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By Byron Jonas, January 19, 2010 7:07 pm

Summer is the perfect time of year to get the backyard BBQ season started. Many people wait all year long just for the chance to grill their favorite foods over an open flame and gather family and friends together to enjoy great food and the wonderful, sunny weather. With just a few helpful tips, you can turn your next backyard BBQ into the event of the year.

On the more practical side of things, one thing that must be considered is pest control. Nothing can make an outdoor event more miserable than invasion of ants, mosquitoes or any other unwelcome creatures. Use plastic containers with lids or some form of covering to keep ants away. A good defense against moquitoes is to light a few citronella candles or torches and place them strategically throughout the backyard; this really will help keep them away and prevent your guests from unpleasant bites.

In terms of menu planning, consider first which beverage options you will be offering to your guests. Although the grill might be getting all the attention during the BBQ, having a nice assortment of beverages available will keep your guests happy, especially on those really hot summer days.

If you are expecting wine drinkers, Pinot Grigio and Merlot are two good choices that will likely please most palates. In addition, you may want to offer a few beer selections and maybe even a mixed drink such as margaritas or daiquiris. Using seasonal summer fruits in a drink recipe is always a crowd-pleaser and will make your event that much more festive. Don’t forget to have plenty of non-alcoholic options such as soda or iced tea, and be sure to have diet or sugar-free options on hand as well.

In terms of the main course, keep the grilling items simple; hamburgers, hot dogs and marinated chicken are always a hit. For a more upscale menu, you can add steak or even salmon fillets. Another popular grilling choice is kabobs, which you can make with a variety of ingredients including beef, chicken, lamb, shrimp and a wide variety of vegetables.

As your guests begin to arrive and settle in, make sure to have plenty of snacks available for munching and accompanying that first round of drinks. These in no way need to be anything fancy, in fact a few bowls of chips or pretzels and maybe even a fresh vegetable tray with dip will do the trick. Another BBQ favorite that you might want to consider adding to the spread is sliced watermelon. There is nothing that says summer more than a big juicy bite of perfectly ripe watermelon.

Nothing accompanies a BBQ better than all the delicious traditional side dishes such as coleslaw, potato and macaroni salad and baked beans. Whether you decide to buy them pre-made or make them from scratch, these dishes are a must-have for any successful backyard BBQ.

With a little bit of planning and preparation, you can be sure that your backyard BBQ will be the event of the season. Make the most out of the summer and get started planning your own gathering today.

Byron Jonas invariably uses shade canopies for his backyard barbecues. There is nothing like instant marquees to remove the heat out of the Australian sun.

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By Les Scammell, September 28, 2009 4:21 am

Gardening is a highly satisfying outdoor activity. Physical workout, gardening likewise allows individuals to reap the fruits of their hard work, or just get closer to the natural environment. That is why numerous individuals choose to possess a garden in their home. Each and every garden is different in terms of style, configuration, and use. Gardens with flowers are ideal for people who have a particular attraction for flowers and vegetable gardens are great for individuals who have a passion for the idea of having their own healthy acquire.

Gardening fanciers, who would like to take gardening to the next step, knowing that the enclosure of your garden in a glasshouse is an essential way to produce healthy plants. The trend of constructing nurseries originally began with gardens for the elite. In time, common folks discovered that enclosing plants in disciplined environment really has its benefits, including a longer developing season as well as heartier plants. Nowadays, you as well can make reasonable glasshouses from the start, without using fancy building materials or elaborate engineering. With small amount cleverness and lots of dedication, a robust little greenhouse for your plants is just a few days away.

Before you start putting together the materials; you firstly need to search for a dry spot to make the nursery. The south-east side of your home is the ideal point for glasshouses to permit the plants to receive the first sunrise sunlight. Additionally, search for a spot where the greenhouse is sheltered from severe conditions, such as rough winds and hail. When you have determined the perfect location, choose on what sort of nursery you would like for your back garden. Smaller ones are advisable for backyard gardeners and novice builders.

Low-priced glasshouses can be produced from materials that you can find at the closest ironware shop. The most important of these building materials are schedule forty PVC, treated wood, rebar, fencing panel systems garden staples, also UV-stabilized polyethylene. To make the greenhouse, you will have to create a series of arches of PVC tubing by battening them into the ground using the rebar. Then create a base frame utilizing the treated wood on which you leave. Next, attach the polythene to serve as the cover for the glasshouse.

Builder’s kits are also a choice for low-priced nurseries. They come in many varieties, but a steel-framed greenhouse with polyethylene cover should be simple enough for the beginner. Although metal-framed glasshouses are not as gratifying to the eye as other kinds of glasshouses, they are very long-term and will last long years of storms, storms, and heat waves.

When building reasonable greenhouses, you should as well consider making an investment in a working heating/cooling system for your plants. After all, you are constructing a greenhouse to regulate the environment for your back garden, and 1 of the most important factors to watch out for is outside temperatures. Put In equipment such as thermostats, circulation fans, and energy efficient system. Make certain that they are constantly operating safely. If you have the time, installing your own DIY solar energy panels will help to save the cost of constructing the greenhouse at a minimum.

When you have mastered the basic principles of building backyard nurseries, you can perhaps move on to building larger and more complex ones. Some knowledge in carpentry, combined with time, effort, and perseverance, will make you a master glasshouse builder!

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By les scammell, March 13, 2009 9:14 pm

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