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Country Lifehome garden Several years ago, Michael and Lillie Axel- rod decided they wanted to redo the outdoor space of their Sandy Springs, Ga., home. They had the deck removed and added a screened-in porch. The next step was to call their go-to interior designer for help. ATLANTA (MCT) — Allegro Interiors came up with a plan to create a functional yet contempo- rary-styled outdoor space where the Axelrods could gather with family and friends. "We had a vague idea of what we wanted to do," said Michael Axel- rod, a business consultant and retired attorney. "But we needed help executing that vision." Using a variety of materials to create a styl- ish, livable space, Miles selected porcelain tile for the floor, a stained con- crete top for the dining table and dining chairs made of brushed lac- quered aluminum. She also coordinated the Sun- brella fabrics for the sofas and chairs with the other accessories, includ- ing wall sconces and ceil- ing fans. Susan E. Miles of & Bring your interior design outdoors MCT photo Moving the indoors out is a continuing trend in home decor. Custom- made furniture and a retractable awning are featured in this design. ous sources, including the HPBA, plus Atlanta- area Allegro Interiors, Kolo Collection and AuthenTeak. TIPS The Axelrods were pleased with their new room. But they aren't alone in wanting to extend the comfort and luxury of their homes to the great outdoors. The growing "leisure lifestyle" industry is now a $6.2 billion industry in the United States, up 5.4 percent from 10 years ago, according to the Hearth, Patio and Barbe- cue Association, a trade group in Virginia. Outdoor spaces, such as decks, patios and porches, can add value to a home. But they take some planning, too. To create a space that is right for you, consider these tips and trends from vari- and how you will use the outdoor space (cooking, relaxing, entertaining) before you shop for fur- niture and accessories. • Allow the outdoor space to be a natural extension of your home's interior design. • Determine the size clean. It also resists mildew and fading. • Consider canvas awnings and umbrellas — or shades to control sun. • Research products online and check prod- ucts at discount and home stores, plus spe- cialty outdoor retailers. Sit on couches and chairs to determine comfort. • Make sure furnish- ings complement the exterior of the house as well as the outside trim, stucco or brick colors. • Select furniture frames made of brushed aluminum, cast alu- minum, solid wrought iron or weather-resistant wicker. • Use worry-free fab- rics, such as Sunbrella, for your upholstered pieces. The fabric dries quickly and is easy to • Families might pre- fer bench seating because one bench can seat sever- al children. Benches also are more economical than individual chairs. • Choose rugs made from acrylic or olefin. They are easy to care for and resist fading. room over a few years to accommodate your wish list if you are on a bud- get. During the first year, install the hearth prod- ucts and define grilling and eating areas. TRENDS • Outdoor fireplaces, • Create an outdoor water features and grills (and outdoor kitchens) provide natural gathering spots and can be hand- some focal points for an outdoor area. • Larger decks and multiple conversation areas are popular. • Sophisticated light- ing, such as sconces, chandeliers and lamps, help create a mood and allow you to spend more time outdoors. • Decorative low-volt- age lighting, wired into the deck steps and posts or along pathways, adds an element of safety. • Draperies made from indoor-outdoor fabrics attached to stone or wood columns create a sense of intimacy . Try dahlias for an • Gray is a popular color group in outdoor furniture and fabrics in 2012, but browns are still in demand. abundance of blossoms (MCT) — There's something delightful about dahlias. Once considered flamboyant by the "prim and proper," dahlias are roaring back into favor, capturing the hearts of gardeners of all levels. Their many colors — yellow, purple, burgundy, pink, white, pink and blends — provide style and color to a late-season garden. And, while people love them, you'll be happy to • Colorful accessories and fun patterns, such as rugs and outdoor pillows (Elaine Smith pillows are top choices). • Families with young children are using newer outdoor fabrics on their indoor furniture. RESOURCES www.allegrointeri- ordesign.com; www.authenteak.com; www.ballarddesigns.com ; www.colonial-light- ing.com; www.fanima- tion.com; www.front- gate.com; www.gar- denista.com; www .hpba.or g; www.kolocollection.com ; www.vikingrange.com Intensia phlox stunning all season long (MCT) — On more than one occasion I have been guilty of warning gardeners the perils of being out phloxed by their neigh- bors. If this happens the neighbors will certainly have the most daz- zling landscapes in the neighbor- hood. Should you feel that this dan- ger is creeping upon you and your flower border, then-remember the variety Intensia. Saturday, July 14, 2012 – Daily News 3B varieties and 15 mixed color combinations, includ- ing flower types ranging from cactus to dinner plate, ball, mignon, decorative, anemone and waterlily. www.brentandbeckysbulbs.com or toll free 877- 661-2852 — you'll also find about 45 types of dahlias. In Gloucester, Va., Brent and Becky's Bulbs — more flowers you cut and give away, the more flow- ers the dahlia produces for you, according to Brent and Becky Heath. Hans agrees. flowers over a bloom season that can span eight to 10 weeks," he says. "Planted in clusters, dahlias produce hundreds of "Plus, you can cut them for the vase all you want without depleting your garden." Dahlias grow best in warm soil, according to Hans. Plant them out once garden soil warms to 70 degrees Fahrenheit and the threat of frost is long gone. To get a jump on the season, plant them earlier in containers or indoor start-up pots, where soil is more readily warmed. Before planting the bulbs, which are technically called tubers, take a moment to admire them, Hans suggests. Some will be plump, looking like smallish sweet potatoes. The Intensia phlox has certainly put the fun of growing color back into the everyday garden. The series has been out for a while but is still the one that others aspire to. Each day on the way to work I pass by a glorious bed of Intensia Blueberry. When this one hit the trial circuit a couple of years ago it captured numerous awards from Wisconsin to Florida and Oregon to Illinois. My experience is that all of the Intensia phlox bloom virtually all summer. With a little deadheading In August I have had them simply amazing gardeners into October. This is most rare for a phlox of any species. There are eight colors in the series with other favorites Cabernet and Neon Pink. They will reach around 15 inches tall and as wide. Spring is really the preferred time to plant. To be honest if I saw some healthy 6-inch containers at the garden center I would give them a try no matter where I lived. Select a site with fertile, well-drained soil giving them plenty of sun for best blooming. Even though those close to my home have been troopers in full sun and temperatures off the charts, they are certainly tolerant of a little afternoon shade or filtered light. After planting, apply a good layer of mulch to conserve moisture and deter weed competition. This is not a phlox for wet feet so don't over water. Others will be loosely-dangling clusters of elon- gated tuberous-digits. Dahlias prefer full sun but can handle partial shade. Position the bulbs approximately three to six inches deep, with the short neck positioned an inch or two beneath the soil surface. Watering in when planting is advisable. Once growing, water them regularly whenever summer rainfall is sparse. For a bushier plant and abundant blooms, nip off the center bud once a plant reaches a foot or so in height. Dahlias are truly the "love flower" because the know that deer don't seem to. "Dahlias are robust plants that deliver big color in all shades," says Hans Langeveld of www.long- field-gardens.com, a new online retail resource for bulbs and perennials, in a press release. Longfield's dahlia offering features 43 different MCT photo The Intensia Blueberry phlox makes for a dazzling complementary companion with the brilliant yellow gold mimulus. The Intensia series is low main- tenance, requiring no deadheading. In our Mississippi State trials, we gave them a light trimming in late summer to have them at their peak performance for our annual October Fall Flower and Garden Fest. Like many other phlox the Intensia does have a wonderful fragrance and will do its part in feeding nectar-hungry bees and butterflies. you have a lot of choices when it comes to companion plantings. The landscape I drive by everyday has them partnered with yellow gold mimulus. The mimulus, also called monkeyflower, has also surprised me in surviving the 106 tempera- tures. The combination makes for an incredible complementary color scheme. Because of their rugged nature The past few years some of the prettiest partnerships I have seen have been with pink selections like Intensia Neon Pink, Victoria Blue salvia and Diamond Frost euphor- bia. Each flower was totally differ- ent not just from color but from shape and texture which made the combination even more striking. By all means, include them in your mixed containers as well. They aren't quite tall enough for the thriller plant but will be unbeatable in the filler role. They also excel in mixed hanging baskets. The Intensia is not your grand- mother's phlox but innovative breeding has no doubt incorporated the best traits of her favorite vari- eties and has given us the outstand- ing Intensia series. I hope you give it a try. Add support for taller varieties early in the sea- son as, by fall, the plants will be large and heavy. Simple metal supports, plant rings, wooden stakes or tomato cages are all excellent solutions for man- aging the sprawl of tall dahlias. Once growing, hot, humid, even horrid, summers typically won't slow down these plants, which are native to Mexico and South America, says Hans. Just keep the old blossoms cut or picked off and they keep "going and going" like the "Energizer bunny," say the Heaths. Dahlias do best in late spring and early summer, and again in fall. In warmer areas (USDA zones 8-10) dahlias over winter where planted. In colder climates, remove the bulbs in early fall and cut off any foliage and flowers; wrap each bulb in newspaper and store them in a cool, dark, non-freezing place until time to plant them in the garden again. Oh Snap! The Daily News wants your photos: Cute kids, Adorable pets, Inspirational sights, Any shot you think readers would enjoy You might just see it in the Daily News Send pictures to editor@redbluffdailynews.com or drop off at 545 Diamond Ave. in Red Bluff. Include a caption.