The sway of a hammock in the breeze is one of life’s most comforting activities. It is a natural way to unwind from birth to adulthood. As infants, gentle, hammock-like rocking motions soothe us to sleep. As adults, swaying in a hammock while reading, napping, or relaxing is an ultimate pleasure. Whether between the shade of two trees or supported by a hammock stand, you can add one of our stylish rope or fabric hammocks to your backyard!
Category Archives: Healthy Ideas
Enjoy Outdoor Games for Fun and Fitness!
This beautiful weather is REALLY making me want to get outdoors and have some fun with my family! Outdoor games are a great way to add excitement and healthy exercise to your family time. Basketball, soccer, and even chess can turn a regular day into extraordinary time! Even simple games like Murbles, which requires very little equipment, can keep you entertained for hours. You will get a dose of exercise and fresh air that will improve your health and well-being. Take advantage of the nice temperatures and enjoy some outdoor games today!
Know When to Start Your Spring Vegetable Garden
Are you planting a garden this spring? Vegetable gardens are a great way to utilize space in your backyard. If you are new to vegetable gardening, you are probably wondering when you should start. Below, you will find a handy guide to help you understand when you should plant in your area of the country. When you start your plants, you can either start them indoors or use a cold frame greenhouse to start them outdoors. Cold frames act as a protective barrier, creating the perfect amount of sunlight and ventilation. This allows you to start your plants outdoors earlier than normal. Whether starting your gardening indoors or out, use the handy guide below to get started now!
Vegetable Growing Guide
You base when to start your plants (indoors or in a cold frame) on the date of the expected last frost in your growing zone. A “growing zone”, also known as a hardiness zone, is determined by the climatic conditions of the location where you live. It factors temperatures, rainfall, humidity, general soil conditions, and other factors to give you zone number. Your zone can also be used to help you determine which plants will thrive best where you live. The approximate date ranges for the last freeze in your zone is below.
- Zone 1 June 1 – June 30
- Zone 2 May 1 – May 31
- Zone 3 May 1 – May 31
- Zone 4 May 1 – May 31
- Zone 5 March 30 – April 30
- Zone 6 March 30 – April 30
- Zone 7 March 30 – April 30
- Zone 8 February 28 – March 30
- Zone 9 January 30 – February 28
- Zone 10 January 1 – January 31
- Zone 11 Frost Free Year Round
Below is a list of commonly grown vegetables and how many weeks before the last frost you should start your plants.
Vegetable Number of Weeks Before Frost to Start
Okra 2-4 Weeks
Cucumbers 3-4 Weeks
Squash 3-4 Weeks
Broccoli 5-7 Weeks
Cabbage 5-7 Weeks
Lettuce 5-7 Weeks
Eggplant 6-8 Weeks
Tomatoes 6-8 Weeks
Spinach 6-8 Weeks
Peppers 8-10 Weeks
Onion 10-12 Weeks
Happy gardening!
Soothe the Senses for Elemental Stress Relief
Relieving stress naturally can be as simple as soothing the senses. Wall fountains and waterfalls — which come in tabletop, wall mounted, and free standing varieties — bring the soothing sounds of flowing water into the home, but they also bring a visual element. Not only are waterfalls and wall fountains beautifully conceived and able to fit into any home’s decor, the water itself lends another dimension of stress relief to the equation. Watching the dance and trickle of water as it flows across rocks, down textured surfaces, and into a basin at the bottom enhances our auditory experience. When we listen to sound machines or audio recordings of nature sounds, we may feel the need to close our eyes to block out visual distractions around us that take our minds away from the goal of relaxation. In contrast, the visual attributes of wall fountains and waterfalls transport us toward that end by giving us something beautiful and elemental to focus on with our eyes as we listen with our ears.
Furthermore, the water that flows in a wall fountain or waterfall changes its sounds subtly at every moment. This dynamic quality keeps our listening experience from becoming tedious or repetitive, which can easily happen if we listen to sound machines or audio recordings regularly. We can also choose to dramatically change the “song” of the water in our wall fountain or waterfall simply by rearranging rocks or other features in the basin or by adding a new element — such as a seashell, leaf, or small piece of wood — along the water’s path. We can even place our own fingers in the water’s flow to change the sound of the water as it moves; feeling the water stream across our skin would bring yet another sensory element to our experience.
Simple Solution for Gardening Woes
Gardening is an enjoyable pastime for millions of people, but for many, it can present challenges and hassles. Those of us who have issues with mobility, space limitations, or invasions by local wildlife may find gardening a frustrating experience. All of these challenges can be solved easily, though, with the addition of raised planter boxes.
Raised Planter Boxes
Raised planter boxes, which are available in square or rectangle shapes, are an easy way to keep plants and veggies contained, but they also offer a number of other advantages:
No Bending Required — Planter boxes raised on sturdy legs are ideal for gardeners who may have difficulty bending down and working in garden beds on the ground.- No Critter Competition — Raised planter boxes are also appealing to gardeners who are tired of losing out to local rabbits and other critters. They keep tender plants and veggies out of reach.
- Suitable for Small Spaces — For homeowners who lack yard space for planting a garden, planter boxes give them the opportunity to keep a garden on the patio or deck.
Thanks to raised planter boxes, gardeners can enjoy fresh herbs, veggies, and fruits without having to experience the problems that sometimes accompany traditional ground-level gardens.