yardz

THE YEAR AHEAD

 

The new year, bringing, as we are daily informed, all the financial woes of the credit crunch we will find that our own personal space especially our outdoor personal space will become more valuable.

Holidays, leisure activities, retail therapy, etc. will all be more expensive as will the risk of the cost of food rising again due to the increased cost of fertilizers. How we use our own space will be paramount in living through these changes. Using the availabilty of your yard to relax, entertain and cultivate food crops will help stretch dwindling financial resourses.

Yardz over the coming year will hope to continue to post on interesting and useful items that will enhance your yardz lifestyle. The change in style and layout, I hope will bring a fresh and uncluttered look for 2009.

CHRISTMAS BREAK

Yardz will be taking a break from posting until the New Year.

Thank you for your support in viewing posts over the last year. I intend to come back in the New Year with a new look and format but still with a passion on finding interesting things for the yard lifestyle.

Merry Chrismas to all my readers.

PLANTER SLANT STYLE

   

Found these amazing planters in www.designandlandscape.co.uk  At £350.00 including VAT and delivery they are excellent value.

 'These beautiful, hand crafted rainbow sandstone planters have been carefully chosen for their strength and beautiful markings and purple and green hues. Slant comes in three different sizes allowing you create wonderful combinations. It looks great planted but is equally beautiful on its own as a sculptural piece for your garden. With each piece totally unique, Slant is a superb choice for that unique style in your garden.'

http://www.designandlandscape.co.uk/shop/product_info.php/products_id/936

JUMPING ON THE BANDWAGON

 

Garden centres are jumping on the 'Mama Mia' film bandwagon with the arrival in centres in time for Christmas of the Rose Mama Mia.

The rose has large double orange-red flowers that are fragrant and repeat flowering.

About £7.99 for a 3ltr potted plant.

LIKE A DROP OF RAIN.....

 

The Eva Solo porcelain bird bath

I'm mad about well designed wild bird products. So many of the products we see around are badly designed and difficult to clean. Our birds and our yards demand better. This bird bath designed by Eva Sol is simple and classic - and worth every penny.

''This contemporary Eva Solo bird bath is shaped like a drop of falling water. Made from white-glazed porcelain with a stainless steel pole it can be placed directly into the ground or in a deep planter.'

www.bethstevens.co.uk    £82.95

http://www.bethstevens.co.uk/acatalog/copy_of_Eva_Solo_Bird_Bath.html

THE PERFECT BLUE CHRISTMAS TREE

 

Picea pungens Hoopsii  Colorado Spruce

The Colorado Spruce makes a great conifer for containers. It likes full sun and protected from cold winds so is ideal for an enclosed sheltered yard.

It is a small to medium sized conifer that grows slowly to create a conical shape. Plant in an ample container using ericaceous compost as it prefers an acid soil.

The blue is stunning at any time of the year but especially in the cold sunny days of winter.

Treat yourself to one this winter, www.wyevale.co.ukhave plants in 3ltr pots starting at £6.25.

http://www.wyevale.co.uk/Picea-pungens-Hoopsii/0850024581,default,pd.html

 

 

LIGHT HANDED

 

Found these on the www.glowcompany.co.uk site. They are meant to be worn whilst clubbing but how useful they would be for a bit of midnight weeding!

'Using the latest glow in the dark (photoluminescent) technology these glow in the dark gloves by NovaGlow are both practical & fun. With the ability to recharge again & again the glow gloves just keep on glowing'

£7.95

http://www.theglowcompany.co.uk/acatalog/GLOW_GLOVES.html

CRAZY BULLRUSHES

 

Bullrushes from www.outer-eden.co.uk

Another alternative to christmas lights for the festive yard.

'It brings both colour and movement, as the steel 'stalks' are slightly springy, and the rushes will bob and sway naturally in the wind. The fluorescent yellow bullrush 'heads' catch the light in such a way that they appear to be lit from the inside.'

£275.00

http://www.outer-eden.co.uk/product_details.asp?c=109&d=3&p={ED2B8D11-7E4B-435F-B3DE-3DD5F3C26162}

FOR YOUR YARD CHRISTMAS COCKTAILS

 

The Aspen Bar with Aspen Bar Stools is the perfect place to perch in the winter sun whilst waiting for the goose to brown on Christmas day!

www.moderngarden.co.uk

LIVING CHRISTMAS BAUBLES

 

Callicarpa bodinieri var. giraldii Profusion   'Beauty Berry'

This is one of those shrubs that you either love or hate - there is no middle ground!

The purple berries glow in the winter sun and look most spectacular once all the leaves have fallen. Will grow in a reasonable sized container but may need a little pruning in the spring to keep it in shape.

'The beauty of this shrub is seen in Autumn. The leaves turn rose,violet or red and when they fall off the polished berries are revealed on bare stems.The clusters of berries in lilac ,violet or bright purple will persist well into December. Planted in groups these shrubs make a stunning display. Branches may also be cut for winter flower arranging. Plant in sun or light shade, in a protected spot.'

www.crocus.co.uk  £7.82

http://www.crocus.co.uk/plants/_/shrubs/callicarpa-bodinieri-var.-giraldii-profusion/classid.582/