outdoor living Archives - Page 11 of 13

Getting All Abuzz About Bees

May 31st, 2014|Animals Out the Back Door, Blog, Garden & Lawn Care|

In 2006 a new phenomenon in beekeeping hit the news. Both commercial and hobbyist beekeepers saw dramatic losses of bees in their apiaries, also known as beehives. This problem became known as CCD, or colony collapse disorder, and news items began to run regularly on this threat to human food production. Bee pollination is responsible for one-third of our food sources. The story is that as the bee goes, so does mankind. Today, another problem threatens bees, in that there seems to be an overabundance of people getting into apiary or beehive management without a great amount of knowledge, according to Marygael Meister of the DenverBee.org. For this reason, her organization is approaching beekeeping interest from the perspective of education. "We have an opportunity twice a month for applied learning at the apiary and theory learning from those who come to speak," said Marygael. "We're very serious about that; that [...]

Is There a Pergola in Your Future?

May 24th, 2014|Blog, Deck Design Tips & Trends, Decks & Backyard Features|

As summer approaches, our thoughts naturally turn to spending as much time outside as possible, and why not? Colorado has some of the best weather conditions in the country, with warm, bright days and cool, comfortable evenings. We want to make the most of these ideal conditions by turning to our backyards, oases of pleasure in our busy lives. One of the best ways to take advantage of your backyard retreat is to give it focus and purpose with a pergola. Recently, Eric Veronesi of the DeckTec team gave us a few minutes to talk about the ageless beauty and function of owning a pergola. "I have a pergola on the back of my house," said Eric. "It's south-facing and cuts down on the sun with pretty tightly spaced beams, and in the middle of the summer the space is definitely cooler." He said that this shade, while not as [...]

Rolling Out The Red Carpet for Hummingbirds

May 17th, 2014|Animals Out the Back Door, Blog, Garden & Lawn Care|

Wild Birds Unlimited, in Lakewood on Wadsworth Boulevard, is a wonderful shop of all things birding. There are books and videos, birdhouses and feeders. The shop has a resident cat, Oliver, and as you wander the aisles, the happy chirping of recorded bird sounds help sooth your stresses away. It's no wonder, then, that when we write a blog post about birds of all kinds, our first stop is to Wild Birds and owner, Scott Menough. Recently, we talked with Scott about the hummingbird season, which is full on at this point. Hummingbird Season "April 15th," said Scott on a chuckle. "Years ago I wrote an article for the Denver Post and I said April 15 is hummingbird day. Of course the first hummingbirds we usually hear about arrive closer to April 8, but nobody remembers that date. Everyone remembers April 15. It's much more fun to get your hummingbird [...]

10 Great Ways to Vacation Near Home This Year

April 12th, 2014|Blog, Life On Deck, Outdoor Living|

Is there something the rest of the world knows about Colorado that we don't? Nearly sixty million people visit our state each year to enjoy the weather, mountains, and other great attractions we have to offer. This is, after all, the land that inspired "America the Beautiful," micro-brewing as an up and coming cottage industry, and hiking in our wonderful "Fourteeners" (A fourteener is a mountain whose peak sits above 14,000 feet). Why shouldn't we "natives" enjoy some of this fun? Perhaps this is the summer you choose to stay close to home for your vacation time. Or maybe you're looking for a quick weekend get away that won't put you out-of-pocket and late for work on Monday. Here are ten attractions unique to Colorado you can enjoy right here in the Denver area. So make the most of life just off your deck and enjoy touring near home: Parks [...]

Featuring Water in Your Yard

March 29th, 2014|Blog, Decks & Backyard Features, Garden & Lawn Care|

Are you looking for something a little different in your back yard this year? Do you need a relaxing sound to listen to at the end of your busy day? Have you been thinking about having fish as alternative pets to allergy-inducing dogs or cats? Perhaps now is the time for you to consider the beauty and benefits of installing a water feature in your yard. Recently, we caught up with water feature specialist, Shane Hemphill to talk about what it takes to put in a beautiful fountain, waterfall or other feature. Shane has over 20 years experience in the business, and four years ago, started his own company, Art of the Yard. "There are a lot of choices in water features," said Shane. "I break them up into the following categories: Tabletop, or small fountains Contemporary features, like walls with water flowing down Pondless waterfalls, where the waterfall disappears [...]