2013 garden furniture at IKEA

Well they keep promising that spring is round the corner but thén it snows again and we're back to winter, however the air seems softer somehow, the light more luminous, the sky less grey.  I popped my head out of the window to dead-head the primroses in the window boxes and I swear I could smell spring in the air, although it may have been the big viburnum bush coming into flower next to the window, whatever it was, it sure smelled good!

IKEA are well ahead of the game.  My local store has erected a substantial marquee just to house their garden furniture range, which is pretty wide this year with some old favourites and some new, interesting additions, and all it those IKEA prices.  I know some people who are really snobby about their garden furniture and would never consider it for their terrace.  I think they are wrong not to,at least, consider IKEA .  The pieces I have are still robust and attractive after 10 years and I like their design and innovation.  And by the way, some other makes of garden furniture are really overpriced for what they are.

Anyway I'll get off my soapbox and show you my photos of the new collection:-

These are a bit of a Fermob Luxembourg chair-like but at this price, nowhere near the expenditure..  Love the turquoise, very vivid in a green space.

 Firery orange

 

Modern black with matching table

Deckchairs, sun chairs and sun loungers at reasonable prices

Solar powered llights

Like this lacy, retro shaped chair

Handy trunk for  poolside

Elegant white and wood table

Paper lanterns that are also solar powered, very clever

A stylish hammock for lazy days,if you have the space

Loved this insprired display, very bohemian

Plants for a Green Winter 2012 at IKEA

From time to time the gardening department in IKEA has some really interesting and cheap pots.  Their actual plant stocks tend to be limited to indoor plants, which are also extremely reasonably priced and usually very healthy too, however, their stock of outdoor plants is sporadic.  They always seem to have new ideas in terms of containers and plants to go with them, so I think it's great that this might inspire people who aren't so confident with their gardening skills to put some green into their lives!

It was with great pleasure, though, during a recent visit,  that I discovered some excellent winter plants in stock at great prices (I guess IKEA are so large they can buy in humungous quantities and thus keep the prices down).

Cute little conifers at less than 5 Euros for 3 plants.  I'm using mine in winter windowboxes

Jolly curvy colourful metal containers in all shapes and sizes with serrated edges like pie crusts (or tartelettes au fraises here in France) to cheer up the house or the white for a touch of elegance.  Good for inside or outside

Christman Cactii in pretty colours

I thought these inside heart shaped cactii were really cute and would make a welcom present

A fantastic collection of small cyclamen in jewel colours.  Perfect to cheer up winter pots or winter windowboxes.  Make sure they don't dry out though otherwise they will shrivel up and die.  You might think because it's not hot, that plants don't need watering but in fact, the wind is a drying factor too, so keep an eye out.  There's less rain than we think!  Cyclamens look great if they are numerous and planted together or to fill in little gaps in an arrnagement or pot or corner of the garden.

Here's a new thing from IKEA that allows you to display your plants.  The pots can be inclined or up straight making a more interesting display.  I like this but I think there is perhaps something slightly wrong with the proportion of the pots and the structure, I wanted the pots to be larger but maybe with hanging or bushy plants it will look very effective.  Sorry didn't manage to remember the price, around 30 Euros I think...

Meilland sur vente privee.com 24 - 27 April

http://fr.vente-privee.com/vp4/_sales/MRICHARDIER5/bufi/FR_BKVN3A7F27/ikDirId1538380.aspx

Lots of roses for sale

Sia spring flowers

Pretty pink, purple and white Sia flowers arrangements in my local florist.

3 for 2 pots at Carrefour!

If you buy 2 ceramic pots in Carrefour you get the third the same FREE!  I took advantage and purchased those rather nifty looking green ones.  I liked the purple ones, particularly the shape - they have the same in a biscuit/pale sand colour too. 

And good news is that the pots were only 19 Euros each to start with.  Go go go...

New Garden Furniture Truffaut

Dropped into Truffaut to check out the new garden furniture.  Here's some highlights:

Really beautiful marble mosaic table 145 Euros.  Large rectangular version available also.

'Mito' extending table  in metal. 1590 Euros in three colours - white, bronze or old iron.

'Syd' table in metal. 415 Euros.

Relaxing rocking chair for peaceful moments

I loved this huge recycled wooden teak table with metal legsand this sturdy bench.  Interesting planter detail on the bench but I'm not too sure about sitting on a bush at the table!  Maybe better with a 'standard' tree in it.  Bench 'Brighton' double 349 Euros.  Table seats up to 8 people.  Table 759 Euros.

Further detail of the table

Really unusual set in distressed, recycled, multicoloured wood from an old boat, with a grey metail frame.  I like this very much.  Table 219 Euros and chairs 99 Euros each.  Table seats up to four people.

Modern shiny table

Traditional teak table with very unusual inset detail where an extension to the table is inserted.  Very sturdy.  Truffaut claim that all the wood they use is FSC certified.  'Harmony' table 999 Euros.

Herringbone detail on teak 'Brighton' table 499 Euros.  Seats up to 6 people.

For those who prefer the dark lounge style for a verandah or covered lounge area in textured resin.  Armchair 99 Euros.  Sofa 199 Euros.

I hear from Maison France 5 that it is increasingly trendy to use garden furniture  inside and vice versa;  The garden really is becoming like the outside room with furniture that is worthy and not out of  place in your lounge.  Long gone are the days of white plastic bucket like chairs that crack and fester in the garden in winter and cause sweaty thighs and bottoms in the summer!  Even the plastic furniture is looking a bit more sturdy and stylish these days in a huge range of colours too.

Living pictures or miniature living walls

Well here's an unusual idea for those who want a living wall inside but want something manageable and not too large.  It's a very different take on potted plants and for a small flat, it adds some greenery on the wall without taking any floor space away.  I'd imagine this would be a nice idea for a gift too, instead of a bunch of flowers.  The larger frames are fairly pricey but the smaller ones are about the price of a bouquet - the small red one is 27 Euros.  For sale in Truffaut.

 

 

There was also an upside down pot.  I couldn't see how it worked but I think I'd just be too scared that the plant would fall out onto the floor spilling soil everywhere to have one of these in my home, or that the water woudl drip down as the plant was watered,
although it is very unusual