There are so many new outdoor products available to enhance decks, gardens and landscapes that I created a second part to my May 3 column to include more of these novel items.
Shelmerdine's has a remarkable collection of innovative fountains and objets d'art by Massarelli and Henri that will impress the most impassive viewer.
Young Emperor is a four-foot-high, free-standing concrete sculpture of a Roman emperor such as Julius Caesar. Placed boldly in the middle of a yard or positioned discretely in a garden, this intriguing work is worth the $475 investment. Yuxin Fan, a nine-year-old visiting Winnipeg with her parents from Tang Shan, China, was enamoured of the piece when she saw it recently in Shelmerdine's showroom.
Chad Labbe, the garden centre's co-owner, said concrete fountains that resemble decaying logs are a big seller this year.
"When placed in a garden, it's difficult to discern these pieces from the real thing," said Labbe, noting LED lighting and bubblers can be added to every fountain. All come with a one-year warranty, including the pump.
He said people who appreciate contemporary work are drawn to the Equilibria Fountain, a series of balls set in skewed bowls that create a visually fascinating waterfall that shifts from one side of the fountain to the other as it descends from the top. Available in about 12 colours (as are all the fountains), the piece retails for $1,650 and a $200 delivery and setup charge.
Traditionalists tend to like pieces such as the Tranquillity Spill fountain, a series of bowls that graduate in size from the smallest at the top to the largest at the bottom. Two birds perch in the uppermost bowl, from which water trickles down through a series of notches cut into the rims of the basins.
"I'd say 80 to 90 per cent of our customers choose to have fountains set up and delivered, because they can weigh up to 1,000 pounds (454 kilograms) and require three to four people to move them," Labbe said.
He said the service includes a three-quarter-inch-down foundation covered with patio stone, as well as a test run to ensure the pump and lights (if purchased) all work properly.
Deliveries beyond the Perimeter Highway are subject to a surcharge negotiable at the time of purchase, according to a Shelmerdine employee.
One of my favourite fountains was Shimmering Stones, a tall urn with pebbles embedded around the circumference. It was seated in a large, circular base into which the water descends as it runs over the stones ($925, plus $150 delivery).
For those who have a circular driveway and want to make a strong visual statement or just keep strangers at bay, Shelmerdine's King of the Beasts concrete statue is an ideal choice. The lion sculpture sits majestically atop a square pedestal, each weighing 454 kg, with a combined height of more than 2.5 metres.
"Spot or LED lights are available to further enhance this formidable figure," said Labbe, adding the piece could also be discretely placed among trees, shrubs or tall flowers ($3,500, plus negotiable delivery and installation).
Fountains and other stone objects by Massarrelli and Henri featured in catalogues can be special-ordered. Delivery time depends on how long it takes for Shelmerdine to put together a large enough order to cover freight costs.
J&D Penner on McGillivray Boulevard has a unique selection of outdoor items for the kids (fathers included) in the family.
Take a look at their colourful, two-tiered playhouse that sits on a trunk-like base with an opening leading to the interior. A blue house with a red roof surrounded by green foliage has two windows and two openings that lead to an exterior platform.
"This custom-made playhouse also has a climber and a slide to go with it," said Jonathan Penner, recreational consultant at J&D Penner.
He said anyone with an idea for a kid's house can bring a simple sketch to the factory attached to the back of the main J&D Penner building on McGillivray.
"We'll work with them to create almost anything imaginable," said Penner, adding single-tier structures are less costly.
The playhouses are made of marine-grade plywood and lumber trusses that are sprayed with Styrofoam to create the skin for walls and roofs and add features such as tree bark, foliage and other unique touches.
The completed structures are sprayed with polyurethane hardcoat to preserve the Styrofoam, then painted with exterior-grade house paint.
Penner was reluctant to put a price on custom-made pieces because of the number of design variables involved.
"Let's say for a single-tier castle, you're looking at $3,000 to $5,000," he said.
Another item with a lot of kid appeal is a brightly coloured play area composed of a special rubber product resistant to oxidation, UV rays and ozone and is impermeable to water.
"We use the sheet material to create large, undulating outdoor mats that dry quickly after a rainstorm and offer a non-slip, yet forgiving surface that young ones love to play on," Penner said.
The mats can be made to almost any size and include any combination of colours. The undulations are formed using clusters of rubber chips recycled from vehicle tires.
"The foundation can be three-quarter-inch-down, asphalt or concrete," said Penner, adding the cost for a fully completed play mat is from $18 to $22 per square foot.
For the father-child in the family who would like to have a putting green or no-cut lawn at home, Penner said his company sells a product called Easy Turf, a synthetic grass made of fibres or yarn and tufted or quilted into a special permeable backing material.
"It's very similar to the artificial turf used in football stadiums," he said.
For about $11 a square foot, the synthetic grass can be fashioned into putting greens with slopes and three to four holes that are excellent practice surfaces for golfers. (Father's Day is in June.)
"It is also a viable material for creating mini-golf courses," said Penner, who is working on new designs.
Another use for the versatile turf is dog runs and pet-relief areas in homes, buildings and airports, as it doesn't absorb odours and can be cleaned with a little water and soap.
If you are an admirer of the moai stone statues on Easter Island, you might consider purchasing a Rapanui concrete face (Rapanui is the name of the people who created the original sculptures), a replica of the grim-countenanced moai statues. Retailing at J&D Penner for about $315 each, they will certainly spark conversation at outdoor or any other gatherings.
Yet another item sold by Penner that will add a touch of class to a yard is the Oasis patio kit that consists of sierra grey or buff paver stones arranged in an attractive circle for about $925. Accessories include a concrete Brunello bench for $358, a circular stone fire pit available in four colours for $206 and a stone seat wall for $256.
