Even in small gardens there are times when you need to cover and protect plants against frost, birds or pests. One of the easiest ways is to use bamboo canes joined by connectors. www.figoframes.com is a great, easy, versitile system that is designed for this purpose. They are available in 3 and 4 arm connectors on a very trendy lime green.
Available on line or from garden centres. 3 arm £1.99 4 arm £2.49 Starter pack £19.99
The Samoa range from www.johnlewis.com is a curvy design made from FSC certified teak and tubular steel. The lovely drop end slatted table top is echoed in the matching backless bench.
Table £355.00 Backless Bench £175.00 Chair £125.00
http://www.johnlewis.com/14733/Range.aspx?SearchTerm=RecentlyViewedList
The Vondom Lava Bench by designer Karim Rashid. Just a thing of beauty.
'LAVA, is an undulating, cloud-like bench, a really huge organic blobular sculpture which is very difficult to obtain with the manufacturing process such as rotomoulding technique.
LAVA, its avant-garde and original shape creates a pleasant, natural and relaxing gathering spot or connection in any interior & exterior space; a different & original way of interacting furniture & users.'
This super outdoor cushion from www.runawaycoast.com is made from treated cotton that allows spills and splashes to run off. Perfect for hot days lazing on the deck. It is available in a summer Lighthiuse Stripe Denim that would not be out of place in the lounge or bedroom when not on yard duty. It measures a huge 150 x 150cm.
It's available now on a Telegraph offer at £69.00.
http://www.runawaycoast.com/product_info.php?cPath=37&products_id=463
The Corsica Flower Bridge from www.elho.com was a great introduction last year. The 30cm planter fits neatly on a fence or railing with a universal fixing system. It is now available in a selection of brighter colours including fuchsia, lavender purple, metallic blue, and forest green. £6.99.
New for this year is a longer 60cm flower bridge that is great for vegetables as well as flowers. It is only available in white,terra and anthracite. £13.99.
There are now many vertical planting systems on the market but not all are suited to the smaller garden. The Polanter Vertical Garden System on the other hand looks perfect for yards.
The system,available from www.bau-outdoors.co.uk, is based on simple vertical tubes with planting holes distributed along the length. The tubes can be joined together to create longer planting tubes. It comes in eight great colours - light green, pink, lavander,blue,terracotta, green, black and white.
Available from £21.99
http://www.bau-outdoors.co.uk/Outdoor/vertical-planters
This kit from www.seedpantry.co.uk was introduced to yardz via one of our favourite sites, www.mytinyplot.co.uk.
This Window Salad kit is an easy way to grow a variety of salad plants on your windowsill including lettuce, onions, raddish aned herbs. It comes with full instructions in a stylish box that would make a great present, all for only £14.99.
The Window Salad Kit is just one of many growing kits that www.seedpantry.co.uk supply. There are kits for all seasons and interests as well as a Little Potter kids for the youngest gardener.
www.dwell.co.uk are known for their stylish yet affordable furniture sold online and from their exciting high street showrooms. They are now moving outside the patio door with this Glow Tub Chair and coffee table.
'A stunningly simple tub chair that can be used indoors or outdoors to add ambience to warm summer evenings, containing an LED light source, it slowly changes colour through 7 differing hues and is controlled by a small pocket sized remote control. The chair is rechargeable directly from the main and has a battery life of 5 hours.'
Glow Tub Chair £249.00 Glow Tub Coffee Table £149.00
It was interesting to see this weekend Leucojum flowering amongst clipped box balls in the shaded avenues of Canary wharf in London. As they were quite tall and enjoying the shade I expect they were Leucojum aestivum Gravetye which is tallen than the more commomly grown Leucojum vernum.
Leucojums are grown from autumn planted bulbs but in suitable situations will increase and flower year on year.
I'm not mad on overtly natural materials in small urban gardens but these Willow Spheres from one of yardzs favourite sites www.gardenbeet.com look really good.
"Each sphere is traditionally coated in boiled linseed oil, the metal is left untreated to allow the surface of the metal to colour and blend in with the garden'.
50cm sphere £90.00
