Archive for January 7th, 2010

Author:
• Thursday, January 07th, 2010
Michael Yim asked:




Gazebos are an integral part of the American patio. An open and airy gazebo can create the perfect summer oasis and gathering point for friends and family. Thanks to the purchasing power of Big Box stores like Target, Wal-Mart, and Lowe’s, thousands of homeowners have been able to purchase and setup 10’x10’ steel gazebos often for less than $200.00. These quick setup gazebos are decorative and functional, providing protection from the sun’s harmful UV rays while creating the perfect home for outdoor dining sets. The problem? The durable steel frames of these 10’x10’ gazebos almost always outlast the life of the canopy tops that cover them. Within months, sometimes even weeks, the canopies of these gazebos fade, wear, rip and, tear. All too often, homeowners are left with an unattractive patio eye sore.

Why do the canopy tops fail so often? In a nutshell, the canopy tops that come standard with 10’x10’ steel gazebos are tailored from very low grade poly-vinyl fabric. Gazebo manufacturers steer away from high grade UV resistant fabrics (i.e. Sunbrella™), to keep the price point on these gazebos attractively low. Unfortunately, these low grade canopy tops are subject a vast range of extreme weather: snow, ice, rain, UV sun rays, freezing temperatures, and heat. In a matter of just weeks, a combination of these weather conditions can weaken and make brittle the canopy tops on these gazebos. Water that is trapped from inadequate grommet drainage causes the canopy to sage and stretch. Discoloration and fading immediately follows. The final death nail? Wind. Wind will rip and tear the canopy into shreds.

Here is what usually happens next. The unsuspecting gazebo owner heads to the store to buy a replacement canopy for the gazebo. He becomes quite dismayed to find out that the retailer does not carry a replacement top. Without much avail, the retailer tells the gazebo owner to call the manufacturer. The problem? The retailer or owner often does not know the name of the manufacturer because the box or manual has been trashed, or the retailer purchased it from some unknown distributor with no paper trail. The owner is left stranded in a search for a product that is hard to find and a gazebo that is need of desperate repair for the party next weekend. What now?



Garden Winds, a renowned internet retailer of outdoor décor products, has invested much time and resources to help gazebo owners with this common problem. After years of listening to customers and investing in research and development, Garden Winds now designs and manufactures a replacement gazebo canopy top that will fix the problem. The biggest difficulty in the replacement design is crafting a replacement canopy top that fits a majority of the 10’x10 steel gazebos on the market today. There is at least 20-30 manufactures of these steel gazebos, each producing gazebos of varying dimensions, roof pitches, tiered roof systems, etc. More often than not, gazebo owners often purchase replacement tops that do not fit. No worries! Garden Winds has designed canopy tops that fit 90% of gazebos on the market. Using higher grade UV resistant fabrics in the manufacturing process, Garden Winds is able to provide a product that fits, and a product that lasts.



If you happen to be a homeowner frustrated with a ripped canopy top on your gazebo, call Garden Winds today toll free (877) 479-4637, visit their website GardenWinds.com, or email them at customerservice@gardenwinds.com The demand for their canopy tops is often greater than their supply, especially during March – August. Call them today to make sure you’re ready for your next party.

Author:
• Thursday, January 07th, 2010
temp_108625 asked:




This durability not only affects the price, it affects the usage of the product, too. Who wants to sit on a rickety chair or at a wobbly table? If you have guests, do you really want them sat at some modern monstrosity of moldy or peeling plastic? Sit them on your heavy duty teak garden furniture around a teak table and you will almost certainly get some admiring comments.

When shopping for teak garden furniture, it is important to look out for the heavy duty variety since their are some lower quality (and, it has to be said, cheaper) which do not last as long as the more solid version. You’ve come this far, don’t economize now!

Maintenance of teak garden furniture is minimal. If you want, you can take the benches, chairs and tables in over the winter but, provided you apply a coat or two of teak oil every Spring, it should come to no harm. Teak oil can be purchased from any big DIY center and a little goes a long way. Don’t use creosote, linseed oil or any other solvent – insist on teak oil and you will be rewarded with a piece of furniture that looks as good as the day you bought it. Why not take the opportunity to do a little ‘annual service’ and check the nuts and bolts that hold the furniture together?

We don’t take our teak garden furniture in. Living where we do, there are sunny days even in the middle of winter and it is a real luxury to be able to take a mug of tea or coffee, some biscuits and a good book, sit down on a teak bench and go and take in some sunshine and fresh air.

In fact, it’s such a good idea, I think I’ll grab that hot drink and go and use our teak garden furniture!

Author:
• Thursday, January 07th, 2010
Oli Osorhan asked:




Madonna – warrior, queen of pop, or beloved star – take your pick because any of those descriptions matches with her August birth flower the gladiolus. The gladiolus, which is often called the Sword Lily because of its shape, was, in fact, named after the gladiator’s weapon of choice, the sword. The root of the word gladiolus is “gladius,” which means sword.

Though it has ancient associations with working class gladiators, the gladiolus is also marked by nobility. The gladiolus was chosen by the founders of the French monarchy to appear in the fleur-de-lys, the royal emblem of France.

The gladiolus is also a flower of romance. An arrangement of gladiolus shows the recipient that he or she “pierces the heart” like the sword after which it is named. In fact, the roots of the gladiolus were once thought to be an aphrodisiac.

Gladiolus make an excellent choice for flower gardens, though they grow best in warmer locations since they have their origin in the hot African climate. However, they are a relatively inexpensive flower, so they’re a good choice even in colder areas of the country since they can be planted in stages throughout the gardening season.

Though its blossoms resemble the trumpet shape of the daffodil, the gladiolus grows not from a bulb, but from a corm with a level bottom and spiky top. When you plant the corm, be sure to plant it with the point up in a hole that is about four inches deep. For the most attractive arrangement, be sure to plant them in groups of at least seven with five inches of space between each corm.

Gladiolus also make excellent cutting flowers and are frequently used in professional flower arrangements. If you plan to cut them from your own flower garden, you should bring a deep container of warm water with you to the garden. After cutting the stems at an angle, immediately place them in the water. Before arranging them in a vase, place them in a cool dark place for a few hours. Thereafter, cut about an inch off the stem every few days to keep them fresher longer.

Lover, fighter, or royalty—the gladiolus fits almost every personality and remains among the most popular flowers in the country. You’ll find it at weddings, funerals, and in arrangements used to celebrate all stages of life. Considering that Madonna fits the bill for all three of the gladiolus’ meanings and has been reinventing herself throughout the stages of her life, there’s no doubt that she couldn’t have been born under a more appropriate birth flower.

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