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| Photo Credit: Donna W. Moramarco |
| Who needs Hawaii when you can lounge pondside in your own backyard tropical retreat?! |
Some chilly winter’s day, when the wind is particularly harsh and the sun is buried deep in the clouds, take a moment and picture this: You’re reclining amid colorful, fragrant blooms as dappled sunlight drips down between the spindly leaves of lush, green palms. You can almost hear the sea breeze as you sip from your refreshingly exotic drink (complete with umbrella, please). Only you’re not on some tropical beach – it’s your own backyard paradise!
Yes, it’s all too easy to hear the call of the tropics during the blustery days of winter, but you don’t have to board an airplane to get there. With a little planning and some digging in the dirt, that paradise is only as far away as the first warm days of the year. “Planning” is the key word in taking your first step toward realizing your tropical backyard getaway. Grab your notebook and a pencil and have a look at your back yard. Now let your imagination run wild. Think about the space you want to devote to your own personal oasis. Will it take up the entire yard, or should you choose a special spot – a quiet corner, perhaps? You only need a rough sketch of the area to efficiently plan your space. Next, think about your focal point – and I’m talking furniture here. Every good getaway has a place to relax, right? So think about how you’ll be most comfortable in your tropical retreat. Maybe what you need is a pair of weathered Adirondack chairs or a couple of brightly colored, cushioned lounge chairs with a small table in between (for putting down that half-finished romance novel while you snooze). Do you eat al fresco with the family all summer long? Then maybe you need a cozy outdoor dining table and chairs. Whatever you choose as your focal point, it should be something that evokes the tropics for you.
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