I'm a sucker for wood furniture especially in my garden. It looks natural and contrasts well with the scene that I'm trying to create without appearing tacky or cheap. And, it usually goes the distance for wear and tear and is able to withstand the elements outdoor furniture needs to cope with.

Online Discount Mart has a great special running at the moment on their outdoor chair and table set. For a wee $349.95 you could have one of these adorning the patio as you sit and enjoy your gardening efforts. And I say "wee" because it's the best price I could find on the net for a brand new one.

The beauty of this outdoor set is that it's crafted as a one piece which means you don't need to fold or unfold chairs or find a table to suit. And because it only has two seats, it means that you and your spouse or partner can relax by yourselves. It could fit in a cosy alcove along one of your garden paths as a resting point or feature as a design element under your gazebo or pergola. Whichever way you choose, this outdoor setting will suit your garden.

The whole set is completely crafted from quality cedar hardwoods putting your mind at rest knowing that it's going to last. By their own admission, Online Discount Mart warn that the outdoor set is prone to checking but if you're vigilant with oiling it and keeping it covered during extreme weather conditions you shouldn't have a problem. The cedar used is also resistant against wood pests and can be painted to meld in with your current colour schemes or left natural to age to a silver-grey shade.

Sponsored post. Read my view on sponsored posts.

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Many gardeners are finding it an attractive option to monitor the weather these days. But the seeming plethora of options can sometimes be confusing so I have compiled a review of some of the more popular types.

Lacrosse Wireless Weather Station

Lacrosse are synonymous with quality weather stations whether they're measuring the humidity within your house or your backyard temperature. The beauty of this wireless weather station is that the monitor can be kept indoors while the wireless receiver is placed on your patio or a sheltered outdoors position.

With most wireless weather stations the receiver is a 'dumb' receptor while this model shows the temperature and humidity. Not only will the indoor unit measure outside metrics it will constantly measure the indoor temp and humidity as well.

The Lacrosse WS-9118U is a quality piece of instrumentation but available for a middle of the road price.

Oregon Weather Station

Oregon Scientific are another quality manufacturer of home weather stations. They're not only known for weather stations but also professional weather forecasters and a load of other weather digital instrumentation.

This model weather station is for those looking for something a little simpler, and cheaper. The THT312 is a smaller model, accurate enough to gauge the outdoor temperature of your backyard but without requiring any special handling or installation.

This is the ideal solution for many home gardeners who just want a quick reference check of the current outdoor temperature.

Taylor Weather Station

Not as well-known as the other two manufacturers, Taylor Precision Instruments have been in business for more than 150 years so they know a little when it comes to weather stations.

The 1456 model is a half-way between the other two. It still doesn't offer a humidity measurement but it does offer both indoor and outdoor temperature measurements. This is beneficial for gardeners who grow indoor plants and want to know whether they require more watering or cooling off.

It comes with a wireless receiver that can be placed outdoors.

So there you have it. Three different weather stations with different options and all priced accordingly. Now it's up to your choice of which one will perform best for your situation.

If none of these options are suitable you could always try and make your own weather station.

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Patio's are great during the warmer months but as soon as the temperature gauge begins to dip we head back indoors and the patio becomes an obsolete room.

It doesn't have to be that way though. Patio heaters have come a long way since the first gas powered radiator bars that we precariously suspended over our heads. They are now more likely to be upright and mobile. Plus, they don't have to be reticulated through the gas cables that continue through our house. Most patio heaters have their own gas bottle, making it easier, safer and much more convenient.

The advantage of the Bernzomatic Patio Heater, apart from its delicious good looks, is that it emits heat more evenly than most other patio heaters. Other products have the main heat source located at the top of its spire with a shroud at the top trying to push the heat down. But we all understand science enough to know that heat will always rise so in effect most of these heaters become inefficient.

Bernzomatic's offering, on the other hand, heats from a cylindrical core running the length of the typical spire. Therefore heat is more widely emitted and it does it with greater efficiency.

Just because winter is cold and usually wet, most of us still like to spend time outdoors. The new generation patio heaters are allowing us this luxury and making it easier for us to do so.

As most patio heaters, especially the larger ones like the Bernzomatic, are quite substantial in size and weight most come with attached wheels. So whether you're having an intimate dinner for two or a party for the local football team, you can position your patio heater where it will offer the most amount of warmth.

And when the warmer months come by again, it's just a matter of pushing it to one side or wheeling it into the shed until the mercury plummets again.

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The humble gnome is on the edge of a face-lift after 220 of them were handed to Australian (wanna-be) celebrities requesting a complete body makeover.

The project comes after last year's Dunlop Ping Pong Project when 150 table-tennis bats were shaped, painted and remodelled - for art's sake.

And the point of this is...? If you're looking for a raison d'etre you're probably not going to find one but that follows why people would put gnomes in their gardens in the first place - really!

The public can view these gorgeous critters tonight only between 6 - 8pm at the Chalkhorse, Half Dozen's new artist-run gallery in Cooper Street, Surry Hills. All the gnomes are for sale.

Don't miss it...

Source: Trends: Not your garden variety show

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Those of you who live in the northern hemisphere spare a thought for us as you're putting your patio umbrella up - ours will be coming down. Those drawn out days of summer, sitting on the patio and drinking cold beer have come to an end and the patio will once again become a sparse area of our garden.

Friends lent us their patio umbrella this year, as we will eventually be putting a roof over our patio - hopefully before next summer. It was a huge market umbrella that completely covered our outdoor table and chairs and sheltered us from the sun and made the patio area liveable during the warmer months.

One advantage of having a patio umbrella over permanently covering your patio is that they give shade in the summer but you can remove them in winter and allow the sun to filter through.

If you are looking to buy a patio umbrella read Shade Australia's 10 Tips for buying one and once you've bought your umbrella there are some care and maintenance requirements you will need to adhere to if you want to keep it looking good year after year.

Continue reading "Patio Umbrella Review" »

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