Posts Tagged ‘landscape’

Backyard Birding – Get The Facts

Sunday, February 28th, 2010

Backyard birding can easily be very entertaining and also soothing. The fauna in one’s yard can be phenomenal along with numerous different sorts of birds flying out and in on a constant basis. A rewarding spare time interest can be experienced by all whom have an interest in staying near to home. You will find it useful to start watching out for the differing kinds of birds which fly into your own yard. Several are more common than others. If you are inquisitive about photography, then these amazing subjects can give you many opportunities to record their elegance with a digital camera or video recorder.

Feeding the birds is a very pleasurable and gratifying pastime. You will get to observe many varieties as well as become acquainted with several of the strange routines of the birds which frequent your back yard. You will only need to supply the birds with food, refuge and water to get the maximum pleasure out of the year round pastime of backyard birding.

Food availability is a must in order to have birds on a constant basis. Dependent on what part of the country you are in, the majority of will have success with seed bird feeders that are offered in a secure area and at least fifteen feet away from adjoining trees and shrubs. The kind of seeds presented will also rely on your locale and kind of environment. I have found a combination of black oil sunflower, Niger thistle and premium mix bird seed will usually draw a larger variety of the local wild birds to your backyard feeding station.

Water can be provided in a variety of methods for your backyard birding undertaking. If you are lucky enough to have a natural stream or stream in or next to your own back yard, this is all that is required. On the other hand, most of us are not that lucky and a simple pedestal bird bath with water offered and taken care of will perform the trick. In areas where the frosty winter season months freeze the water in standard bird baths, a cartable and submersible water heater may be required to supply steady water availability. In summer, a straightforward dripping hose directly into a bird bath is simply impossible to resist to your backyard birds.

The birds in your backyard must feel safe and sound when they’re at your yard feeder. This safety is supplied by nearby shrubs or trees. ( although as discussed earlier, your feeder shouldn’t be closer than 15 feet to the nearest plant or scrub. ) This is to stop an unwelcome ambush by a cat or hawk which is utilizing this cover to stalk the birds.

In the event that you supply these basic wishes to the birds in your yard you will have many entertaining days of observing the escapades, routines and colorful appearances of the backyard birding world.

With a touch of effort, regardless of whether you’ve a little or big yard, you can observe as well as attract numerous differing types of birds for you to take pleasure in, regularly throughout the year. It can end up being an eye-opening experience to take some time to relax and indulge in the elegance which flies into as well as out of your yard.

Once the birds dropped ok along with your backyard birding feeding station, you may wish to provide additional advantages such as planting precise flowers that the birds both utilize as protection and food like Sunflowers, Cone flowers, Shasta daisys as well as extra suet feeders.

The author is a backyard birding enthusiasts, and additionaly a landscape architect. Visit one of his site now for some wonderful bird baths, feeder and fountains ideas for your backyard birding projects.

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Back Yard FirePits For Pleasure, Light And Warmth

Thursday, January 14th, 2010

Many back yards are enhanced by modern day firepits. Fire pits are very reminiscent of the camping life and can bring back memories of bon fires during the teen age years that were set to commemorate a favorite sport or summer bon fires when everyone got together to meet and have fun. Even in the old west people sat around a camp fire to sing and tell stories. Today you can still do these things with a modern fire pit and even spear some marshmallows on a stick and roast them in the fire. You can purchase pits to match any decor or landscape and it will allow you to stay outside longer after the summer wanes. It is even possible to build your own pit.

Patio shops, hardware stores, and discount department stores all have fire pits for sale that are very portable. You can find them in iron, steel, clay and many other materials. It is possible to create your own pit that is permanently in your back yard of affixed to the patio. The only thing you have to do is decide if you want to use a wood burning pit or opt for a gas pit.

Fire pits illumine the area at night so that electricity does not have to be used. They provide heat on a cold dark night. It is also possible to cook on a fire pit using it like a barbecue. When using a wood burning fire pit the wood will impart a flavor to the food cooked. Some portable fire pits come with a grate that goes over the top so you can cook on it. If you build your own make sure to include a grill that fits over the pit so you can cook.

There are many portable wood burning fire pits on the market today as well. They sometimes have a wrought iron leg base with a round copper dish attached. The wood is placed in the copper dish and then there is sometimes a black wire mesh screen that goes over top to keep the flames in the dish. These portable fire pits are generally inexpensive at anywhere from $40 to $150. Portable wood burning fire pits come in many different shapes from square to round to rectangular.

The other type of fire pit is one that uses gas for fuel. This type of fire pit is much cleaner because you do not have to clean ash out of it after several uses. Instead of finding wood you only have to turn it on to get a flame. There is no smoke involved in a gas fire pit so you do not have to be bothered with smoke getting in anyone’s eye while you sit around it. Again, gas fueled fire pits are made in many different sizes and shapes. Their prices run a bit more from $150 up to $300 or more, but they have an apparatus to deliver gas to the pit that is a little more expensive to make.

Building a fire pit is not that hard to do and it can be done on a tight budget. A location in the yard needs to be away from buildings or low growing trees that may be able to catch on fire if a spark came in contact with it. It is advisable to check to make sure the place that is being dug is no where near any underground gas pipes or other utilities. Make the outline of a circle on the ground for the size of pit desired. If there is grass remove it first and then dig down about a foot or so keeping the sides of the hole straight. The perfect circumference of a hole is about 8 inches for 1 foot deep. If a larger pit is planned dig a little deeper.

Now that you have a hole you need to fill it with something to keep the pit dry and drained well. Place 4 inches of gravel in the bottom and try to get it to go up the sides as far as possible. Add 3 to 4 inches of sand up as far as possible. Concrete pavers should be placed around the perimeter of the pit and they should be stacked about 6 to 10 inches above the hole. You can use cement blocks, bricks, and large rocks as well. Never use anything to hold the material together because many adhesives contain chemicals that are toxic when they get hot. All that is left to do is place wood in the hole not to come up over the walls above the ground, and set it ablaze. If the weather is wet it is possible for the pit to flood and it will be necessary to wait to use it until it dries out a bit. These types of pits also need to be cleaned out periodically by digging out all the old ash. Another layer of gravel should be added after cleaning.

Enjoy a rustic hand hewn fire pit, a more civilized portable wood burning fire pit or an elegant gas burning fire pit. Watching the fire will be relaxing and entice much conversation and good will at your next patio or back yard barbecue.

Toasty Joe’s is our recommendation for the best deals on outdoor fire pits anywhere on the internet. He source the best products at the best prices. Check out his selection of outdoor fire pits today.

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Outdoor Heating Extends Season And Patio

Tuesday, December 22nd, 2009

A lot of time and effort, as well as money, goes into a patio or deck. People often work all summer long, making the most of the warmest season to get the job done before winter. Once autumn and winter come though, the deck has to be forgotten, the pool put to the side. But that’s where outdoor heating comes in.

Heating for the outdoors can come in many different types. Some methods of heating will burn a natural fuel like wood or charcoal. Some will be fueled by propane or natural gas. And others are purely electrical. It all depends on a person’s budget and what they want to get out of their heat source.

For backyards and garden areas that have an almost cabin-like or homey feel, or remind someone of Roman or Greek decorations, there are chimeneas. These are made of non-flammable stone and can double as cooking surfaces as well as heaters. Like the name suggests, they look like little miniature chimneys. These make great wood burning outdoor heating choices.

Electrical types of outdoor heating were originally made for larger scale outdoor restaurants or street-side cafes. Now, with the trend moving towards fancier back yards and outdoor living rooms, electrical heating is becoming an option for every home’s patio or pool area. Electrical heating can be very discrete in how it is tucked away. It also comes in long strings of heaters or can be purchased as individual heaters.

Gas and propane outdoor heaters serve many purposes. They can heat large areas, up to twenty-five feet around their base unit and sometimes more. The most common of this type of heater is called the mushroom heater because of the steel cap on top. This cap helps to radiate the heat downwards. It is also called an umbrella heater for the same reason.

The charm for gas and propane heaters is that they can come in many shapes. While a wood burning stove is ideal for roasting marshmallows, a gas heater can offer ambience and atmosphere. The roar of the gas burning softly, the flicker of the flames in the darkness of the night. These things make it so much more enjoyable to stay out late. In the warmer months when the heat isn’t needed, the flame can be turned low and offer a fashionable light source to a patio.

Before you choose an outdoor heater, be sure to consider what safety precautions you and your family might need. In some areas, an open fire is illegal. It can also be a hazard for small children and small pets. This doesn’t mean you can’t buy a wood burning stove; you would just need to be careful and shelter it safely. Propane and gas heaters of course have their own concerns. To help people feel safer, they often come with a tip-over failsafe device installed. The gas to the unit will be turned off if it is tilted or tips over.

The right method of outdoor heating can add a truly warm touch to any patio or pool deck area. With safety in mind, and knowing what you need out of your heater, be sure to pick the one that most matches what you want. Some are more expensive than others. And some forms of outdoor heating can be very inexpensive and budget friendly. A little work and research goes a long way!

When you are in the market for an outdoor fire pit deal with someone who not only sells the products but also actually uses them! Toast Joe personally endorses every outdoor fire pit found at ToastyJoes.com. Come see what all the fuss is about.

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Do It Yourself Landscape Design

Wednesday, December 16th, 2009

There’s an old saying that states something like – “Getting Started Is Half Finished”. And so many times I find this to be true as I see do it yourself landscapers struggle to find their initial design idea. However, once they establish a framework of necessary design elements, it usually goes pretty smooth from there.

It’s not surprising that the most common landscape design question that I get is – “where do I begin?” or “how do I start my design?”. I know it can be difficult. And especially if you don’t have a vision for your design.

So where do you begin? How do you start your landscape or garden design?

While every design is different and every designer follows a set of rules and principles, I find that most do it yourselfers all have the greatest success from using the same starting point. Begin by laying down any paths, driveways, access routes, or walk areas that might be needed. And also create access to any areas that you may plan on creating. In many designs, this will help to establish a framework that you can simply design around.

Of course, this won’t be applicable in all designs as many don’t require any access or travel. So take and use this advice where and if you can.

Paths and walkways can accomplish many functions in your landscape or garden. Their main function, of course, is to create a designated space for people to walk on.

However, in design and as an aid to design, their function could be to guide your visitors to, through, or away from some other area in the garden. Also, they’re a great way to break up a vast expanse of lawn, meadow, or bed area.

First, let’s look at walkways, paths, and such as necessary elements.

Walkways are needed to guide visitors or yourself to and from another area. Observe that almost every home has a walkway leading to the front door, which is, of course, where most folks want to invite guests to come. So walks, whether refined (brick, flagstone, etc.) or primitive (gravel, mulch, etc.), are necessary to “guide” or “lead” visitors to, through, or away from an area.

So where are the necessary areas where you need other walkways or access? Maybe from the back door to the alley where you dump the trash. Or from the house to the pool area. Or from the pool area to the kids play area or the outdoor cooking area. You get the picture.

In a design sense.

Establishing walk, drive, and access areas will in turn help to create borders and boundaries. Once you have your walkways laid out, you can simply design a lot of the landscaping around them. The same goes with driveways and parking areas as well. You can plant beds on either or both sides of a walk or use a walkway as an edge to create borders.

Keep it interesting if you can.

If you were to, for instance, plan to place a sitting area at the back of the garden. Of course you would need some type of path for you and your guests to get there. However, instead of plotting a straight path, why not create a winding tour through other interesting areas of the garden on the way there?

Curves and winding paths do more than just create interest. They can also create an illusion of more space, distance, and travel. This is especially useful in creating small gardens and landscapes.

Once you lay down walkways, driveways, and access areas, you’ll have a good starting framework for the rest of the design. Now, simply design around them.

Landscape design software by Idea

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