Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Finding your Perfect Wild Bird Feeder

Decorative Bird Feeder
Decorative Bird Feeder

Wild bird feeders are a great look for any garden area. Blending nature into your yard and landscaping can be easy and pleasant to the eyes. Decorative bird feeders have a way of adding a special spark to a dull tree or empty area in the garden. Decorative birdhouses can be placed on posts, trees, tables, or even on platforms on the ground. Different colors, sizes, shapes, and designs make decorative bird feeders perfect for anyone and any location.

Tube bird feeders are a bit more common than the decorative feeders. Easy to hang, easy to clean and refill, and small to take up less space, tube bird feeders are convenient and affordable. Tube bird feeders are one of the most popular choices in bird feeders as they are so easy to maintain.

Wild Bird Feeder
Platform Bird Feeder

Platform bird feeders are easy to use and place in your garden areas. Simple placement on a stand and pouring in a bit of bird food, that simple. Beautiful, simple, and elegant, platform bird feeders are an easy way to decorate your yard or garden along with inviting wild birds into your scenic haven.

Saving space or just don't have much but you'd still like to welcome in lovely wild birds? Window bird feeders are also convenient and easy to place. With suction cups that are strong and sturdy, you can hang window bird feeders on any window or door without taking up much space at all. Perfect for apartment buildings and condos, window wild bird feeders are affordable and attractive making it easier to show your love for nature and wildlife.

Window Bird Feeder
Window Bird Feeder

One of the most popular types of feeders for birds is the for the graceful and admirable hummingbirds. Hummingbird feeders are available in so many different designs, colors, shapes, sizes, and styles. Finding one to fit into your decor perfectly is easy no matter what your taste or budget. Elegant little hummers flying around and gathering nectar from your hummingbird feeders always gives kids and adults alike something beautiful to look at besides the flowers in the garden. From small feeders that two hummingbirds can eat out of to the larger ones that can accommodate up to ten hummingbirds, the attraction you want in your garden is completely up to you. If you like the traditional tube look for feeders with open tops, they are pretty easy to clean and maintain.

Hummingbird feeder
Glass Hummingbird Feeder

Then there is always a more decorative look with shelter and moats to keep rain and bugs away from the sweet nectar and buzzing little hummers. No one wants pesky bugs invading their food, including hummingbirds. Nectar is sweet and bugs are attracted to the sugary smell. Keeping moats on your hummingbird feeders is essential to keeping natures most elegant bird coming back year after year to your hummingbird feeder. Hummingbird feeders make great gifts for mothers, sisters, grandmothers, and every gardener and all the bird lovers in your life. Decorative and inviting, glass hummingbird feeders are a lovely accent to any yard.

Bird feeders make unique and lovely gifts for the holidays or just any day. Bringing a bit of splendor and bliss to any garden, bird feeders can brighten anyone's day, week, month or year as they glance outside and see the swarms of birds being fed with love.

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Wedding Arbors for Spring

Spring is in the air and summer is near. The air is filled with love, laughter and weddings. Nothing compliments an outdoor wedding better than wedding arbors. Wedding arbors add elegance and beauty to any wedding or beach setting. Wedding arbors also create the picture perfect setting for capturing all of your memorable moments on your special day.

wedding arborNantucket Deluxe Vinyl Wedding Arbor

Wedding arbors are normally seen in plain white and are easy to decorate. Decorating arbors are fun and easy by adding your own style and creativity. Within a matter of minutes you can have a wedding arbor decorated and looking like a true fairytale. With wedding arbors you are able to decorate it by using plant vines, tulle, garland and even lights to match your wedding colors. Not only are wedding arbors a cinch to decorate they are also effortless to maintain. Buying a vinyl wedding arbor from Yard Envy guarantees a 20 year warranty, no fading in color and no discoloration.

Buying an arbor is also beneficial. Once your magical day is over, you can use your arbor as a gateway to your garden and have a lasting memory every time you enter or look out the back door. You can also turn your wedding arbor into a bench overlooking the lake or your favorite rose garden. You may even accent an arbor with a vinyl gate, cottage picket wings or add an arbor to your vinyl picket fencing. Yard Envy offers many arbor accessories at an affordable price and something for everyone's personal preferences.

Vinyl arbors are fun to decorate and easy to maintain, giving you more time to spend with loved ones and in the garden. Spruce up any event and enjoy your backyard at it's finest with a stunning vinyl wedding arbor.

seat bench kit Camelot Planter Vinyl Arbor Seat Kit
wedding arborNewport Vinyl Arbor with Picket Fencing
wedding arbor with gateWindsor Vinyl Arbor Gate

Thursday, April 8, 2010

Choosing Your Outdoor Hammock

There is nothing more satisfying then walking outside after a hard days work and letting yourself get lost in a hammock. Imagine relaxing with a nice, cold glass of sweet tea and feeling the cool breeze pass by your face while enjoying nature at it's finest. Enjoy every season while lifted in the air and being swayed from side to side in an outdoor hammock.

rope hammock
Rope Hammocks

There are many styles of hammocks to choose from to suit your personal style and the temperatures of where you reside. Rope hammocks are very popular for warmer climates as they allow air to flow through them while keeping you comfortable. Rope hammocks are made from polyester or cotton. Cotton rope hammocks are softer and more comfortable than polyester hammocks, but are more susceptible to mold, mildew, and UV damage. Polyester rope hammocks are more durable and better suited for ocean side, humidity and sun. After two or three uses your hammock should reach its full length and you can adjust how it's hung. With proper care and use, rope hammocks will last for many years to come.

fabric hammock
Fabric Hammock

For people that live in cooler and windy climates, a fabric hammock would be the perfect choice. Fabric hammocks are also leaders in the comfort department. Express yourself with fun, vibrant patterns or solid colors. Grab a small pillow and snuggle up for a nice afternoon nap while listening to the birds singing.

camping hammock
Camping Hammock

Camping hammocks are perfect for those who love to hike, camp and explore the outdoors. They are portable and lightweight and keep the bugs and water out. Sleep with the trees and never worry about having to locate a flat spot to set up for the night. You'll be sleeping soundly while bundled up snug. With a portable camping hammock, there is no tedious tear down of a tent, so you will have more time to enjoy the hiking trails.

fabric hammock
Fabric Hammock without Spreader Bars

If you don't have the perfect trees to use, no worries. There are hammock stands made with the choice of wood or metal frames. Wooden frames are popular due to their natural look, and wooden hammock stands are very study. Metal hammock stands are easy to assemble and lighter in weight, which makes moving hammocks around easier.

When purchasing an outdoor hammock, you might want to consider spreader bars for the hammock. Spreader bars are positioned on the top and bottom of the hammock. Spreader bars are not a necessity, but do allow getting on and off the hammock a little easier. Spreader bars also allow the hammock to lay flat, instead of wrapping around the body with a cocoon effect.

Lay down, let loose and let your mind wonder off into a magical place of relaxation. Enjoy any sunrise and sunset in a hammock fit perfectly for you. Hope you have a safe and relaxing year while enjoying your hammock.

Monday, April 5, 2010

Tips on Hummingbird Feeders

Spring has finally sprung, and the birds are chirping, bees are buzzing, and the air is warm and sweet. Hummingbird feeders make such a delightful and colorful addition to the beautiful weather. If you have never used a hummingbird feeder, consider adding one to your yard or deck this year. Hummingbird feeders require their share of maintenance, but once the hummingbirds begin to pay regular visits to the feeder, it is all worth it.

To attract hummingbirds to your feeder, keep in mind that the feeder is filled with nectar for energy, not for food.

hummingbird feeders

Hummingbird Nectar:

  • Nectar is simply sugar water with a 1:3 ratio of sugar to water
  • Only use table sugar - never artificial sweeteners, honey, or brown sugar, as these can all be fatal
  • Use tap or spring water, never distilled water
  • Nectar will last 2-4 days in summer, 4-6 days in cooler spring weather
  • Change nectar whenever it gets cloudy or moldy
  • Always clean hummingbird feeders before refilling

Insects: If bees are an issue, you can set out another hummingbird feeder with a 1:5 sugar water solution to drive the bees to the sweeter feeder and away from the hummingbirds. Use ant moats to prevent ants from accessing the sugar water. Ant moats can be used above or below feeders.

Environment: Hummingbirds are attracted to bright colors, so hummingbird feeders and flowers should all be vibrant in color for best results. Hummingbirds like open throated tubular pollinating flowers like fuchsia and sage, in colors of red, blue, orange, and yellow. Since hummingbirds are territorial, using more than one feeder, or feeders with multiple feeding ports, will attract many more hummingbirds. Hummingbirds like water to bathe and drink, so a bird bath is very inviting. Providing shade from sun and rain will also keep hummingbirds at your feeder longer, as well as help preserve the nectar in the summer.

Relax outdoors and enjoy the entertainment of hummingbirds. One of the many benefits of providing an attractive environment for hummingbirds is the appeal such improvements make on your general landscape. The smells of the fresh flowers, the reflection of the sun off the decorative bird baths, and the bright colors decorative flair of the hummingbird feeders all provide beauty and outdoor appeal.


hummingbird feedersHummingbird Feeder with Pagoda Shelter

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Decorative Birdhouses Beckon Spring to Return

Spring can be a tease, giving us a few warm days with the promise of green leaves and budding tulips, and then taking it all back with a foot of snow and a week of blistering cold winds. We get so excited to run outdoors and seize a 60° day, and we want to hang on to the hope that soon the snow will end and Spring will be here to stay. These gorgeous weekends are often spent hiking, clearing away decomposing wet leaves, and pruning fruit trees with the hope that the last deep freeze has passed.

Spring Tulip by davidezartz

Preparing for Spring wakens our senses, allowing us to smell the fresh air while planning new landscaping designs for curb appeal and outdoor entertaining. This is also a great time for cleaning and putting up bird houses before the birds return for the season. Many rustic bird houses can withstand heavy snowfall, and decorative bird houses brighten up dull yards with vibrant colors and designs, while offering a safe residence for bird families.

Sconset Cottage Decorative Bird HouseSconset Cottage Decorative Bird House

Choices in decorative bird houses include Victorian houses, beach houses, cottages, churches, and castles. From cabin bird houses to club houses and the historic San Francisco Row bird house, decorative bird houses offer memories, beauty, and safety. Beckon the return of Spring and birds while enjoying the view of a brightly painted decorative bird house.


Victorian Cottage Decorative Bird HouseVictorian Cottage Decorative Bird House $31.95

Medieval Castle Decorative Bird HouseMedieval Castle Decorative Bird House

San Francisco Decorative Bird HouseSan Francisco Decorative Bird House

Thursday, February 4, 2010

Bird Houses Brighten Up Spring

Bird houses add detail and design into yards and gardens for spring. You can add a splash of color and beauty while welcoming birds to new warm, safe, and decorative homes. Bird houses come in different sizes, shapes, and styles so every taste can be met. Larger houses are available for multiple birds like purple martins, along with smaller houses for wrens.

White Decorative Little Wren Bird House
White Decorative Little Wren Bird House

From wooden bird houses and nesting houses to decorative bird houses and houses made from recycled wood, the choices of homes you can provide is plentiful. For a nice decorative appeal, Gingerbread bird houses and Medieval Castle houses have unique and eye catching looks. Churches and large estate homes are also a great way to attract the attention from guests and birds alike. Hadley Park birdhouses take up a small space along with wren houses and Fairy Cottages. So whether you plan to put one bird house or five in your yard and garden, there are sizes and styles for every possible area of placement.

Le Chateau Bird House
Le Chateau Bird House

Bird houses make great gifts and are a beautiful accent to yards year round. With Spring right around the corner, it's the perfect time to start sprucing up the yard as birds are looking for homes to breed and start their families. Most birds return to the same spots they nest year after year, so you'll never have to worry about the houses going to waste, as your backyard birds will return to see you again. Decorating your outdoors couldn't be easier than placing a few bird houses around your garden and decks, also allowing nature to show itself to you daily.

Gingerbread Bird House
Gingerbread Bird House

Birding is an enjoyable activity the whole family can take part in, and starting is as easy as placing houses for birds to nest and live in your yard. From there you can watch and learn as different breeds of birds come by and start to flourish in your view. Bird houses create an inviting environment where birds feel safe and can withstand the weather. You provide shelter to birds as you also create a lovely piece of decor to your garden. Invite nature to thrive around with you while adding glam to your landscape.

Clubhouse Bird House for Purple Martins
Clubhouse Bird House for Purple Martins

Hobbitt Bird House
Hobbitt House Bird House

highland park bird house
Highland Park Bird House

Monday, January 18, 2010

Glass Hummingbird Feeders for the Garden

Glass hummingbird feeders welcome one of the most peaceful creatures nature provides into your garden. Hummingbirds are great to invite to your yard with their dexterity and beauty. Glass hummingbird feeders are a beautiful accent to any yard or garden setting. The nectar that hummingbirds drink can be placed inside delightful little glass stakes that plant easily into the ground, adding design and brilliance to your garden. Larger hummingbird feeders are also a nice touch to hang from trees or decorative posts in your yard and near your entryways.

Hummingbird feeders come in many sizes and varieties including basic, small feeders that accommodate two or three hummingbirds to the larger ones that can accommodate six to eight hummingbirds. Glass hummingbird feeders come in many designs to please any one's taste and style. There are the beautiful Cloud Glass Hummingbird Feeders to the Bloom Hummingbird Feeders and the basic basin hummingbird feeders that are easily cleaned and maintained. Many glass hummingbird feeders also have shelters and are made from recycled glass, giving them more detail and style to perfect your garden design.

If you are looking for the perfect finishing piece to your garden, the glass hummingbird feeder is exactly what you need. Not only are you providing food for the small and graceful creatures, but also adding the ideal decor to your landscape. You can decorate your garden as well as help feed and welcome nature back into your yard with decorative glass hummingbird feeders.

Here are some of my favorite designs.

hummingbird feedersDew Drop Hummingbird Feeder

hummingbird feedersBloom Hummingbird Feeder with Shelter

hummingbird feederGlass Hummingbird Feeder Stakes