Gardening is a relaxing and serene hobby that more and more people are getting into—and even becoming obsessed with. Visiting your garden every morning, cup of coffee in hand, and watching your favorite flora develop, bud, and blossom throughout the year is more than just a hobby—it’s an affirmation of the beauty and wonder of nature. Imagine if you could take this serenity and relaxation to another level with the help of one small but significant addition. What if you added your favorite scented soy wax candles to the picture to create the magical garden of your dreams?

Resin wicker is one of those modern inventions that would-be traditionalists can’t help but love. As much as a purist might endeavor to keep their furnishings as authentic and nostalgic as possible, the line is often drawn when the newer version offers so many undeniable advantages.

 First of all, unlike natural wicker which easily rots, cracks, grows mold, or dehydrates, resin wicker can last virtually forever, demanding little more than an occasional hosing-off. That low level of maintenance is a winning quality with people today, most of whom have a lot more to do with their time than repair and care for their outdoor furniture. And nobody ever got a splinter or an unfriendly poke from quality resin wicker the way they commonly do from natural wicker!

We all crave a get-away to a peaceful place where we can forget the hassles and hardships of life. A vacation to the beach or the mountains—whatever your favorite place may be—is ideal, but time off is rare when you work for a living. And traveling is so expensive anyway; road trips in the family car were once the norm, but the exorbitant cost of fuel has taken care of that prospect for anyone who has to stick to a budget.

If you’re like most people who are serious about spiffing up the yard with potted plants, you probably have a gardener’s potting bench on hand. These handy tables provide a place to take care of transplanting and other outdoor chores, and most have shelves as well as hooks or grids for hanging small tools. The benches are usually made of weather-resistant hardwood or synthetic materials so that they can be left outside and will stand up to frequent rinsing from the hose.