yardz

BEST IN SHOW

 

The 'yardz best in show' at the Autumn Fair NEC this week was the Fatboy Original. I think is best for Fatboy to explain whats different about it.

Our iconic Fatboy the original is everyone's friend. It proved to stand out and fit in anywhere, without acting like its some better version of itself (like all the original fakes out there). With its generous size and energizing comfort it is always there to maximize whatever pleasure you choose. Fatboy the original is truly yours!

 

The Original comes in a range of colours. £149.95

 

www.fatboy.nl 

CRAFTY CONES

Plant Minder cones hold about a pint of water and will water the average container or small hanging basket. They are placed in the centre of the planting and the water is automatically drawn through the cone as required.

They look great.

www.plantminder.com    £7.49 or £15.49 for 3

SIMPLE & STYLISH

The Toji bench from www.foxesboxes.co.uk

Made to order from a single tree, 120cm long by 35cm high x 50cm wide. £295.00

WARMING THE AUTUMN NIGHTS

Outdoor gel burners - these first caught my eye at the Autumn Fair at the NEC, Birmingham, last year. They are safe, easy to use and cheap to run. Perfect to warm a cool autumn evening in the yard. Can be hung or just stuck in the ground where you require it.

The Affinity Flame is on offer at www.gelfireplaces.com at £325.00 while stocks last.

WHERE DO I PUT THE WHEELIE BIN?

The wheelie bin has arrived.

Having been in our new house for two and a half years, our local council has decided that we can become part of the recycling scheme now our road has been 'adopted'.

A few weeks ago our recycling boxes arrived for papers, bottles, cans, etc. and now they have delivered our 'green waste' wheelie bin. It's a great idea, we can fill it with cardboard, vegetable kitchen waste and any prunings, etc. from the garden. All these gets taken away and turned into compost which the council then sells.

Great! but where do I put this big green bin in my 5m x 5m yard? Its not good looking and stands out like a sore thumb. I have found the above though.

The Coverbox - the bin fits neatly inside the galvanised steel shed - functional but very trendy!

www.maxmartin.at

VERTICAL GARDEN

Vertical Garden by Joost Bakker

Joost Bakker is a sculpter who uses a wide range of materials from leaves & flowers to discarded objects.

"Vertical Garden is a sculptural almost architectual form, allowing leaf and flower to inhabit spaces, to create spaces, with a natural raw beauty"

What a great idea as a simple yard divider that would allow light through yet create an amazing green wall. Could become a salad machine if planted with salad leaves, salad onions, Tumbler tomatoes and herbs.

www.schiavello.com.au

CHEEKY ART

Cheeky Mojito specialise in art designs to live outdoors. The designs are a bold mix of retro and stylish geometric illustrations. The canvas is 100% water proof and start from £95.00.

There are currently 36 designs and all are in a limited edition of 150. New designs are being added all the time.

www.cheekymojito.com

CLASSY PLANTERS

It is so difficult to find stylish pre-constructed raised beds. They are usually made of untreated timber or white plastic panels - not what you are looking for in your lifestyle statement yard.

These raised beds are from www.citysquared.co.uk and are really for public realm applications.

 Available in a variety of standard and bespoke sizes, the Basic Planter is tough, attractive and easy to install. The Planter consist of a stainless steel frame with heavy duty hardwood panels & a galvanised steel liner.

It is not cheap at £1299.00 per unit (excluding VAT & delivery)

http://www.citysquared.co.uk/products/basicPlanterP1.html

URBAN GNOMES

Urban Gnomes from Vitamin.

An alternative to the traditional garden gnome. Comes in a cool range of graphic designs. 21cm high. £49.50

http://www.vitaminliving.com/store/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=14

TYRED OUT

I understand that we now have a shortage of bark chips that are used by gardeners as a decorative natural mulch. They are being used as fuel in power stations and will become more and more difficult to get for garden use.

A newish product, 'Dunweedin', was introduced last year as an environmentally friendly alternative to bark.It is made from recycled tyres that are granulated to form a realistic bark substitute. Available in a range of colours - blue, granite, plum, brown and terracotta, it is also impregnated with citrus to not only mask any lingering rubber smell but also to deter cats and dogs. 10kg £7.99 500kg £325.00

www.dunweedin.co.uk