Outdoor garden furniture made with basalt fiber (furniture can also be used indoors). The overall appearance is an open-textured, breathable lace-pattern. Basalt is an unusual material for furniture in that it is not only very durable and lightweight, but it also has the power to absorb ultra-violet, radio, and electro-magnetic rays. 

Basalt is the igneous (volcanic) rock formed from the rapid cooling of lava near the earth’s surface. Most of earth’s oceans are lined with basalt, but it is much less commonly found on the continents. 

Chairs by Latvian Designer, Raimonds Cirulis for Maffam Freeform. 

The Geraniums of Cordoba, Spain, above. 

The common geranium becomes extraordinary when planted en masse. Ivy-leaf geraniums (Pelargonium peltatum) grow like vines, up to three feet or more in length, making them an ideal selection for hanging baskets and window boxes. 

Scented geraniums (Pelargonium graveolens) have edible flowers and fragrant leaves, and work well as house plants. Flower production is more modest than the ivy-leaf geraniums, but the soft, fine-textured leaves make up in fragrance for the lack of showy flowers. Choose from rose, lemon, nutmeg, peppermint, or apple-scented geraniums. 

Color-massing geraniums in window boxes or planters for decks and patios is an inexpensive way to add seasonal color to outdoor living spaces. Use large containers so they don’t dry out quickly in the heat of summer, and group them together to make watering easier, and create more of a visual impact. 

Geraniums are heavy feeders. A regular feeding schedule (once a month) will produce an abundance of blooms. Mildly acidic soil is ideal (pH 6.5) for healthy plants. Be sure to water plants first thing in the morning, before the heat sets in, so the roots are well irrigated. Plants weakened by drought are much more susceptible to unwelcome pests and diseases.