Coastline Treasures

Each room in a house has a name.  There is the bedroom, the kitchen, the family room, etc.  And each of these rooms is decorated to individual taste, making them unique and homey.  A garden is no exception.  The flowers that are planted there, the birds that come to visit, and what one does in their garden is completely unique, making no two gardens the same. 

And just as each room in a home is decorated differently, a garden is decorated too.  When picking out furniture for the home, taste, quality, and personal preference are taken into account.  Garden furniture is no exception.  Finding the right furniture for your garden’s style is essential.  And once you have great furniture, the garden is a perfect place to relax and spend a lazy afternoon.

You spent time and money picking out wooden garden furniture for years of enjoyment.  Like all woods, care needs to be taken to ensure that it will last and stay looking beautiful.  Wood is natural and there is a natural process in its aging; left unattended the wood can turn grey or even black in color.  At the beginning of each season examine each piece and evaluate its condition.  Keeping it sanded and sealed will help preserve the wood and maintain its beauty.

The weather affects wood in that it will cause the wood to expand and contract.  The expansion and contraction can cause cracks and ultimately split the wood.  It is best to store your wooden garden furniture in a shed or garage for the winter.  During the spring and summer season bring it outdoors for enjoyment.  Just remember direct sunlight can be damaging to the furniture so it is best to store it in a shady area of the garden. If it rains where you live, you might want to cover it with a breathable furniture cover making sure that the water drains off.  These are just a few tips that will help to extend the life of your furniture.

The childhood years were the best.  No worries, no stress, no rush.  As a young child, I would spend hours out in the blazing sun letting my imagination run wild.  On the weekends my day would end with a special extra touch.  My father loved to sit in the hammock and take a load of his mind.  My sister and I were always eager to join him in the rainbow colored hammock.  The three of us would lay there for hours, drifting into a deep sleep as the warm sun beat down upon us.

These were the days that I think back on to keep me motivated.  My father was always my biggest cheerleader, giving me inspiration to this day.  A duplicate of that rainbow cotton hammock swings in my backyard, keeping my dad’s spirit close.

Summer is just about here, the weather is warming and the days are getting longer.  We have more time to go outdoors and sit and relax after a day’s work.  How is your garden set up?  Do you have rooms or areas to relax?  As you walk though your garden are there places to stop and listen to the birds or just to sit and ponder for a moment?  Adding wooden garden furniture is a natural choice.  Wood works well with any décor and looks natural tucked into the garden.  Do you have an arbor?  Add a wooden chair to invite you to stay for awhile.  How about the shade tree?  It’s a perfect place to plant a wooden bench.  The more areas there are to sit the longer you will stay.

 Make these areas special.  Add a stool to encourage you to put your feet up and stay for while.  Adding some colorful pots with seasonal flowers will decorate these ‘rooms’ as will adding colorful cushions and throw pillows that you can sink into.  Adding wind chimes will create some music for your yard.  Do you like birds?  Add a birdhouse to encourage feathered friends to stay to enjoy your company.  Taking the time to create an enticing yard will give you hours of great pleasure.

There’s nothing more important than having a bit of time throughout the day to stretch out and relax.  It’s been proven that relaxation on a daily basis can do much to reduce stress, and who wouldn’t like to feel less stressed out?  One of the best places to relax is the backyard (weather permitting).  Even for people who don’t care much for the outdoors, there’s a certain inner calm that comes from appreciating nature.  For people who have gardens, this relaxation can be even more intense. 

There are a number of ways to enhance relaxation in the backyard.  Obviously, if you’re not comfortable it will be difficult to relax, so consider a hammock chair, Adirondack chair, or garden swing.  Hammock chairs can be installed in most any location provided there’s something above to provide support.  Hammock chairs cradle the body and provide maximum comfort.  Adirondack chairs are designed for sunbathing, and with their low to the ground design, it’s easy to run your fingers through the grass or throw the ball for the dog while relaxing.  Garden swings are great for couples, and the gentle back and forth motion is sure to make you feel great!