2011 August

Archive for August, 2011

Fresh Ideas and Brilliant Buys

Posted on: August 30th, 2011 | No Comments

Spending time in the garden is a wonderful way to make the most of the summer. If that’s with friends entertaining over a glass of wine or two, or perhaps just relaxing together with the family you can really make the most of your outdoor area using some great ideas to create an urban oasis in your garden. Should you be entertaining, and be short on furniture why not take a look through our garden furniture sale area where you will find some fantastic ideas, and more importantly right now some brilliant buys that could complement your existing patio furniture.

And it’s not only furniture on offer, there is always a great range of additional garden equipment as well, including barbecues, gazebos etc so it’s not too late for getting yourself a really good deal on a barbecue for those impromptu get together s where no real planning is called for. A gas barbecue is ideal at this time of the year and with just a few minutes warming up time they’re ready to cook with. They truly are ideal for outdoor entertaining offering speed and convenience. Nearly every one of our barbecues on offer provides great options for cooking up that perfect steak with family and friends whenever you want to organise something a little bit more special.

Whilst the garden and barbecue form a great bond for a lot of us, the garden furniture you commit to for your outside area provides an opportunity to create a statement and if you are looking for contemporary furniture Rattan Garden Furniture is a fantastic option.

The Rattan garden furniture we supply is built to endure the most rigorous of outdoor conditions including exposure to the sun and heavy rain. It’s durable and weatherproof. Should you need furniture for your patio or your conservatory, or possibly a combination of both together with the vast range we now have available you will find something to suit every taste and budget. The superb range includes such notable favorites as the Arizona rattan range and the popular Drift corner unit. Also check out our rattan garden furniture sale and select yourself a bargain.

Traditional furniture such as Teak wooden furniture remains as popular as ever These materials offer hard wearing, stylish outdoor furniture that blend seamlessly into their surroundings. Along with a wide range of dining sets, chairs, tables and products such as sun loungers and planter boxes, there are options for the most discerning to develop that perfect style whatever type of garden you have.

Parasols are a super finishing touch to any garden or dining set and offer the advantage sun and rain protection if needed. Should you be looking to create more je ne sais quoi around the garden a sprinkling of accessories will most certainly help to create that and what better way to help that along than by investing in a Gazebo? Perfect for an area of the garden in the event the sun becomes a little too much, a gazebo will give protection when needed, or by using a little thought, a few cushions plus a throw it can be turned into a small intimate area for relaxing and enjoying some peace and quiet or for entertaining the children.

One final thought for your garden might be the investment in some type of garden storage. Perfect as a possible option to store garden furniture cushions and garden chairs safely and in the dry. Whilst most garden furniture will survive outside in the course of the summer months, as well as in winter, a garden furniture cover will give added protection. By utilising some kind of garden storage you can expect to help to prolong the life span of your furniture to help it stay looking its best for a years into the future.

Gardens to Visit this Summer

Posted on: August 22nd, 2011 | No Comments

If you are looking for interesting and exciting destinations to take the family this Summer, their are some wonderful gardens we have available to us. Here are a few of our favourite’s for consideration. Wherever you are in the country you can guarantee there are some dramatic and beautiful gardens to be visited to take in the beauty and even draw some inspiration from.

The Eden Project

If you happen to be in the South West or can find a great excuse to get down there, the Eden Project in St Austell is one of the most famous gardens not only in the UK, but in the world today. Originally opened in 2001, it started life as a disused china clay pit before being transformed into the world’s largest greenhouse! Showing how plants are used in the production of consumer goods, you can follow specific trails such as music or food trails amongst other things. The garden has been created to give a fascinating insight of man’s relationship with plants and is very highly recommended for a visit.

Hampton Court

Staying in the South of the country, however East not West this time, Hampton Court offers wonderful displays of bedding plants. Along with its 1,350 square metre famous maze, Hampton Court offers a traditional garden experience. The Riverside gardens have been immaculately restored and you will even find the world’s oldest vine there, which produces 700lbs of grapes each year even today! A visit to one of the most famous gardens worldwide should never be passed up and Kew Gardens is perhaps one of the most famous.

Kew Gardens

Set in a stunning landscape of 121 hectares beside the River Thames in South West London, this once royal residence is home to more than 30,000 different plants from all over the world. 6 stunning glasshouses contain the finest collection of tropical plants available, together with seasonal borders and a majestic collection of grasses. Kew Gardens offers a superb day out for anyone interested in the garden and one that should not be missed.

Blenheim Palace

Originally landscaped by Capability Brown, Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire offers the visitor a mix of sweeping lawns and formal gardens together with water terraces, a beautiful Rose Garden and an Italian Garden. There is also a Secret Garden, which will appeal to keen gardeners. The gardens offer beauty and tranquility to all who visit and of course the Palace is open for viewing should you wish to extend your time there.

Shugborough Hall

Dating back to the 18th Century Shugborough Hall in Shropshire offers the keen horticulturist the opportunity to explore formal terraces, together with a victorian style rose garden. A variety of temples and monuments extend into the landscape. Woodland walks and guided tours are available if required.

The National Wildflower Centre

In the North West, The National Wildflower Centre can be found which features various habitats to show the range of places and surfaces where wildflowers will thrive. A wildlife pond filled with rainwater from the roof is present, containing wildlife such as dragonflies and newts. You will find lots of interesting ideas on how you can welcome wildflowers into your own garden. A very interesting day out for both young and old.

Alnwick Gardens

Officially opened in April 2002, Alnwick Gardens main feature is the Grand Cascade, a magnificent tumbling mass of water ending in an eruption of fountains sending 350 litres of water into the air every second. An Ornamental Garden is also well featured together with a formal walled garden with water pools and a Rose Garden. Prepare yourself for a full day out taking in all there is to see here at this North East garden treasure.

These are just a few of the main gardens within the English counties and do not cover Scotland or Wales where such gems can easily be found.

Recommend Somewhere!

If you have any great gardens we can feature within Wales or Scotland please let us know.

Additional Information

For more information about the attraction above try :

The Eden Project: www.edenproject.com
Hampton Court: www.hrp.org.uk/hamptoncourtpalace
Kew Gardens: www.kew.org
Blenheim Palace: www.blenheimpalace.com
Shugborough Hall: www.shugborough.org.uk
The National Wildflower Centre: www.nwc.org.uk
Alnwick Gardens: www.alnwickgarden.com

Kids in the Garden

Posted on: August 15th, 2011 | No Comments

At any time when we are out in the garden cutting the lawn or just simply tidying up the borders and trimming back the dead flowers, our children love almost nothing better than to come out and join us. Being out having fun in the fresh air you can pretty much see them grow just as the plants and vegetables do around them, regardless of the weather.

From an early age they have been introduced to our garden through a play area we had in which they had outdoor play equipment, climbing frames etc to keep them entertained, which left us in peace for the more serious jobs around the garden or whilst we were entertaining friends. As they grew and became more fascinated by what we were doing to make the garden look pleasing, so they became more attracted to how the plants we planted grew so we introduced them to sowing seeds and growing plants. Starting off in basic terms we bought a few tools for them to help us with the jobs we were doing.

A small trowel, a mini wheelbarrow, a brush, a dustpan and of course a watering can were the ideal tools to start with. Our first lesson in growing was to purchase a few small pots of herbs such as Sage and Thyme and Rosemary, which were planted into seed trays, and after that into a planter box, which we helped them tend until the plants were big enough to feel and touch and of course add to our meals. This has now come to be our herb garden, which they take great satisfaction in maintaining.

This motivated us along with the children to want to experiment with more. We built a small pond and with their help planted and grew water lilies and put in a few small fish, which as time passes they have watched grow to become bigger fish, and this has given them an interest in the outdoors further away from the home and garden.

We have encouraged them to learn that by taking a cutting from a plant and placing into water in a jar or similar container it is simple to grow a plant from that cutting that can be transferred to the garden and over time they see a plant take root and from careful nurturing grow into something new and strong.

Being fortunate to live in an area which offers us a chance to keep outdoor animals, we introduced the children to fresh free range eggs by investing in a couple of chickens to keep. We all loved the simple pleasure of eating fresh eggs each morning, but the satisfaction of looking after the chickens daily was great for the children and got them out into the garden every day looking for eggs and taking care of the chickens. Needless to say, the garden is not all about work and just as it is for us as adults they love nothing more than to have their friends over to play.
Making the most of the outdoor equipment we have gives them lots of opportunity to play with their friends and we love to get out and join them with an alfresco dinner in the gazebo as the sun starts to disappear. Our gazebo is great for dining and is used for all sorts of occasions whether that is for birthday parties, ad hoc barbecues or even as a potting shed when the weather is not so kind to us.

Gardening together with the kids is great fun, and with a little confidence and belief all children will see the garden as a great place to have fun in, for playing and for learning about nature.

The chicken houses above are available from Omlet: www.omlet.co.uk

The above seed pack is available for Seed Pantry: www.seedpantry.co.uk

Guest Blog From Mr Young – Warwickshire

Have your blog Published

If would like us to publish an article you have written concerning gardening or another related topic please do not hesitate to email them to robgfc@gmail.com

Storage Issues?

Posted on: August 5th, 2011 | No Comments

Garden storage

boxes are the ideal option whether it’s a home for your lawnmower and garden tools, your garden furniture or simply somewhere for additional space for the overflow of things from the home. They are available in every size and shape and are becoming more and more popular due to their ease of set-up. Made from weatherproof materials, they have the ability to withstand the rigours of our ever-changing climate, and come in many different attractive designs.

When choosing, several questions can be asked before deciding on the style you want. From simple plastic boxes through to more elaborate lockable boxes, garden storage boxes and containers can be found that blend into your outdoor space and certainly offer the convenience and usefulness they were intended for.

Offering a great solution if space is tight, top opening storage boxes allow you to store small gardening items and utensils easily. For children’s outdoor toys a wooden storage box is a simple convenient idea. If you and your family are keen gardeners or spend a lot of time outside, a horizontal storage box is a great idea as it can be moved around the garden and used as additional seating if required, yet still provide storage, maybe for picnic items or family garden games.

Alternatively for garden tools a storage box that can be locked for additional security may be more suitable. Before you store your tools away you may want to remove any dirt or debris using a wire brush or a stick. This will keep them clean and tidy for the next time you come to use them, and help to keep your storage box in good condition internally. If you are planning on storing your garden tools over an extended period of time, for instance over the winter months, a little lubrication before hibernating them will protect them from rust forming, or in the case of wooden handles or other areas a little rubbing in of wax will help to protect and extend the life of them.

If you have a large selection of garden tools you may want to consider some form of wooden garden storage, which nowadays does not have to be in the shape of the traditional shed. More contemporary designs are available to suit all spaces and budgets, and offers an ideal rustic design for most outdoor areas. These are ideal for the keen gardener and their tool collection as creativity can be used with regards to internal tool storage and racking offering easy access to all of the required tools.

As you can see, there is a huge variety of storage options available, if you need any help and assistance in choosing the ideal storage container for your outdoor area, then please contact us. We would be more than happy to discuss our range and your requirements accordingly.

Being on the set of Garden ER

Posted on: August 1st, 2011 | No Comments

Have you been watching Garden ER on Channel 5 at 7.30pm every Wednesday?

Well, I have been lucky enough to go along to a few of the ‘Wow Factors’ and ‘Pimp my Shed’ filming days and what an eye opener into the television world it has been!

I have never been involved with television at all (except for an appearance in the crowd of Big Brothers Big Mouth) so seeing how the filming and makeovers took place was going to be a completely new experience. The first visit I made was to a Pimp My Shed in Nottingham. I went with a colleague and neither of us knew what to expect, but when we did arrive we were greeted by the happy faces of the Garden Angels and David Domoney who were glad to see us there.

The theme for the shed was a lads darts shed, with a mini bar and beer bottle lid stools to match. All of the furniture was in the garden at the time, the shed was bare and my mind was full of ideas and bewilderment to what they could do with all of these items. My puzzlement was soon resolved after a few hours of hard work, lots of filming and David playing around with the team the shed was completely transformed . I didn’t realise what you could do with quite a small shed…I am now full of bright ideas to create the perfect man cave!

The film crew literally film everything; it could almost be a documentary following a team of DIY experts and gardeners around. There is no secrets with 2 – 3 cameras rolling all the time (including mine for behind the scenes footage) so you get quite a few slips, trips and spills which adds to the banter and fun of the team.

I have quite often thought to myself what makes a good TV presenter, as it is something I did consider pursuing at one point in my life, but I never knew what people were looking for. I guess it depends on what sort of show you are presenting, if you are likeable, friendly, fun and obviously how knowledgeable you are in the profession of that show. These traits put together equals a pretty good presenter, and after meeting David and Bonnie I have realised that it is not easy to be all of these all of the time. When things are going wrong it must be hard to keep up your bubbly personality, but these guys never seem to worry no matter how stressful the job may be. They are two lovely people and I think with David’s charisma and experience along with Bonnie’s pretty smile and great knowledge in plants (it is incredible considering she is only 21) they make the perfect duo for Garden ER.

Another thing I never realised was the amount of filming that goes into a 22 minute show…the team work for 3 days solid for the ‘Wow factors’ but the show only has about 12 minutes from them 3 days. As I am not a photographer or cameraman I am clueless about lighting, sound and watching for reflections. I didn’t realise how much effort went into getting the perfect looking and sounding shot, or how many takes there were of David saying the same thing just so it sounds perfect. You see outtake programmes where they mess it up and have to keep doing it again and again, but some were a few takes of the same thing just being said ever so slightly different so it flows or sounds better. There is also a lot of shots of the made over garden, which I am not surprised about at all, especially as they look stunning by the end.

I went to Birmingham last week to see them making over and recording 2 more ‘Wow Factors’ . As I turned up on the final build day I was stunned by how gorgeous both the gardens looked!! Both of them were very different but I would be very happy to have either of them. I can’t say what the theme was or how they were made over so you will just have to watch the show and see, but I assure you that you will be impressed…I loved them!

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