Outdoor Furniture Plus' Blog

Certain things people take for granted as simply design eccentricities. A good deal of garden decorations fall into this category. From garden gnomes, flamingos, sundials and more, however random these items may appear, each harbors a unique history. The weathervane is one such garden fixture, a longtime decorative object that once held a more useful role in society, dating back millennia.

Weathervanes represent a very rudimentary form of weather forecasting. A lightweight object is affixed on a turning post upon which there are four offshoots representing the four cardinal directions, North, South, East and West. In this way the direction the wind was blowing could be measured, which then formed a basis for being able to roughly foretell the weather. A strong wind usually meant a change of weather, and often an oncoming storm, while many farmers could tell you than an easterly wind is a sign of rain.

Before the invention of the barometer, the weathervane was the only instrument used to record weather changes. Almost they most likely existed for centuries prior, the first recorded weathervane dates back to the 1^st century BC in ancient Greece. Known as the Tower of the Winds, the bronze weathervane was built by Andronicus and said to resemble Triton, the Greek god of the sea.

The Vikings of the 9^th century were also said to use weathervanes on their ships. From their maritime uses, weathervanes become popular in Nordic countries, and still be seen gracing the steeples of churches in Norway and Sweden.

The popular figure of the rooster on weathervane appears to date back about a thousand years, when a papal edict declared that the figure of a rooster must be placed atop each Christian church to symbolize Peter’s betrayal of Christ, from the Bible passage Luke 22:34: “I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me.” From here, the way in which roosters came to be associated with weathervanes is somewhat foggy, but they seem to have come together sometime between the 13^th-14^th century in England.

In Medieval times, weathervanes began to take on other forms, most notably that of heraldic motifs. A family’s coat of arms would proudly be displayed on a weathervane, whose place at the top of a household would signify pride and importance. This also made it easier for any potential visitors to recognize whose estate they were approaching. Banners, pennants and flags remained common weathervane designs for centuries after.

Weathervanes migrated to North America in the 18^th century and have since become commonplace on homes across the country. Although today the Internet and television have become our most trusted sources for the weather, weathervanes still enjoy nostalgic, if not functional role in American culture.

Having one of more bird feeders in your yard attracts beautiful and mesmerizing wildlife while lending a hand to Mother Nature. In winter, bird feeders can be a lifesaver to non-migratory birds, while in Spring and Summer the colorful feeding and mating shows can be breathtaking. One of the main considerations you should take into account when buying a bird feeders is the type of feed you plan on purchasing, as this will dictate what species of bird you’ll attract. Some birds like fruit, others seed. Here are the most popular food choices, some of which you can find at your local grocery store, others that are available at Nature and pet stores.

Suet
Carolina Wrens
Red-Bellied Woodpeckers
Hairy Woodpeckers
Downy Woodpeckers
Red-breasted Nuthatches
White-breasted Nuthatches
Chickadees
Bluebirds

What exactly is suet?
Suet is great for birds because it provides high-energy, pure fat nourishment for them. It can be enjoyed throughout the year but is especially useful in winter when a bird’s natural food sources, like insects, become harder to find. The extra calories keep birds warmer and healthier through the coldest months. When buying suet, make sure it’s what is called “rendered,” meaning that it has been refined to remove any impurities that would cause it to spoil over time.

Nectar
Hummingbirds

Fruit
Carolina Wrens
Robins

Peanuts/Peanut Butter
Carolina Wrens
Red-breasted Nuthatches
White-breasted Nuthatches
Chickadees

Seeds
Carolina Wrens
Tufted Titmice (sunflower)
Sparrows (sunflower)
Red-winged Blackbirds
Red-breasted Nuthatches (sunflower)
White-breasted Nuthatches (sunflower)
Chickadees (sunflower)
Cardinals (sunflower and safflower)
Bluebirds (sunflower chips)

Grains
Red-winged Blackbirds

Millet
Sparrows

Mealworms
Robins
Bluebirds

A lot of birds are attracted to fruit. Northern Mockingbirds, Cedar Waxwings and Bluebirds prefer raisins, while in the Eastern part of the country raisins are popular with Gray Catbirds as well.

Grapes are popular with the following birds:
In the East: Northern Mockingbirds, Towhees, Eastern Bluebirds, Robins, Cedar Waxwings, House Finches, Gray Catbirds, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks and Scarlet Tanagers.

In the West: Acorn Woodpeckers, Robins, Western Bluebirds, Towhees, Western Tanagers, House Finches and Black-headed Grosbeaks.

Finally, there are those species that are attracted to pieces of orange. They include the following species: Tanagers, Red-bellied Woodpeckers, Gray Catbirds, Northern Mockingbirds, Orioles, and Rose-breasted Grosbeaks.

A lot of birds prefer a mix of two or more types of feed, so take that into consideration depending on which species you want to attract.

Most birds are especially attracted to feeders that also contain a water source from which they can drink and bathe.

Some feeders, like those for hummingbirds and Jays, are designed specially for those birds or what they feed on, and normally will only work to attract those species.

Of course, the types of bird your feeder will attract is also dependent on where you live and what types of bird are native to your area. There is no point buying a specific kind of feed for a bird that isn’t in your area, so consult with area feed stores and wildlife resources beforehand.

A few last tips for a successful bird feeding experience:

-Some birds like to feed on the ground, while others prefer elevated feeders, and yet others like both. Having multiple feeders placed at varying heights or with different types of feed will greatly increase the number and variety of birds you’re likely to see.

-Feeders should be placed in an area that’s visible to birds, which find their food based on sight. At the same time, squirrels and other pests can find feeders, so explore your options in keeping unwanted visitors at bay. Cats and other predators will also be attracted to the activity. By placing feeders near a tree or shrub allows birds to easily escape and hide when attacked.

If you’ve got the space and the time to maintain it, a garden pond can be a rewarding addition to your backyard. However, it’s a lot more work than just making a hole and filling it with water. There are a bunch of factors that need to be taken into consideration. It’s also different than owning an indoor fish tank, especially when you take into account the variable outdoor factors like temperature. By any means, it’s not rocket science, and whether you build it yourself or have a pond professionally installed, keeping and maintaining it in good shape is a fun activity for outdoor enthusiasts. Here are a few of the most commonly asked questions for anyone considering a pond.

Where should I put my pond, and how big/deep should it be?
Before you start to dig, think long and hard about where you’ll want a good size hole in your yard. Some places are better suited for ponds than others. For instance, a spot with too much sun exposure can be harmful, especially for shallow ponds. Also, keep ponds away from large trees, as tree roots can easily break into the bottoms of ponds as they grow and expand, causing leaks and tears in the pond lining. The depth of your pond has a few factors, including, as mentioned, how much direct sunlight that spot gets. At the same time, ponds should be deeper if you’re going to add fish. Fish left in shallow water that is heated up by the sun can be in big trouble.

What are some of the most common problems associated with garden ponds?
One of the major concerns expressed by the owners of outdoor ponds is the occurrence of algae. Not only is the appearance of algae an eyesore, but it’s damaging to plant life and fish. Algae are created by excess nutrients, so controlling nutrient levels and having a good water flow are imperative.

Another problem concerns those who choose to keep fish in their ponds. All too often, novices will err by keeping too many fish in one pond or by overfeeding. In the early stages of your pond, as you add a filter and plants, don’t go crazy with the number of fishes. Start with a few fish and increase gradually. The same goes with feeding. Initial water supplies may be mineral and nutrient rich, while as plant life thrives it will also create nutrients, so there is no need to overfeed. As many unfortunate children have found out the hard way, an overfed goldfish is a dead goldfish.

Do I need a water pump?
The simple answer? Absolutely. Water pumps keep the movement of the water constant, and dispel dirty, stagnant water. Pumps also keep oxygen levels going, which is extremely important to the flora and fauna in your pond. The two main kinds of pumps are external and internal and are quite affordable, adding only a few dollars per month to your electric bill.

What is the optimal pH level for an outdoor pond?
There needs to be a suitable balance between the levels of alkalinity and acidity in the water, which can be thrown off by various chemicals and whatnot. The ideal pH level of water should be between 6.0 and 8.0. Testing kits are easy to come by and useful to administer at least a few times per year, especially if you make any changes to the water content.

What are some ways to accessorize my pond?
You can choose to accessorize the pond itself, the surrounding area, or both. As far as the pond itself, many people choose to plant water plants like reeds or lilies. You can also find decorative stones, fountains, etc. As far as the surrounding area, if you’ve got a big enough pond, you might want to consider a garden bridge. These scenic additions give you a first rate view of your pond, and they look charming from afar.

You’ve most likely seen them around town, at outdoor cafes, bar patios and outdoor events. The patio heater is a great way to keep people warm outside throughout the year, and businesses know that it’s one way to attract customers, but most people wouldn’t even consider owning a patio heater for residential use.

The main reason for this is that people simply don’t think of it as something they associate with the home, so when it comes time to decorate the patio, the topic of heaters doesn’t come easily to mind. Another big reason for people not buying patio heaters is the (mis)conception that heaters like the ones you see at restaurants are just too expensive.

The fact is that heaters aren’t as expensive as most people think, and for a lot of folks it could be a great addition to their decks, patios and porches. Heaters are especially useful to two types of people. First, there’s the entertainer, that friend of yours who’s always giving parties for no particular occasion other than to be social. Barbecues and dinners al fresco are more comfortable with heaters, especially on cooler days and even those summer nights when it gets cool after the sun goes down.

The second kind of person who might like a heater is just anyone who loves the outdoors and wants to get the most of it, even when the temperature starts to dip. Maybe you have a fabulous deck setup, maybe your garden is where you do your best work. There’s no reason you shouldn’t be able to enjoy your patio well past the first frost.

Heaters, even the smaller versions, will raise the surrounding temperature 10-25 degrees, and radiate up to 20 feet in diameter.

There are two main types of heaters, determined by their fuel source. These are electric and gas. Here are some quick facts on each type:

Electric

-Easy to install
-Heats quickly
-Lightweight and often portable

Gas

There are two main kinds of gas heaters: propane and natural gas. Natural gas heaters are a little more involved because they utilize a permanent standing gas line. One disadvantage is that with natural gas heaters you lose the benefit of portability and being able to move your heater around. The benefit is that you don’t have to worry about refilling your fuel source.

Propane heaters are one of the most popular types of patio heater. Like electric models, they are easy to install, although the propane tank is considerably heavier than an electric unit. However, on the flip side, this in turn makes the unit all the more sturdy. Also, propane is one of the cheaper choices.

In addition to fuel sources, patio heaters take on various shapes, including wall-mounted, freestanding, offset freestanding, and even models that attach to patio umbrellas. The kind you choose is dependant upon personal preference and space allowances. For example, offset freestanding models are nice because they won’t block the middle of your patio, while wall-mounted units don’t use any floor space. On the other hand, wall-mounted units can only go so many places, so if it’s a garden party you’re throwing, you’ll want a freestanding version.

One concern for people, especially for people with pets or children, is whether heaters are safe. In fact, they’re incredibly safe. Most are designed to be extremely stable and can withstand being bumped into. Plus, a number of models come with an automatic off-switch in case you forget to turn it off yourself.

In closing, patio heaters are not for everyone, but ask almost any owner of a patio heater and they’ll tell you how convenient and useful they can be. Don’t let the weather dictate your day. Reclaim your patio for as many of the 365 days of the year you can.

Check out all our patio heaters.

It’s one of those popular fixtures you see in gardens, like gazing balls, weather vanes and the occasional garden gnome. The sundial has become embedded in the world of gardening accessories, but it actually has a very long and interesting history. Though you’d look to your watch or a clock to tell the time these days, sundials used to inhabit a much more functional role as time-telling devices.

The basic way in which a sundial functions, (a horizontal sundial at any rate), is by the sun’s rays hitting a thin rod, which then casts a shadow onto a plate on which the hours of a clock have been inscribed. As the sun moves across the sky, the shadow from the rod moves along the inscribed numbers, thereby telling the time. In order for it to work accurately, a sundial must be pointed toward true north.

From there the operation of sundials gets much more complex. There are other sundials in which a line of light, rather than a shadow, points to the correct hour. Another aspect is the type of gnomon, or shadow-casting object. These can be fixed according to season, aligned differently according to the Earth’s axis. Then there are the planes on which the shadow is cast, which can take on a number of shapes, including a sphere, cylinder or cone. As you can see, it can be a very involved business.

The origins of the sundial go back to the very origin of mankind, when man would put a stick into the ground and make notches in the dirt in order to roughly tell the time of day. The earliest known sundial is recorded to date back from 5000 BC and can be found in the Knowth passage tomb in Ireland.

The ancient Egyptians and Babylonians were also keen on erecting sundials and small to large obelisks to tell time, dating back to around 3500 BC. One innovation of Egyptian design came about sometime around 1500 BC called the shadow clock. This portable timepiece would divide the day into ten sections, plus two twilight hours in the morning and evening. A long stemmed base would point east and west, while an elevated crossbar on the east would cast a shadow across the inscribed marks. At noon, the device was flipped around to record the afternoon hours.

Another interesting tidbit associated with the sundial is that it is common practice for them to come with inscribed mottoes. Oftentimes these take the form of a somber epigram, usually something to do with the passage of time and brevity of life, but other times these mottoes can be inspiring or even humorous.

So the next time you think about a sundial as just another piece of garden kitsch, think again. Though now but an anachronism in the era of digital clocks and watches, they once held an important place in history.

In conclusion, here are three sundial mottoes from somewhere in the annals of history:

“Do not kill time, for it will surely kill thee.” -Anonymous

“I count only the sunny hours.” -Anonymous

“I am a sundial and I make a botch, of what is done far better by a watch.” –Hillaire Belloc

We have a wide assortment of sundials for you to look at on our site.