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South Bay Accent - Jun/Jul 2015

June/July 2015 7 Alluring Insects Luminous Blooms M ost gardeners enjoy their flowers during the daytime. Stephen Kitras’ solar garden globes allow people to relish in floral blossoms at night, too. Crafted from 100 percent recycled glass, the Canadian artist’s hand-blown spheres shine brightest when it’s dark. Just like real flowers, the vibrant glass blooms require sunlight to make them flourish. But unlike Mother Nature’s buds, Kitras’ petals need a solar-powered lightbulb to make them glow. The bulb, which is located inside the globe, g e t s i t s powe r from a small solar panel mounted on the stake. It takes roughly eight hours to fully charge and remains illuminated for six to 10 hours at night. The cheerful globes make a great way to line a pathway or can be used as solo decorations on a patio or in the garden. To add a burst of nighttime color to your life, visit Uncommongoods.com to find the unique lawn decorations for $42. n F or the early part of his life, artist Christopher Marley abhorred bugs. It wasn’t until he became a young adult traveling internationally for work that he began to appreciate them. Over time, his interest in insects turned to profound fascination, and he began incorporating them into his design work. Today, real arthropods are a central focus of his striking designs. To obtain the insects, Marley or his trusted collector guides visit the far corners of the earth seeking out beautiful and rare species; employing the local guides helps preserve the insects’ natural habitats from clear-cutting and development. Once back in the U.S., Marley painstakingly cleans the arthropods and arranges them into brilliant patterns such as the “Sumptuosa Prism,” which is composed primarily of butterflies, damselflies, lady bugs and a variety of beetles. The “Sumptuosa Prism,” priced at $3,125, and Marley’s other stunning creations are available at Pheromonegallery.com. Lawn Robot D on’t have time to mow the lawn? Husqvarna’s Automower 220 AC can do it for you. For more than 20 years, the Swedish company has been making robotic mowers. Its latest model is appealing for a number of reasons that traditional lawnmowers aren’t: It’s small, eco-friendly, waterproof and silent. Once programmed, the Automower does its thing—cutting the lawn at a human-determined time and returning to its charger when needed. A unique blade system ensures that grass is evenly mowed and doesn’t leave noticeable stripes. Hills and lumpy terrain are not a problem for the rugged little robot, which can handle grades up to 45 percent. It’s electrically powered, so it doesn’t produce harmful emissions, and it even works well in the rain. Because it’s virtually silent (it makes a slight whirring sound) the mower can be used at night. As if all that isn’t enough, the Automower features an anti-theft system that renders it useless if someone tries to steal it. Visit Husqvarna.com to find dealers. $2,399.95. TOP: PHOTO COURTESY OF PHEROMONE BY CHRISTOPHER MARLEY


South Bay Accent - Jun/Jul 2015
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