Great garden and yard finds

Isn't it satisfying to find a new item that you have never seen on anyone else's patio and then use it when your friends stop by for a barbecue or fire pit conversation?

Maybe your new item adds to the fun, makes your hosting easier, makes your outdoor space more spectacular or just hides the unattractive "junk," but is definitely a plus.

Fire pit/cooker

Northwest Metalcraft in Arlington Heights suggests investing in a fire pit that doubles as a cooker.

Made by the Plain Jane Fire Pit Collection in the United Kingdom, this attractive and easily movable fire pit has a bowl attached to a three-legged base. It also has a built-in swing arm - part grill, part flat griddle - that can be carefully lifted off after cooking to allow you to enjoy the warmth of the fire pit late into the evening.

What could be more perfect on a summer's night or for staying warm and roasting marshmallows on a winter's afternoon than this fabulous outdoor fire pit? It is handcrafted in the United Kingdom and can be used as a stand-alone fire pit or coupled with a range of specially designed accessories including grills, cooking tripods and accessories for outdoor grilling and cooking.

The swing arm is fully removable by simply lifting it off after cooking, allowing you to enjoy the warmth, light and atmosphere of your fire pit late into the evening.

It can be seen at Northwest Metalcraft, 413 S. Arlington Heights Road, Arlington Heights.

Gas fire bowl

Lurveys Garden Center in Des Plaines is enamored with the Prism Hardscapes Moderno II Gas Fire Bowl, which is handcrafted with a custom patina finishing process, making this fire pit a one-of-a-kind creation. Being constructed of glass fiber reinforced cement provides added durability for years of use. It is the perfect match for your outdoor decor.

It provides your outdoor retreat with warmth and ambience and can be just what you need to complete your outdoor living space. It is available in six different colors.

The Moderno II can be seen at Lurveys Garden Center, 2550 E. Dempster St., Des Plaines.

ESPN College Gameday XL Ladder Toss game

Blain's Farm and Fleet loves the ESPN College Gameday XL Ladder Toss, which they say is fun for any occasion, from waiting for the big game to start at your tailgate, to enjoying a sunny barbecue. It comes with six bolos, three in each color, so two people can play and the game has built-in scoring to make it easy to keep track of who is winning.

Assembly is fast and easy and requires no tools, so you can start playing quickly and take it apart for space-efficient storage.

The game is simple to learn and easy enough for virtually anyone, from the very young to the elderly, to enjoy together. It helps promote an interest in outside play so you and your family can have more fun outdoors. The unit's steel pole is strong enough to stay in good condition through years of use.

Blain's Farm and Fleet carries this popular game at 629 S. Randall Road in Elgin or at 451 S. Weber Road, Romeoville. You can also check it out online at www.farmandfleet.com.

Cooler station with cabinet on wheels

What could make your hosting easier than having a tall, wheeled cooler with a 72-can capacity, a towel bar, an accessories basket and even storage cabinet for storing cups and other supplies? There's also an interior shelf that folds away when not needed in this unique cooler sold at Blain's Farm and Fleet stores.

Suncast makes this 77-quart resin wicker cooler, which easily wipes clean and moves around on four casters. It holds six, 2-liter bottles or 72 cans and when the party's over, just wipe away spills and use the included drainage tube to remove all liquid without inverting the whole unit.

So ditch the unglamorous cooler and serve beverages from this one at your next get-together. With a style and dark brown color that complements just about any patio set, this cooler knows how to blend in and play it cool.

"We had a few family barbecues this summer with kids and grandkids, and used our Suncast resin patio cooler to store canned beverages and ice," a commenter wrote on the Blain's Farm and Fleet website. "The cooler not only kept the items cold throughout the entire barbecue, but the leftover beverages stayed cold for two days after that. Main storage area is nice and deep so it holds quite a lot of beverages, as well as a sufficient amount of ice."

This product can be found at local Blain's stores and online at www.farmandfleet.com.

Self-watering flower pots and hanging baskets

Lurveys allows customers to make sure that their beautiful flowers, plants and bushes don't wither and die once they get them home by pre-planting some items in Lechuza self-watering pots and hanging baskets and also selling the pots and baskets empty so gardeners may fill them with their own unique planting designs.

Made in Germany, the pots come with an integrated subirrigation system, as well as a wide variety of designs and looks. The Lechuza irrigation system ensures that plants always have access to just the right amount of water. From the water reservoir, plants can absorb the perfect amount of nutrients and moisture for healthy growth. The built-in water level indicator reliably shows when the water reservoir needs to be refilled. Made out of durable, light, high-quality plastic, the planters are very adaptable and flexible.

Check these out at Lurveys Garden Center, 2550 E Dempster St., Des Plaines.

Collapsible watering can

Lurveys also understands that water can be a pain when you're camping, traveling, watering flowers or even hosting a barbecue. To get enough of it, you either have to go back and forth to a water source with a small carrier or use something much bigger. Both are impractical. So, instead, they offer a colorful and collapsible water carrier that holds more than eight quarts of water at a time and collapses for easy storage.

The 3-in-1 Watering Can, Water Dispenser and Bucket, made by Colapz, a British firm, is perfect for all your water toting. It's made from food-grade material, so it is safe for drinking; and is UV resistant, keeping it from drying out or fading in summer. It's also frost-proof.

The watering can comes with a dispensing tap, cap for the bucket and a three-piece attachment to allow it to be used as a watering can. All the components can be stored in the removable lid, ensuring that nothing gets lost in transit, and it even has a water level indicator. The bucket also has a reinforced handle that makes it easy to carry, along with a silicone strap that helps to keep it compressed when the unit is being stored.

You can find this unique item at Lurveys Garden Center in Des Plaines.

Stowaway resin shed

When storage is an issue, consider the Suncast Stow-Away Resin Horizontal Shed, available through Farm and Fleet. Measuring 3 feet 8 inches deep and 5 feet 11 inches wide, it fits in places other sheds can't but can still handle everything from garden rakes to golf clubs. It can even hold two 96-gallon garbage containers and there is a ramp for easy wheeling in and out.

Rain or shine, this shed is designed to ensure your belongings or other outdoor lawn items stay dry and safe, no matter what the season. It features double wall resin construction ensuring it is built to last for years to come.

Homeowners can access the stored items by opening the latching/lockable doors or the lid, which ensures all of your outdoor furniture or lawn items are locked away, securely and safely, when not in use. The unit's versatile natural coloring looks good next to nearly any part of the lawn or patio, or on its own, bringing organization to your outdoor entertaining area.

It is sold at local Blain's Farm and Fleet stories and online at www.farmandfleet.com.