table and 2 Chairs, $144.99 (list price: $169)

L to R: Kilcher St. Croix $139.99, Hinkley Tiki Bamboo $104.90, LampsPlus Bronze Pole Light $219

Normally, these lights wouldn’t be my style, but since they’re for the great outdoors, I like them.  The first two are path lights that would look great posted in a front walkway, while the third is a portable pole light that you can move around at your convenience (I’m thinking it would be good for a back patio).  I’m into their tropical feel, and I adore the illuminated pineapple on the first one.  Sweet.

Ooh, this Tequila Sunrise hammock is cute and sturdy with its stripy, fiesta of colors. I like it because it’s wide enough to hold up to 2 people or 265 pounds, and Bliss Hammocks was smart enough to add  a little pillow on top. It’s a good thing because my main complaint about any hammock is the lack of neck support, which can lead to stiffness that is no where near relaxing.  It also comes with a weather-resistant wooden arc stand, so no tree is required.

The whole shebang retails for a $530.77, but Every Hammock has it for $414. They also throw in free shipping, which is always a major plus.

My backyard was a dried up wreck until recently.  For two years, we did everything we could to spur some grass growth, watering, planting and replanting, but to no avail.  Finally, we gave in to the climate realities of our corner of Southern California and installed a rock garden, cactus and some other drought resistant plants. It’s a vast improvement both visually and environmentally, but there’s just not enough color.  

That’s why I’m hoping this hanging basket from CobraCo will help the situation.  It’s only about $8, and if I place a couple of them in areas that get shade and sunshine, flowers should start blooming in no time, providing a colorful contrast to the rest of the yard.

Here’s how to make the most of a hanging basket:

• make sure the basket is secure and can hold all the contents
• use lightweight, high-quality non-soil mix that’s specifically made for potting
• add water-holding crystals if the potting mix doesn’t already have them
• make sure the lining is all natural, like the liner above which is made of coconut
• add plants to the basket in layers–fill it up a few inches of soils, place the root bulb atop the soil, then add another layer and more plants–and place them close together to get the effect of fullness
• water the basket, making sure that the non-soil mix is evenly moist
• keep your basket looking fresh by removing dead and dying flowers regularly

I’ve had grilling on the brain recently, which is why I’ve chosen to feature this Ducane Meridian gas grill as my deal of the day. That and the fact that Home Click has it for $1,402.83, which is about a hundred dollars less than every other place I’ve seen.

The perks:

• 5 stainless steel burners
• 60,000 total BTUs
• side burners
• infrared rotisserie burner
• 5/16″ stainless steel wire cooking grate
• granite work surface
• heavy-duty cover
• 10 year limited warranty

And all that’s great, but I can only focus my reveries of a big, juicy bbq’d burger cooking on that stainless steel grate. I need to have a barbecue and fast.

By the way, Home Click only charges an $8.95 handling fee on all items instead of some crazy shipping fee, so that certainly sweetens the deal.

Now this is slick.  I would seriously feel like James Bond if I owned this Deeco Stainless Steel BBQ Tool Set (around $90). It comes equipped with everything you can imagine:

• a tech fork thermometer
• 7″ knife
• skewers
• basting brush
• 4-in-1 spatula
• corn holders
• bottle/wine opener
• salt and pepper shakers

It’s like a barbecue in a box, and I think that’s wonderful.  However, I’m mostly into that sweet carrying case. Imagine volunteering to run the grill at a friend’s house and showing up with that thing in tow. It’s so, dare I say: sexy.