I confess that I am not much of a green thumb. In fact, I have more of a tendency to kill plants than nurture them into flourishing, colorful specimens. It helps that I live in an apartment and don’t have to worry about mowing the lawn or coaxing a patch of flowers to bring forth their bright hues. Instead, I tend to my little pots, planted with easy-to-maintain geraniums and grasses, and decorate my porch with some quirky pieces of artwork and funky patio furnishings.

In my never-ending quest for the interesting and different, I return time and time again to uncommongoods.com. They carry pieces by one of my favorite artists, Fred Conlon, creates some of the most wacky and hilarious pieces of garden (or patio) sculpture I have ever seen.

Raised in Colorado, Conlon now lives in Salt Lake City where he crafts his sculptures from recovered objects, such as World War II helmets, recycled metal and recycled hardware.

His collection of “Gnome Be Gone” figures cut a rug anywhere outside, and look particularly comical settled in among a “pretty” plot of botanicals. My favorite is the original “Gnome Be Gone” that appears to haul the traditional garden gnome off your lot.

So, while I am not much of a green thumb, I can and do love the great outdoors, and have come to appreciate all of those years my father made me mow the massive lawn that surrounded my childhood home. With all of the rushing about in our lives, why not take a little more time to stop and smell the flowers?

–By Kate Bailey

Technorati Tags: garden gnomes, garden sculpture, eco-friendly garden, recycled garden art, outdoor art, Fred Conlon, metal garden sculptures

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One of the best things about summer is all of the free cultural events. From concerts to movies, there is something for everyone to enjoy. Before you pack up your picnic and head to the park, make sure you have something cute and stylish to set your scene. Sure, you can grab a boring blanket, but I love using a washable cotton quilt. With all the fun colors and designs, it’s almost like having a tablecloth. Plus, they are plenty roomy to claim your space and accommodate the whole gang.

Here are several quilts that I think are picnic-worthy!

Garnet Hill

Square Route Quilt, six color combinations available, hand-quilted, reversible, lightly padded, from $68

State Fair Quilt, hand-quilted, patchwork of more than 20 fabrics,
from $158

Utility Canvas

Square Throw Blanket, printed and enzyme washed, reversible, $145

The Company Store

Diamond Reversible Quilt, diamond quilted, reversible, from $99

Addison Quilt, handcrafted, from $149

Kmart

Martha Stewart Everyday Wedding Ring-Lilac Quilt, On Sale–from $30!!!

Bed, Bath, and Beyond

Laura Quilt by Liz Claiborne, hand quilting, from $99

Company C

Seneca Quilt, embroidery and applique details, reversible to stripe, from $195

Flying Geese Quilt, reverses to multi-colored stripe, three colorways available, from $158

See you at the park. I’ll be the one on the blue and white quilt.

—Jennifer Kopf

Technorati Tags: picnic, park, outdoor events, quilts, Garnet Hill, Company C, Martha Stewart, Kmart, Bed, Bath, and Beyond, Bryant Park, Utility Canvas, The Company Store

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It’s here! The Fourth of July is the top day for backyard barbecues and gatherings in the park. It’s easy to add a patriotic punch to your gatherings without ever showing a star or a stripe.

Here are some fun red, white, and blue accessories that will look great in any outdoor setting. What’s even better? It’s considered the end of the summer retail season, so many stores are offering great sales!

Pier 1 Imports

Indigo Stamp Pillow, $15

Hand-Painted Umbrella, $50

Target

Set of 2 Plastic Bamboo Baskets in red, white, or blue, $14.99

Smith & Hawken

Painted Hardwood Adirondack Chairs, $99 (sale price!)

Luna Bazaar

Paper Lanterns in a variety of colors and sizes, starting around $2

Pottery Barn

Napa Colored Metal Lanterns, $26.99 (sale price!)

Mahogany Marine Flag Wall Art, $129.00/set of 8

Plum Party

Red, White, and Blue Sparkler Chandelier, $38

Have fun!

—Jennifer Kopf

Technorati Tags: Fourth of July, Backyard Barbecue, Outdoor Decorating, Patriotic Decorating, July 4th, Red, White, and Blue, Entertaining

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The time for outdoor picnics has begun! Whether you are outside enjoying local music festivals or theater performances, or simply want to plan a plein aire affair for the family, there are few better ways to enjoy balmy summer evenings than with a bottle of wine, some good food and friends.

My usual MO is to pack as much as possible into a grocery bag, lug along a few old, sturdy wine glasses, and use the grass for napkins. But this year I decided to up the ante with a grown-up picnic basket complete with plates, glasses, utensils, cloth napkins, and a cooler to keep beverages chilled to perfection (see the one from Horchow, $125.00, above).

Here are a few of the best picnic baskets on the market. Some are more practical than others; and a few are definitely for those who want to dine al fresco in style.

Canvas Picnic Basket for 4
$78.00
Uncommongoods.com

S
Picnic for Four Backpack Sets
$47.96
Sur la Table

Personalized Picnic Basket
$219.95
Williams Sonoma

Wine Country Picnic
$100-$250
Dean and Deluca

–By Kate Bailey

Technorati Tags: stylish picnic baskets, picnic baskets, easy to carry picnic baskets, outdoor eating, outdoor entertaining, chic picnic gear, durable picnic baskets

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Don’t you just love these little glasses? Just the right size for tea lights, these glass holders are covered with pretty rice papers and highlighted with a gold rim. I like them best when all of the colors are grouped together. Try them on a platter or tray as a scene-setting centerpiece for your outdoor table.

They’re a bargain at $2.75/each, so treat yourself and buy a slew of the them. You’ll be glad you did.

Also check out Luna Bazaar’s large selection of colorful paper lanterns and string lights. Whether you’re decorating for a party or you just want to give your backyard a bit of fiesta flair, this is your source for all kinds of inspiration. Items are organized by type, by theme, or, my favorite, by color.

Available through Luna Bazaar.

—Jennifer Kopf

Technorati Tags: outdoor entertaining, votive holders, candles, color, Luna Bazaar, centerpiece, parties

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