Bird Houses

Our backyard is a sanctuary. For us and for our feathered friends. We love to watch the birds eat, bathe and play as well as listen to them sing.
Providing the birds with a place to nest or rest is one way to help bring the birds to your backyard. You can make it fun for your family by choosing bird houses that go with your decor.

Table Top Fountains

Don't you just love the sound of running water? It is so soothing and relaxing. In the winter I miss sitting in the backyard and listening to our big fountain in the pond.
Why not bring the sounds of splashing water into your home. There are many different kinds of desk top or tabletop fountains available. You are sure to find one that will fit in your decor.

Sun Catchers

I like to 'dress up' my windows with a little bit of color. On a cold winters day it helps to make me feel a little warmer as the colors seem to dance in the sunlight.

The use of sun catchers in your windows not only adds color but a little bit of sparkle as the sun catches them.

Garden of Eden

While reflecting in our little "Garden of Eden" I see a Noah's Ark Birdhouse and think about the days of long ago. The supposed simplier life. We often think how difficult it must have been....having to gather seeds, berries and nuts. You couldn't just walk into a store a buy what you wanted. How simple is that?
Yet the little birds that visit us do have such a life. They have come to expect that we will take care of them by providing shelter, a bite to eat and a place to rest.

Backyard Garden Fountains

Have you ever wanted a fountain in your backyard, but didn't think that it was within your grasp? It could never be any easier for the home do-it-yourselfer!

All you have to do is decide where you want your fountain, select it, and place it! There is no plumbing. The only prerecquiste is that it is near an electrical outlet. The fountains have a small pump that recirculate the water. Just be sure that you that you keep plenty of water in the bowl.

Weather Vanes

Wow we've had some pretty strong winds lately!, as have many areas around the country. If you're like me you get curious about how strong they are and what direction they are coming from.
Now I have no sense of direction, so it is nice to have a weather vane that will show me. Many weather vanes sit atop the garage or other outdoor building, but there are some that are garden stakes, so they can be seen easier from the house window.

Weather Gauges

Have you ever gotten so much rain or wind that you wonder how much you're getting? It's fun to check and keep track of.
There are many kinds of weather gauges available. Some simply measure the rain others are actually mini weather stations. They come in many different sizes and shapes. You can get one that will actually follow your garden theme. I like the whimsical, how about you? What is your preferencce?

Pots and Planters

I have many plants that I need to bring in as the weather gets colder. Before I take them back out in the spring though I will need to check them to see if they need to be repotted. This also gives me a chance to change the theme of my garden/room.

Be sure to select the right size pot for your plant. You want to be careful that the flower pot is not way too big or way too small for the plant.

Lazy Days

As the weather warms, I am reminded of the days spent in the backyard and garden. It's nice to walk around and enjoy the beautiful plants and the view of the garden.

After walking around or after working in the yard, it is nice to have a place to sit. Our children and grandchilden also enjoy sitting in the swings and watching the fish in the Koi pond.

Lanterns

Lanterns are a great addition to a garden. They can line a pathway, add a festive flair or just be placed strategically around the backyard or deck.
These can be themed and used as a focal point, or just blended through out the yard.

Press Release for Backyard LifeStyles, Inc.

Unlike most pet retailers, BackyardDecorativeBirdhouses.com serves a specific purpose: to help people spice up their backyards and gardens by bringing in beautiful birds. The year-and-a-half old site has a unique selection, as well as a brand new blog.

Hebron, OH (PRWEB) November 27, 2008 — When Donald and Laura Slater started with a simple goal on improving his farm, who knew it would lead to the driving force for developing his own businesses?

“We’ve always been interested in making our yard look better,” began Donald Slater. “We live on an 80-acre farm and I feel like we have our own paradise.”

We live on an 80-acre farm and I feel like we have our own paradise.
In 2007, the Slaters started up their own company and one of the focuses they have are birdhouses. Having launched in May 2007, www.BackyardDecorativeBirdhouses.com features a host of beautifully crafted birdhouses and birdfeeders, which can be a crucial piece for anyone with a backyard - big or small.

Offering competitive pricing and having a unique catalog, BackyardDecorativeBirdhouses.com is miles ahead of their competition in big box retailers. The site offers a brand of eco-friendly birdhouses.

“One of the brands we carry, Barnwood, makes their birdhouses from recycled barn wood,” explained Slater. “It’s a very neat and environmentally sound concept.”

Slater enjoys Barnwood enough to have a few specials available with the purchase of them.

Alongside his unique products, Slater has recently launched a new blog, www.IdeasForYourBackyard.com. “It will have some very broad information about birds, such as how to care for a bird, how to start bird watching and how to care for your birdhouses and birdfeeders,” he said.

As the site continues to grow and evolve, Slater intends to add more birdhouses and feeders to his catalog: “We’re always looking for new suppliers.” And though styles may change, one thing that will never stop being chic is the care of a beautiful backyard. This is a fact that Donald Slater is attuned to, after all, it’s part of his upbringing.

“My father was a botanist,” Slater said. “He was always bird watching and he always had birdhouses. It’s the reason why we got into this type of business.”

About the Company:
BackyardDecorativeBirdhouses.com is a part of Backyard Lifestyles, Inc, which is owned and operated by Donald and Laura Slater. The company also includes a water fountain website and garden décor website.

Contact Information:
Donald Slater
www.BackyardDecorativeBirdhouses.com
(800) 615-2598

iePlexus, Inc.
www.iePlexus.com

Decorating Your Backyard

There isn't so much to do outside this time of the year, so it is a good time to start planning for the warmer weather. I consider our backyard to be part of our home, so I like to decorate it as well.

I like the whimsical, fun feeling in the backyard. It seems to delight our grandchildren and friends, to find something unexpected in a garden room, like some garden stakes, or fun statues of animals.

On a cold winter night in 2008,

On a cold winter night in 2008,
the backyard was quiet, and that‘s great.

The bird houses were hung in the trees with great care,

in hopes that our friends would stay warm again this year.

The birds were nestled all snug in their huts,

with visions of full feeders, even cracked nuts.

Mama in her nightgown, and I in my shorts,

had just settled our down to watch a show of some sort.

When out in the backyard, we heard the birds singing,

I jumped from the couch to see what was happening.

Away to the doorway I tripped and I stumbled,

threw open the door, and just started to mumble.

The moon on the KOI pond showed the new-fallen snow,

so bright was the lighted pathway, showing stepping stones aglow.

My eyes went to a statue, standing tall and so proud,
when, what to my wondering eyes should appear,

but a chimenea with a warm fires glow.

On the limb of the hawthorn, a chickadee appeared,
He was on a mission, there was no doubt.
He whistled and screeched, then flew all about

"Now Cardinal! Now Swallow!

Now, Finch and Barn Owl!

Come Woodpecker! Come, Martin!

Come Blue Birds, come all!

To the feeders on the table!

To the feeders on the lawn!
There are even sunflower seeds all over the ground!”

The birds were all singing and eating some thistle,
While others at the pond were wetting their whistle,

When all the seed was gone they flew to their houses,
Staying warm through the night they like their birdhouses.

Tomorrow I will feed them again, and all through the winter!
Our birds are like family, we love them around.
Singing and whistling their own unique sounds.
Keep your friends feed, and treat them like family,
Next year they’ll be back and you’ll be there envy!

"Warm Winter to all, and to all a good night!"

Wind Chimes for Christmas Gifts

Have you ever sat in the evening in your backyard hammock and listened to the wind chimes ringing in the slight breeze.
What better gift for Christmas then a set of JW Stannard wind chimes with a hand-tuned work of functional art to place wherever you wish to create an aura of reflection and tranquility!