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Show Friday, July 19, 1996 Yard-Art Connoisseurs Jockey for Position And Brighten BYABE AAMIDOR Put your Picassos out to pas- ture. When the cows come home at night, they're likely to be black BY JUDITH HAMPSON and white painted plywood bo- Patio furniture is reaching the seasonal markdown stage, and it might just be time to take a look around the deck — is it time to replace the Yes, you maycall it junque. But to more than just a few home owners, a pink flamingo outdoor furniture? What's “in” this year? In exterior design, the classics have made a and a painted jockey made of plaster of Paris are true objets strong comeback. Adironceck chairs and Eng: dart. lish-style benches are popular, along with ornate Most yard-art connoisseurs employ familiar themes. In addition to those pretty pink flamingos planted in the ground on wire struts, you'll find concrete lions that weigh hundreds of pounds, geese that never fly south for the patio sets. Choices in the casual market continue to grow, continually widening the price spread of outdoor furniture. A well-designed chair that can sing in the rain and smile at the sun can set you back as little as $5 — or as much as $509. Here are some buying considerations: @ Field-test for comfort. Don't be afraid of being labeled a couch-potato in the store. Whether you're selecting inexpensive resin chairs or top- winter and even an eternal Dutch boy and girl tenderly touching on a little wooden bridge. Then there'sthis all-time favor- of-the line cast aluminum, the proportions of ite — Grandma deeply bending over, displaying her big, polka- seating units are important. Higher backs, wider arm rests and plumpcushions cost more, but are worthwhile in the long run whenyouwantto bask dot behindforall the world to see. Wayne L. Hornaday of Indianapolis has a wooden Grandma, aiong with those Dutch children, ture will have smoother, less obvious welds. Strap seating units and wooden furniture should preventpitting. When selecting a glass-topped @ Movethe furniture around. Can tots tip the in each category — wroughtiron, resin or alumi- num — more weight generally signals higher Raby’s Greenery has been selling cast animals in Indianapolis for years, said Bobby Raby. “It's for gardens, it’s for turned her brick house and cornér lot into a stage — she had a f@male mannequin diver posed on her balcony last year. This year she has a large Bugs Bunnydoll agd a lithe female mannequin pesed around a cafe table, com- plastic buckets,” Engelbreit says, adding that she’s always on the lookout for weathered baskets, leave thick cushions musty and mildew-prone. chipped pitchers and other containers that have seen better days. Clay pots can be turned into ta- rics, When there’s a pool nearby, and you want quick-drying characteristics and cooi comfort, select cushions that feature an open-weave construction. Yarn or solution-dyed fibers, which are often woven into geometric or jacquard patterns, are the most fade-resistant. ble bases and bird baths. Turn one pot upside down. Nest several more ontopofit like a stack of lamp shades. Then glue a large clay saucer on top. Fill the saucer with water and wait for the birds. flowers and a large stone with SAVE UPTO 50% OFF THE SUGGESTED RETAI PRICE ON SELECTED NAMEBRAND ONE-OF-A-KIND, AS-IS TV SETS. VCR AND AUDIO EQUIPMENT! boo SOBQa ods LCRamee eal Neighborhood children often stop to look at the brightly decorated yard, which is mostly the to take snapshots of the unusual sdene, she says. Once, a passerby “Theybetter not stea!it,” Estes said, “But I haven't had a prob- lem.” Jim Poe of Indianapolis was so peeved when thievestook off with his yard jockey, though, that he set its successor in 3 cubic feet of cement, complete with thick metal rods to anchorit. This red and white jockey is never getting out of the gate. “If you can take that, buddy, you can haveit,” said Poe, a retired factory worker. This Old House’ Takes a Look Outside BY NANCYL. ROSS THE WASHINGTON POST “This Old House magazine, a spin-off of the long-running pub- lie-television program of the same name, appeals primarily to men. Sé when the publication introdyced a gardening section in the July/August issue, it included a story on howto drive a mini-bulldozer along with one on breeding petunias. Like the TV show starring the rénovation team of Norm Abram and Steve Thomas, the magazine focuses mainlyon the adaptation of old structures to modernliving. Nowjust overa year old, the magazine has a readership that is 70 percent male, with 2 median age of 42 and incomeof $65,000, ac- cording to editor-in-chief Stephen shrubbery around seating areas. JVC aii Oeod ‘Technics a Oeeae ce sciisnnnaeles0 TST iOAet\ OleCU eeew adae [elt Petranek. Old House In the Garden.” The section inciudes advice from Russell Morash, 63, executive pro- ducer and director of the TV show and an avid gardenerfor 40 years, Articles emphasize the process of landscaping — building walls, breaking paths and sculpting bor- ders rather than where to plant flowers, according to Petranek “We aim to empower people by giving them knowledgeof howit’s supposed to be done, even though most readers are not going to doit themselves,” he says. Just in case, the magazine includes instructive pull-out post- SAVE UP TO50%. OFF THE SUGGESTED RETAIL PRICE ON SELECT CASRN SezehOMACCOM AMC ee a aS a ers, ‘irst... » of grilling enjoyment! Check out ited lifetimee: Over 30 energy efficie e from. DUCANE OFFER # Heo ca SEAR.GRIDE fore guests arrive. But be on the attack throughout the summer. Replace rotting deck slats and eliminate pools of standing water. After a storm, pourout the rainwater collected in flower-pot saucers and minimize bug-attracting When a survey showed that 68 percent of readers garden regularly, the magazine added “This Buy Your Last Natural Gas Grill ni suitable renelient 15 minutes be- & ELECTRONIC a pots, large and smallartificial handiwork of Hobbs. The uawritten rule is “Look, don't touch.” rage sales, and calls her current display of beer bottles a “recycling effort.” To keep mosquitoes and other bugs at bay, light citronella candies and spray the area with a ON SELECTED NAME BRAND AND ONES.OF-A-KIND AS-IS APPLIANCE Nathaniel Hobbs, have a pair of pink flamingos stuck in their yard, along with two geese flower- akreative outlet for me.” ‘People often stop by her home ‘Deborah buys her mannequins for $65 and up at a local antique form can hold potato salad, with a shovel as a server.” OFF ed RETAIL PRICE... them.” Brenda Estes and her fiancé, PRICES ARE VALID THROUGH JULY 23rd OR WHILE SUPPLIES LAST! store. She finds costumes at ga- cubes,” she says. “A sand-castle tomer’s address can be a bear. er homes. vered. ° ‘Some people do gardens. Idethis,” she said. small sand molds to make ice Bird baths are the bestsellers, their trim street of neatlittle old- reportsher diving mannequin was stolenlatelast year. ‘Undaunted, Deborah perse- wards, A theme party is a festive way to christen a refurbished but everyone asks about the lions, said Raby, who acknowledged moving the bigger lions to a cus- It may be the sunniest spot on tqok the scene itself — Deborah of sin cal th ha houses,it’s for businesses,” said year,” said mannequin demon ornot. It’s just er tifs. Another simple idea is to partially fill a small clay pot with sand and set a candle in it. Use Raby. “It's for cemetery plots, it’s for receptions.” “We | use a doliy and muscle power,” c haby said. #8 “We get ‘em up because we're afraid to drop olin. BY DESIGN nded ie « = models Deen ) NEw PRODUCT IS ARRIVING DAILY, ALTHOUGH QUANTITIES ARE LIMITED, MAHY ARE ONES-OF-A-KIND, SO HURRY IN FOR BEST SELECTION. Au MERCHANDISE IS SOLD IN AS-IS CONDITION, ELECTRONIC AND APPUANCE ITEMS THAT ARE SOLD IN AS-iS CONDITION COME WITH THE FACTORY OPTIONS AND ACCESSORIES SHOWN AT TIME OF PURCHASE { WITH FACTORY WARRANTY WHERE APPLICABLE.) BRING YOUR TRUCK, VAN OR TRAILER, AT THESE PRICES DELIVERY IS NOT INCLUDED! ELECTRONIC AND APPLIANCE ITEMS THAT ARE SOLD IN AS-IS CONDITION COME WITH THE FACTORY OPTIONS AND ACCESSORIES SHOWN AT TIME OF PURCHASE. (WITH FACTORY WARRANTY WHERE APPLICABLE) Mondey:‘Soturday CLEARANCE OUTLET unroy $e Heblo Espa! AT THESE PRICES OnLvENYNortne, 5 STORE HOURS! ots eeieBORG 3300 sif wi stripes and flowers and other mo- Deborah Durham,a spokesman for Johnson’s, suggests a beach theme usingplastic sand toys as “You can plant a flower in virtually anything, including kids’ perfect fabric that can be left outdoors yearround. If the sun makes you warm and sunny,it will probably fade the pretty floral chintz cushions on the porch wicker set. A rainy spell can no them in bright acrylics, with serving dishes. “Fill a pail with punch and use their street address painted onit. asked that her last name not be uged.“I don’t knowif it was the giuing the bases Poet sary. Engelbreit likes to paint the découpaged images should last for several seasons,” she says. fete.with spilled beer bottles as ptop: “Tye been doing this about a Deborah, 41, who Tims to create a hexagon. Repeat tles littering a front yard as art, not vandalism. The Dyers also have a carousel horseon their front porch, a small race car mountedontop of their garage and lots of other stuff. You canseeit all just south of But the tall, patriotic statue is the piece d’resistance. The torch even lights up at night. “It makes mefeel good when I walk out and seeit,” said Mary Dyer. “Whenyou drive by, you almost have to stop.” One indianapolis woman has and set it on top, a = Nowthere’s a twist — beer bot- husband, It cost $1,500. historic U.S. 40 in Greenfield, Ind. aed a it ihsand or ballast. Turn pot upside down serwith several coats of varnish, Those with no landto till should not despair. quality. Lookfor easy-care fabrics. Alas, there is no tance? Vinyl-coated polyester and acrylic fab- powder-coating, where a talclike resin finish is can’t draw can use stencils or buy oak sheets from a crafts table? Will chair legs easily get stuck in patio stones? Can chairs be stacked for storage? With- The most durable process for metals that might fused to the metal surface, producing a high- further gilds the lily. Those who table, makesure the glass is tempered for safety and durability. What materials offer the most weather-resis- holes inseveral large clay pots of equal size. Set one pet upright Decorating with naive motifs such as checkerboards, cherries, Scottie dogs, sunflowers and the cottages that are her trademark hibitors to help plastic components resist fading. Ane seals the surface of aluminum,to help wipe clean in a jiffy prevail in casual furnishings. gloss, weather-resistant plastic skin. and white. piece fresh and new-icoking? Look for U-¥ in- the occasional bird or two, and otherwise rust? An industrial techniquecalled Colors she likes are bright pink, yellow, bright blue, deep green andrivets. @ Readthe labels. Whatfeatures will keep the lots more in the front yard ofhis home. “It sets your house apart when you do stuff,” said Horna- In metals, look for even, blemish-free finishes, weather the elements. be assembled with unobtrusive galvanized screws in the sun. WCheck out the finish. Glossy surfaces that day.“It's like somebodyreallives here.” @ Continued from E-1 @ Examine the joinery. High-end metal furni- GANNETT NEWS SERVICE vines out near the mailbox. Frank and Mary Dyer have had a 14-foot-tall Statue of Liberty dominating their front lawn since last year; Mary bought it at a store in Louisville, Ky., as a gift for her Your Back Yard Pull Up a Seat Before You Pull Out Your Wailet KNIGHT-RIDDER NEWS SERVICE Fora table base,fill the drain Get Out ~ ‘Yhe Salt Lake Imbune MUME & #ASILY HOME eae |