Cool decks

After a long,cooped-upwinter, nearly everyone yearns to be outside.

Intruth,most peopleenjoy being outdoors whenever theweather is nice, which is whypatios and decks are so popular. Addchairs, plus maybe a table and a grill, and these structures becomeoutdoor rooms, expanding our living space.

Mike Lovewell, anowner of Lovewell Fence and Deck in Davenport, sees the popularity of outdoor living spaces in his business, where construction of"low-maintenance decks and railings has grown by leaps and bounds" in the past several years, he said.

Lovewell'sbusiness is one of more than 100 vendors and250 booths/gardensyou can visitnext weekend, March 21-23, during the annual Flower and Garden Show atthe QCCA Expo Center in Rock Island.

Vendors selling everything from landscape services and windowsto tools, gifts and plants will give you ideas for improvement projects.

You also can learn fromMelinda Myers, a nationally known gardening expert, TV/radio host and author, who will talk about low-maintenance lawn and garden care; affordable, eco-friendly landscape makeovers andcreatingcolorful yardsattractive to birds, butterflies and blossoms.

And you can seeblooming FLOWERS.

Pergolas provide shade

In the area of decks, a growing trend is theaddition of pergolas, or slatted roofs, that provide shade,Lovewell said. The roof greatlyincreases the usability of a deck, particularlyif it faces west or south, where summer sunshinecan be especially hot.

"You can use the deckall day," Lovewell said. "The pergola increases its utility two or three times."

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Cool decks