Krystal Tubbs, Author at DeckTec Outdoor Designs

The Joys of Birding “On Deck”

May 23rd, 2018|Blog, Decks & Backyard Features, Life On Deck, Outdoor Living|

Welcome to the first in our series of articles on backyard “on deck” birding! We were fortunate to speak with metro area birding expert Scott Menough, owner with his wife, Sandy, of Wild Birds Unlimited in Lakewood since 1989. Scott is the host of BirdTalk radio, which airs Saturdays from noon to 1 p.m. on 710 KNUS and 1690 KDMT, and also hosts a podcast at BirdTalkGuys.com. Perhaps you’ve never thought about attracting more birds to your yard? Well, according to Scott, conditions here are excellent for doing exactly that. “In Colorado we’re very lucky to have a variety of habitat that is attractive to wild birds, some year-round, and some seasonally,” he said. According to Menough, feathered friends that you can commonly see year-round from your deck include the so-called “house birds” – house sparrows, house finches and house wrens as well as nuthatches, black-capped chickadees, pigeons, woodpeckers, American [...]

Time to Plant Sweet Berries and Fragrant Herbs

May 16th, 2018|Blog, Gardening, Outdoor Recipes|

Berries and herbs tend to grow slowly, and because of our short growing season here, are best cultivated from starts, which are available now at garden centers, farmers markets, supermarkets and hardware stores. If you try to grow these from seed, well, it might be winter before you see anything! Keep in mind that container plants in general are considerably more exposed to the elements, (heat, cold, moisture and dryness) than plants in the ground. In Colorado it’s advisable to go with plastic pots which won’t evaporate water as quickly than the porous earthen terra cotta pots. (That being said, there’s good news for diehard terra cotta lovers – Sturtz & Copeland in Boulder, 303-442-6663, is now carrying a line of waterproof German terra cotta that will work just as well as plastic.) Herbs Herbs in general can tolerate our hot and dry Colorado summers and because of that are [...]

Thoughts About Birds

May 9th, 2018|Blog, Outdoor Living|

In our busy, nosey, electronic media dominated world, we are told to “stop and smell the roses.” I think we should, especially this time of year. However, there is something else that often gets overlooked in the hustle of our everyday – the birds that surround us. As you sit out on your deck, porch, patio, or go for a leisurely walk, take a moment to relax, breathe, and listen. You will notice the beautiful sounds and songs through the busy sounds of traffic, lawn mowers, and kids playing. Like gardening, bird watching is a stress reducing and relaxing activity. It gets you outdoors and in touch with nature without travel or leaving your home. So, get outside, quiet your mind, and open your eyes. For many people, birding is a passion, and we are happy to introduce you to one of the “Bird Talk Guys” from Wild Birds Unlimited, [...]

Spicy Lime Grilled Salmon

April 25th, 2018|Outdoor Recipes|

Try this light salmon recipe the next time you're looking for something new to try! SPICY LIME GRILLED SALMON Serves 4 Ingredients 1 lime 2 tbsp. olive oil 1 garlic clove, minced 2 tbsp. soy sauce 1 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes salt and pepper to taste 1.5 lbs. wild Alaskan salmon lime wedges (optional garnish) olive oil to coat grill Directions 1. Using microplane, zest lime into small mixing bowl. 2. Juice lime. Add juice to zest. 3. Whisk together juice, oil, garlic, soy sauce, red pepper flakes, salt and pepper. 4. Lay fish in small baking dish, filet skin side up so marinade soaks in. Pour marinade over fish, turning to cover completely. 5. Cover salmon with airtight lid in fridge for 30-60 minutes, or until you’re ready to eat. 6. Heat outdoor grill (or grill pan) over medium-high heat until piping hot. Brush olive oil over grill [...]

Deck to Table Dining

April 18th, 2018|Blog, Garden & Lawn Care, Gardening|

Our March issue offered helpful tips for designing an “on deck” container garden. Now we’re ready to “get growing!” If you’re up for the container gardening adventure, the rewards are great – imagine the joys of watching plants you’ve carefully tended grow into maturity. How wonderful is a dinner party with friends and family gathered round enjoying the “fruits” (and vegetables) of your labor from the deck where they were raised? There’s just no better way to impress your guests! Salad greens such as arugula, mustard, and mesculun, sassy, baby and braising mixes as well as lettuces grow quickly and easily from seed. They do well in cool weather and ideally should be planted now, as rain and snow will aid germination. These greens are especially great for pots because they don’t take up much room, and, even better, they grow back after being cut for multiple harvests. You can [...]

ktubbs

About Krystal Tubbs

The Joys of Birding “On Deck”

Time to Plant Sweet Berries and Fragrant Herbs

Thoughts About Birds

Spicy Lime Grilled Salmon

Deck to Table Dining