One of the worst things about the winter months is the little time we get to spend outside in our garden. After all, gardening is one of our favorite hobbies to do in the backyard. But with the weather beyond freezing, it can stop us from spending time in the garden. And it feels like it’s forever until spring and summer arrive! However, you don’t have to give up your garden entirely during the winter. Therefore, here are some surprising tips you need to ensure you don’t miss your garden this winter.

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Bring the BBQ inside of your home

It’s always lovely in the summer months when you can have your family around. And you all enjoy a BBQ in the garden. As well as the amazing company, the food can be fantastic as well. After all, food can have a delicious taste once it’s been cooked on the barbecue. Therefore, it’s common to miss this grilled food during the winter months. But you don’t have to miss out on the delicious food during the cold months. There are many portable grills you can buy for your kitchen which you can use to recreate that BBQ taste. And food tends to be a lot healthier if it’s grilled!

Start growing plants inside your home

There’s something so therapeutic about looking after your plants. In fact, so many people use gardening as a stress-reliever. Also, it’s a massive achievement when you manage to successfully grow a plant. Therefore, in the winter months, you can miss taking care of your beloved plants. However, you don’t have to wait until spring before you start growing plants again. You could grow them inside to ensure you can carry on with your gardening all year round. Find them a spot in your home which has plenty of sunlight throughout the day. You can also consider getting some LED grow lights from companies like Lumi Growth which will ensure your plants grow properly while they are inside. And then you can tend to them every day to still enjoy gardening during winter. Once the sun comes out, you can always move them outside to ensure they enjoy some natural sunlight.

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Invest in a beautiful indoor water feature

A lot of people love having a water feature in their garden. Not only can it be a relaxing feature, but it can also help your garden to stand out. And it’s a natural way to boost wildlife to your garden. During the winter months, a lot of people miss the calming sound of running water which they get when they are in their yard. But you can have the sound inside your home if you go for a beautiful indoor water feature. They can be a lovely addition to your home and will help to create a calming atmosphere. Put it in the hall or the lounge so that you can hear the feature around the home.

And you could even get a fish tank for your property if you are missing your pond! After all, you can watch the fish and enjoy the sound of the tank in your home!

You may think that the winter season is never going to end, but there are only a few months to get ready for the summer, and this is without mentioning any bikini figure! You need to think about getting your house ready for the hot season, and this isn’t something that you can delay too much. It is important to start planning right now with this list of summer essentials for your to go through.

Make Sure You Have All You Need To Keep The House Fresh

It might seem odd to think about keeping cool when the weather is still cold outside, but now is the right time to check the state of your air conditioner system, fans, and your swimming pool. If you don’t have any air con, it is time to consider an A/C installation to prepare for summer. As you still have a handful of months left before the hot months arrive, it is good to get in touch with expert engineers to service your pool and keep your cooling systems up to date before the summer rush begins.

Look After Your Garden Now To Find Freshness In Summer

You’re sitting inside, looking through the window to see only cold, gray rain. Taking care of your garden might well be the last thing you want to do with your time. But it is essential to maintain your trees and plants throughout the cold months to help them be strong and healthy for when you will need their shadow and their freshness. While you don’t need to spend every week kneeling outside in the wet grass and the mud, a monthly list of maintenance tasks should include:

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• Mowing the lawn,
• Trimming the trees so that they can grow strong and high in summer,
• Pruning flowers and fruit trees to ensure a beautiful and vibrant garden,
• And protecting your precious plants from the frost and the rain.

Prepare For A Change Of Interior Décor

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Winter is naturally characterized by a change of décor inside your house: A warm blanket lies on the sofa to keep you warm in the evening; a series of tall mugs is piled up in the sink for a hot cup of tea; and every room has received a touch of warmth with scented candles and fluffy cushions. Everything is there to provide a cozy sensation. But soon the time for bbq parties and summer drinks will come: You need to rethink your décor to bring back a sense of sunny freshness inside your home. There are many options to do so on a budget: You can choose to hide all reminders of the winter months away, such as blankets, heating units, and candles, or you can decide to bring touches of bright colors inside the house with picture frames, funky cushions, and decorative plant pots. Just remember to check every room to make note of the wintery elements to store away during summer. And why not already plan your first bbq party of the warm season? Maybe you could celebrate the arrival of spring around a grilled burger with friends, so if you start now, you could prepare your DIY décor.        

Winter can be tough for all of us it’s cold, dark and the last thing you want to be is outside when you can see icicles hanging from the trees. However, animals and birds aren’t so lucky so it’s important we do all we can to help them through the colder months. Food is often scarce for many animals in winter so why not help hedgehogs by leaving out some tinned meat? Make sure there’s a small bowl of fresh water visitors can drink from and that visiting birds to your garden are rewarded. By following a couple of the ideas listed not only will you be assisting animals at a difficult time, but be able to enjoy the variety of wildlife snuffling around your garden.

Beautiful Bird Table

Pop a lovely, wooden bird table in the centre of your garden and scatter breadcrumbs, seeds, peanuts, cheese, and fruit you’ll be able to find grocery online as well as buying mealworms from your garden store. Birds often find it hard to get enough food at this time of year as berries, insects, seeds and worms have either died or are covered by a thick layer of snow. Once the word has gotten out that there’s food your bird table will be filled with hungry feathery visitors. However, bear in mind these are all wild animals and will get lazy quickly if they receive regular handouts, which makes them unwilling to source their own food so it’s important to limit how much is given.

[Flickr Image Courtesy of Tony Hisgett]

Help Squirrels Go Nuts

Despite what many people think these fluffy tailed creatures don’t actually hibernate instead they collect a store of nuts to munch on in their cozy, dry drey’s, or nests all winter. The gathering starts in early autumn and only ends when they’ve found enough to eat so you can help them out by leaving nuts such as hazelnuts, walnuts and almonds as well as sliced apple, carrot and even spinach or beans. A regular small handful of these foods will see squirrels safely through till spring.

Break The Ice

Many animals don’t possess the strength to make a hole in water that’s frozen over so when people think they’ll be alright often wildlife struggle to find enough to drink. Check your water bowl, or dish regularly as it could have frozen overnight and make sure to refill it regularly as you don’t know how many animals are using this precious water source to survive. If you have a pond you also need to make a hole as overtime toxic gas can build up and harm any fish or frogs living in the water. Don’t use a sharp item as you may injure any fish swimming near by instead take a pan of boiling water and pour it on the surface and the ice will then melt.

Let Your Garden Grow

Now isn’t the time to be doing any weeding, burning or leaf clearing in the winter months simply let your garden rest and grow wild. Don’t worry when spring comes you’ll be able to clean up but for now compost heaps, piles of leaves and even overgrown brambles can become the perfect winter retreat for many a creature.

Gardens are not just about flowers and growing food. They can be a great way to learn about wildlife; something particularly important if you have a family. And they are a great way to help maintain species of birds and animals.

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Regardless of your outdoor space, there are simple steps you can take to encourage birds and animals to visit or set up home in your garden.

1. Create A Pond

Creating a pond is the quickest and simplest way to introduce wildlife. Once your pond has been built, you can fill it with your choice of fish. There are many different varieties to choose from, depending on the areas you live in and the space available, etc. Butterfly koi are a popular choice as they are known for their beauty and stunning colors.

Ponds will attract other wildlife such as frogs and insects. It is important to monitor and clean your pond regularly to ensure it is a safe environment for fish and other animals. The plants and grasses surrounding your pond will also attract visitors.

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2. Garden Design

When designing and maintaining your garden, think carefully about the animals you wish to encourage. Birds like trees and bushes for nesting. If you have the available space, try creating zones. Some birds may prefer not to come close to the house, and so a quiet space towards the back of the garden may be preferable.

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3. Frogs

Frogs like ponds, as mentioned, but they also like piles of leaves. When raking your garden next fall, leave a few piles of leaves in a dark area to encourage frogs. Ensure you leave some space in walls or fences for them to enter.

4. Birds

To encourage birds into your garden, put up a bird table and several feeders. A bird bath is also important. Vary the seeds and food that you provide to attract different species. To ensure they keep coming back, feed birds daily, particularly in the winter months when food will be scarce. It’s always pleasant to watch a garden full of birds, and you’re helping them at the same time. Try setting up some nesting boxes to see if any of the birds set up residence.

5. Insects

Insect hotels provide a safe environment for insects to hibernate in the winter months. They are made up of several compartments or suites to allow insects to choose a warm place to stay. Encouraging insects into your garden is good for them and the environment. Some like dry environments and others prefer the damp. So try to establish insect homes in several areas.

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6. Bees

Bees are vital pollinators for our gardens but, unfortunately, their numbers are declining. Insect hotels make a safe place for solitary bees. Introduce some bee-friendly plants to your garden. Bees like flowers such as white clover, bluebells, alliums, and buddleia, etc.

Encouraging wildlife into your garden is a win-win situation. You’re providing a home and food for them to help them thrive. And you get to observe them in their natural habitat. Many will contribute to the garden by pollination, turning over soil, etc. So, it’s good for you, and it’s good for them.

You may think now that winter season is here, you can sit back and leave you garden alone. Unfortunately – that’s not the case. There are still a few things you have to do if you want your garden to survive this winter.

Lawn

Although it may be cold and icy, and you have perhaps even seen mini icicles on the lawn, this isn’t an excuse not to cut the grass. True – it’s not growing as it would in the spring and summer time. But there is still slight movement, and if you want to keep your garden looking fabulous, you need to keep looking after it.

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There are many ways you day decide on cutting your grass. But as it is the winter, a machine is best because it is the quickest and most efficient way. There can in all sorts of brands, sizes, and power, so get your own model that works right for you.

Watering

Just because it’s winter, doesn’t mean we no longer have to water our plants. There may not be any bright, colourful flowers, but that is not to say that there is no life. Things are still growing, and they are going to get thirsty. So give some water! Do in during the day when the sun is up so they have no risk of freezing over.

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Plant A Hedge

Hedges are a great alternative to fences as they effectively filter strong, damaging winds. A mixed variety of native plants provide the perfect habitat for birds, insects and small mammals such as hedgehogs, as well as giving year round interest from flowers, seeds, berries and colourful tones of foliage.

Eradicate Weeds

Weeds have been having a wonderful time during this mild winter, quickly germinating and getting ready to cause all the havoc again in spring. Hoe through the roots of annual weeds and dig out the roots of the more stubborn ones to stop them in their tracks. This will save a whole lot of time and effort in spring time.

Early Potatoe Chitting

Begin the process of chitting early potatoes at the end of the month. The best way to do this is to stand the tubers in a recycled egg box with the end that has the most buds uppermost, and place in a bright, cool, frost-free area.

After a couple of weeks, shoots will begin to sprout, get these to about three or four per tuber to get the most productive crop.

Prune Wisteria

As beautiful as this plant may be, wisteria can be a bit of a nightmare and needs pruning in summer and winter to keep it manageable.

If you don’t bother to do this, wisteria naturally produces a very messy mass of foliage and barely any flowers. So prune the whippy growths back to five or six buds in late August, and prune further in January or February to two or three buds. Don’t worry if you missed the summer prune, it’s simple enough to spot the elongated stems.

I love gardening, and when the sun is shining, I’m always out, seeing what I can do to improve my yard. Most of the time, it’s little things such as pulling up the weeds from between the paving. Or, planting some new flowers in the soil around the edge of my front lawn. Every so often though I do like to take on a big project and work to completely reinvent my yard. That’s what I’m going to talk about today. If your garden is looking dark and dreary, make some changes, and you’ll love spending time out there again.

Start Small

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You should start small when tackling a new look for your garden. I think we should begin by cutting the grass because that’s going to make it look grander. I’m sure that’s something that you want. A garden that gives the impression your home has a lot of space. Cut your grass as short as possible, and it will also look neat, tidy and well maintained.

Next, we need to take a look at any patio areas in your garden. If you’ve never cleaned your patio, it’s going to be looking worse for wear. That’s the bad news. The good news is that there are easy ways to fix that. I suggest you start by renting a power washer if you don’t have one. A power washer is the easiest tool to use for cleaning your patio. It will blast the marks, dirt and grime away, making it look brand new. It can even get rid of the weeds that are growing between the cracks. Let it dry out and then take a look at the effect. The grass is short; the patio is clean, and essentially, you have a blank canvas. Now you can style your garden however you want.

Lovely Landscaping

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If you want to change your garden, you need to think about landscaping. There’s nothing small about this idea, and you’ll certainly need some tools. You might even need extra help to complete this job because it tends to involve restructuring the garden. You might raise certain parts, lower others and by the time you’re finished the garden is completely different. It’s sectioned, and it has different areas for all your needs. In one part of the backyard, there’s a patio place, perfect for outdoor furniture. In another, you have a vast stretch of green for your kids. Then, around the side, there’s a place to grow flowers and maybe even some veg? Landscaping makes this sectioning a real possibility. No matter what your yard looks like right now, you can have your perfect garden with a little landscaping.

Brightening It Up

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Usually, gardens are dark because something is blocking the sunlight. If you’re overlooked, you can’t do much about this. The best idea is to add some outside lighting, but that can be expensive. In some cases, though, it’s going to be natural issues that is blocking your light, such as an overgrown tree. There’s an easy remedy for that. You just need to cut the tree down and to do this; I suggest you get a chainsaw with a long lasting battery. Getting the wires tangled around can lead to real problems cutting the tree. In some cases, you won’t have to remove the whole tree. Instead, you can just cut it down a little so that it’s not as full and thick. Once you’ve yelled timber, dispose of the fallen branches correctly to stop it cluttering your garden.

Colourful Ideas

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Some of your local flowers, shrubs and plants might not be quite as colourful as you’d like. So, how about importing some tropical shrubbery. This will give your garden a unique look, guaranteeing it stands out from the rest of the homes on the street.

If you don’t want to import plants, you can get the same effect with stones and shells. You can use a collection of rocks and shells to brighten up the garden, framing the patio or the grass. Make sure that the stones are bright and glisten. If they get dirty, give them a good wash to keep your garden looking stunning and stylish.

Shopping Spree

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Finally, let’s finish off reinventing your garden with a good old shop. You can buy some beautiful garden furniture for your yard and right now is the perfect time to do this. At the end of summer, the prices of gorgeous garden furniture go through the floor. You’ll save a bundle and have the perfect accessories to make your garden an absolute delight.

A lot of us don’t do much with our garden once we have moved into our property. Of course, we may lay some turf and grow some plants, but we are not properly utilizing the space we have. Especially if we have a big garden! After all, it’s best to make the most of your garden as it can be one of the top selling features when you do put your home on the market. Therefore, here is some unmissable help to make the most of the space in your large garden.

Add an entertaining area

It’s hard for everyone to fit in your home when you are entertaining people for a special occasion. After all, your kitchen and dining area might not be that big inside your home. Therefore, to make the most of the space in your garden, you should make an entertaining area. It will be a great place to have guests over for a party. You can add a table and chairs and a BBQ so that you have everything you need for the occasion. Remember to get some kind of canopy, so that everyone can enjoy being outside for the party. Also, as extras, you should look into adding a fire pit and a chiminea to the entertaining area.

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Add a summer house or log cabin

You should also look into adding a summer house or a log cabin in the garden of your property to make the most of the space. It would be ideal as an extra play room or office for your property. It could be a mini home for your teen, so they have somewhere to complete homework or spend time with friends. You can either get a company into build one in your yard, or you could look into making one yourself; check out this video for more advice. Remember to make sure it’s protected for weathers all year round. You can find lots of help online for log house maintenance to ensure it stays looking great through the harshest of climates!

[Photo courtesy of Antranias/pixabay.com]

Add a beautiful garden feature such as a pond or water feature

If you have the space for it in your garden, you should consider adding a beautiful garden feature such as a pond or a water feature. They have lots of benefits; for one thing, you are doing your bit for the environment. After all, you are giving some fishes a must-needed home! And kids will love looking at them and feeding them every day. Also, water features are very relaxing for your soul. The calming sound of the water flowing can do wonders for your blood pressure!

Consider building an extension

A lot of people have a smaller home but a lot of land outside which belongs to them. In that case, you could make the most of the space in your large garden by extending your home. You might be able to make an additional bedroom or even an office room in your property if you do extend your house. Of course, make sure you are allowed before you do extend your home.

And remember to add a greenhouse to your yard if you have the room. That way, you can grow plenty of vegetables for your family’s use.

It can be disheartening when you purchase a property with a small backyard. Especially if you are a keen gardener, who likes to be outside in the backyard during the summer. However, a small garden doesn’t have to be a disaster. You can bring your small garden to life with these easy steps.

[Photo courtesy of  Jasper33/ en.wikipedia]

Use pots to grow a perfect fruit vegetable garden

One easy step to bring your small garden to life is you can use pots to grow a perfect vegetable garden. You don’t need to have a lot of space in your garden to put your vegetable pots. You could get a hanging pot which you can use to grow some beautiful strawberries or even some delicious tomatoes. You can grow herbs in small pots which you can dot around the garden. Your garden will be full of growing vegetables without having to use much of the space.

Get a landscaper in to utilize the space

Another easy step to bring your small garden to life is you can hire a landscaper to utilize the space properly. They will be able to help your ideas come to life in your backyard. They will be able to think of great ways to utilize the space properly, so you and your family can enjoy it for years to come. You can get a free quotation from them so that you know you can afford to have them in. It’s also an excellent way to add value to your home if you have a professional landscaper in to make your garden look fantastic.

Use the vertical space in your garden

You can also bring your small garden to life by using the vertical space in your garden. You want to get some plants which grow upwards, rather than out. A lot of people don’t use that space, but it’s an excellent way to utilize your small back garden. You can get planters which you hang anywhere in the backyard to create a vertical garden. And as this article says, you could even use a shoe organizer from your home to create a vertical garden. Don’t be afraid to try some espaliering on the walls outside to make your garden look great!

Bring in bright colored plants

Another easy step to bring your small garden to life is to add some brightly colored plants to the garden. They will make the backyard look beautiful and bigger. As this feature explains, you should put them at the front, so the rest of the garden will seem to recede, making it look longer.

Add a decking area to the garden

You can also build a decking area in your small garden. It can make the garden seem grand and beautiful. It also separates the garden into different zones, making it look deceptively bigger. It’s also an ideal area to add a table and chairs, so that you can sit outside in the sunshine!

Hopefully, these easy steps will lead to lots of compliments for your small garden!

We all know how demanding do the gardening can be on our time and our bodies. So it’s great when new tools come along and make the job easier. Here are some tools that will revolutionize your gardening experience.

Self-Watering Container

If you’ve got a plant nursery in your backyard, you know how much effort it can take to maintain. You have to remember to get up and water it every day, depending on the weather. And it can take up a lot of time. Sure, it might be a labor of love, but why not make that labor a little easier? Earthbox has started making a product that does just that. It’s a self-watering container that waters plants throughout the day through a reservoir. What’s more, it makes sure that the soil remains evenly moist throughout, preventing roots from getting soggy.

Compost Tumbler

Do you lament the fact that you have to wait for months to get great compost from your compost bin? You’re not alone. The reason it takes so long is that there’s nothing to speed up the reaction. It takes a while for worms and bacteria to penetrate all the material, and it can be frustrating.

[Photo courtesy of Bev Wagar/flickr.com]

But there’s a rather ingenious solution: compost tumblers. These are essentially big barrels on stilts, with a handle for turning. Put the compost in the barrel and turn it every few days to mix up all the material inside. Now you’ll only have to wait a couple of weeks to get rich, beautiful compost.

Seated Lawn Mower

Unless you’ve used a seated lawn mower, you won’t fully appreciate the difference that it can make to your gardening. If you’ve got a big yard, seated lawn mowers are practically an essential. But they’re also perfect for people who have health issues or find it difficult to get around. There are many different manufacturers to choose from. And there are loads of suppliers who provide Schluter, Honda, and John Deere mower parts to keep them running.

[Photo courtesy of SeppVei/wikipedia.org]

Easybloom Plant Sensor

If you’re just starting out with gardening, a great tool is the Easybloom plant sensor. This little device looks a bit like a stake. All you have to do is push it into the ground and leave it in your garden for a few days. During that time, it’ll collect lots of data about the environment. It will measure the amount of sunlight and moisture in that part of the garden.

[Photo courtesy of Alvesgaspar/wikipedia.org]

You can then upload all those data onto your PC via USB. Once you’ve got the data, you can then go to the Easybloom website to find out what plants are suitable for those conditions. In other words, get science to tell you what to plant!

Gardening Apron

Perhaps the most useful tool in your arsenal is the gardening apron. This is usually a little apron you can wear around your middle to store all your tools and whatever else you might need. It’s a great timesaver because it stops all those trips back and forth across the garden to collect various implements. Now you can take your trowel, pruners, seeds and camera wherever you go.

A garden is often our sanctuary. It’s our own little bit of private outside space in a world so full of people. It’s somewhere you can relax on your own, or share with friends when you are entertaining. It can bring joy when you see things you have planted flourish and grow. It may be a space where you read, write or paint. Or perhaps it’s where your children play in the fresh air. It’s important to put as much care into your garden as you do into the interior of your home. Below are some tips on how to make your garden a sanctuary for all seasons.

[Photo courtesy of Torsten Dettlaff/pexels.com]

Lighting

No matter how small or large your garden you’ll need a few different lighting options. In the summer you can bask in the glory of natural daylight and blissful summer sun. But as dusk falls you’ll still want to enjoy that outside space. Illuminate your garden with some elegant outdoor solar lighting. Solar lights work by generating daylight as their energy source and then storing that power until night falls. You’ll then be blessed with warm light until the sun rises again. You can buy solar wall lights, lanterns and stake lights to create all different styles in your garden. They are great if you are entertaining outside in the evening and are also useful if you have pets that need to be let outside at night. If you have decking, you may want to install lighting into the foot of the decking for a glamorous look in your garden. You can also consider LED lighting for the prettiest of twinkling white lights. While you are designing your garden also think about whether you want to install a security light too. Your aim is to create an enchanting ambience in your garden through the power of lighting.

[Photo courtesy of Pezibear/pixabay.com]

Chiminea

While your garden is ultimately a peaceful refuge, there may also be times that you want to entertain. Having friends over for barbeques and outdoor get togethers is a great way to get back to nature. Having a pretty chiminea in your garden works well both in the summer and winter. Check out this great guide on how to buy chiminea. A chiminea is not only a super heat source but also a delightful focal point for your garden. They add glowing embers and ambience and create much-needed warmth as night falls on your garden. The word chiminea originates from the Spanish word for chimney. Not only are they used to be aesthetically pleasing in your garden, but they are also wonderful for cooking! If you buy a cast-iron chiminea, you will be able to cook pizzas, bake bread and sizzle up steaks and chops. Adding a chiminea to your garden is the perfect accessory for the ultimate in outdoor dining.

Flowers and Plants

You’ll also want to add colour and texture to your garden by planting flowers and shrubs. Before you start planting why not read my post on how to keep bugs at bay. Your choice of flowers and plants will be dependent on the season. For summer choose easy, colourful flowers such as Aster, Gloriosa Daisy and Dahlias. Make your garden a vivid sanctuary of beautiful blooms. You can also use plants and flowers to create much-needed shade in the summer. In the winter choose plants such as Winter Aconite, Heavenly Bamboo and Red-Barked Dogwood. Think about the colours you want to create. Greens and reds look magical in the winter and yellows and pinks look beautiful in the summer.

[Photo courtesy of Unsplash/pixabay.com]

Now all that’s left to do is bask in your blissful outside sanctuary, no matter what the season.