This week at Patio: EP Henry demo tonight; really cool firepit

More great stuff is happening at Patio in the next few weeks. For starters, it's not too late to register for tonight's EP Henry paver installation seminar. In coming weeks we have more seminars on container gardening (more information below), rain barrels, and our wood-fired pizza oven. Otherwise, we're in full-swing for the outdoor living season.

Hatteras Hammocks

A fun new product for us this year is Hatteras Hammocks. Featuring hammocks in cotton rope, synthetic Duracord, or quilted fabric, Hatteras offers the ultimate in outdoor relaxation. Don't have the right place to hang a hammock? We stock several hammock stands, including the Roman Arc stand shown above, winner of the Casual Furniture Industry's Design Excellence Award.

Hammock prices start at $139.

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof premieres tonight at the Fulton

One of Lancaster's greatest assets is the Fulton Theatre. The Fulton has earned a reputation for local productions that rival what you see onstage in New York City. Tonight's opening for Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Tennessee Williams' classic drama, should be no exception. Runs through May 9.

Container Gardening Seminar

Next Thursday, April 29, we're happy to have Van Binkley from Tudbinks return for a container gardening seminar. This will be the first in a series of seminars Van will present this year demonstrating how to have stunning planters at your home through all seasons. If you're not familiar with Tudbinks, you can see their work throughout Downtown Lancaster, including Binn's Park and the Lancaster Marriott, or visit their greenhouse in Conestoga. Van's experience combined with his dry wit makes for an informative and entertaining presentation. Go here to register.

Power Packs Project

According to the Center on Hunger and Poverty "Hungry children have a hard time learning in school, have short attention spans and, suffer more absence due to illness." A local organization, the Power Packs Project, is striving to improve the mental and physical health of local children by helping their parents provide nutritious meals over weekends when the school breakfast and lunch programs are unavailable to them.

The goal of the program is to empower the participating families to better use their food dollars and assure their children are well-fed and ready to learn at school. Each week a recipe for a low-cost meal and the ingredients to make it is provided in addition to staples like peanut butter and cereal. Volunteer opportunities are available each week to assemble the packs, and of course PPP could benefit from contributions. Learn more at their website or on their Facebook page

Loferno, pretty much the coolest firepit we've seen

With warm sunny days, but chillier nights, this is the time of year our customers start asking about firepits. We have several to choose from, but the coolest one is probably the Loferno. Its patented firetower design provides more warmth from the same amount of wood and an exciting visual display of flame dancing through the decorative openings. And with all parts made of at least 1/4" steel, this firepit is built to last. The best line from the manufacturer's website: "We would claim these will last 100 years easily, but our lawyers say we shouldn't."