Made Us Look: Bright Geometric Gem Planters

1. Boxwood Hedges

Perfectly sculpted boxwood hedges offer privacy and give a sense of poshness to a garden. However, maintaining them requires frequent pruning, they're prone to pests like boxwood blight, and trimming services can add up quickly. Instead, look for low-maintenance hedges like viburnum, common box, and cherry laurel.

2. Koi Ponds

A serene koi pond with a water feature requires constant upkeep — regular water testing, filtration maintenance, and fish care (including specialized diets, temp control, and vet care!).

3. Rose Gardens

Traditional rose gardens are lovely when maintained properly but they require constant attention. They need proper pruning, fertilizing, pest control, and are prone to disease. Roses are highly susceptible to black spot, powdery mildew, and aphids, making them a pretty demanding plant. I gave up my roses for drought-tolerant plants and olive trees in my California garden.

4. Cobblestone or Brick Pathways

Over time, moss and weeds grow between the stones and brick, creating slippery surfaces and requiring frequent cleaning. Frost heaving and settling can create uneven surfaces here too, which can be costly to repair. Gravel and mulch are low-budget options that can still look great and don't require a lot of upkeep in the garden.

5. Topiaries

Shaping plants into whimsical topiaries is not for the faint of heart — or wallet. These sculpted plants demand expert trimming, precise watering, and protection from harsh weather. Hiring a professional topiarist can be an ongoing and expensive commitment for more elaborate topiaries, like animal shapes and other artistic sculpting.

6. Traditional Fountains

A grand fountain can be the focal point of a traditional backyard, but keeping it in pristine condition requires frequent cleaning, water treatment, and pump maintenance. Algae buildup, clogged filters, and winter freezing can all lead to costly repairs and upkeep.

7. Ornate Ironwork

Iron is prone to rust, meaning you'll need to endure frequent sanding, priming, and repainting to keep them looking polished and pristine, which can get tiresome over time.

8. Massive Lawns

I replaced an uncomfortable, and frankly ugly, rock lawn with a small grass lawn for my kiddo and dog to enjoy and my water bill quadrupled! A sprawling, perfectly green lawn is a major water guzzler. Keeping it lush requires constant mowing, fertilizing, aeration, and irrigation. Consider more mulch and gravel than grass.

9. Gazebos or Pergolas

Maintaining wooden structures like gazebos means regular staining, sealing, and repairs to prevent weather-related wear and tear. If made from natural wood, they’re especially vulnerable to rot, termites, and warping. Look for more weather-resistant protection or plant more shade trees.

10. Plastic Edging

Plastic and gardens don't make an ideal match. Plastic edging may seem like a quick fix, but it's often frustrating to install, prone to shifting over time, and can lead to weed crossover and untidy borders. While affordable upfront, its short lifespan makes it a poor long-term investment. Opt for sustainable alternatives that not only last but also prevent microplastics from contaminating your soil.

Castello Teak 3-Piece Sofa + Coffee Table

This stunning cushioned set comes complete with one long sofa, an individual seat, and a coffee table so everyone can gather 'round. You can also shop it in three other colors so you get the perfect fit for your space.

Ventura 7-Piece Combo Dining Set

Everyone will have a seat at the table with this luxe dining set. It seats 6 total and ensures the utmost comfort with breezy PVC slings to sit on and weather-tested materials to last you years and years.

Stainless Steel Gas Patio Heater

Chilly nights are no match for this patio heater. Heating up to 250 square feet with gas power, having this tower on your patio or in your backyard means you don't ever have to sacrifice comfort to get outside. Our fave feature is the built-in wheels that make rearranging easy!

Farmhouse 3-Piece Sofa + Coffee Table

This farmhouse-style soft + coffee table set is just oozing comfort and class. Made of durable recycled high-density polyethylene, this set gives the look of painted wood without all the maintenance of painting or staining. All the while, this set resists any food and beverage stains it may come across.

South Beach Chaise Lounge

Who doesn't love a good chaise? This adjustable and stackable lounge chair is fitted with a breathable material suitable for all seasons. It'll be your BFF for springtime outdoor reading sessions, summer afternoons spent tanning, and scorching-hot pool days.

Terrafab Faux Stone Gas Fire Pit

For cooler temps, fire up your very own fire pit! This piece takes the hard work out of starting a fire so you can expedite your way to total comfort. It comes ready with a durable PVC cover and lava rocks for a fun, real feel.

Chateau 3-Piece Bistro Set + Table

This adorable set just whisked us away to the whimsical terraces of Paris! If you're looking to make a magical escape out of your outdoor space, this trio will be perfect. The cast aluminum is lightweight, making any rearranging you want to do super simple. The circular bistro table is even fitted with an umbrella hole that's compatible with any of Fortunoff Backyard Store's umbrella models.

Sonoma Husk 7-Piece Outdoor Dining Set + Table

This 7-piece set is ideal if you wish to seat larger groups for outdoor brunches, lunches, dinners, and more! Each piece is expertly constructed to withstand weathering and UV rays so it looks just as great as they day you bought it. We love that the chairs are also easily stackable for off-season storage!

Tivoli 5-Piece Swivel Bar Set

If a high-top is where your heart lies, you've gotta check out this 5-piece set. It's one of Fortunoff Backyard Store's sturdiest, thanks to the heavyweight sand cast aluminum frame. Decorative by nature, you'll adore just looking at this set just as much as you adore sitting in it!

Espresso Wicker Gas Patio Heater

Delivering even heat with a cylindrical design, this patio heater does it all in style with a sleek wicker tank cover and pyrex glass chamber for visual effect.

Tulum 3-Piece Sofa

Prepped and ready with a one-seater, two-seater, and three-seater, everyone at your family gathering or friend-filled party will be able to enjoy the plush cushions on this sofa set! You can snag it in this calming blue hue or opt for a more neutral tan color.

San Lucas 3-Piece Cuddle Beds Contour Sectional

As a cozy hybrid between a chair and a bed, this sectional is perfect for daytime naps or lounging out by the pool on a summer afternoon. The cushions are resistant to UV rays, fading, mold, mildew, and stains, so they'll always look super stunning.

Essentially an iced white chocolate mocha made with blonde espresso topped with matcha cold foam and brown butter sprinkles, one Starbucks barista revealeda tasty (and festive!) new way to enjoy the chain’s offerings in lieu of St Paddy’s: the Pot Of Gold!

The spirited drink starts with 4 pumps of white mocha sauce, which is then combined with 2 blonde espresso shots. Starbucks’ blonde espresso has a smoother effect than their traditional shots, so expect this sip to bring on the sweetness!

From there, you can order the drink with your choice of milk – and it’s a total bonus that Starbucks is no longer charging extra for alternative milks like oat, almond, coconut, and soy milk!

The next step is to order the drink with the chain’s vanilla cold foam, adding 2 scoops of matcha powder in the process.

Note: this secret menu item was shared before Starbucks reformulated their matcha powderto be unsweetened, but the cold foam should still have some sweetness, thanks to the vanilla.

Finally, the Pot Of Gold matcha drink is complete, boasting a satisfying layer of green on top of a golden latte. The barista who came up with the drink topped their bev with Starbucks’ brown butter sprinkles, which is in cafes for a limited time alongside their pistachio-flavored coffees.

If your local Starbucks is out of the brown butter sprinkles, a dusting of cinnamon or chocolate curls could also be so tasty!

With this secret menu hack, you’ll be sipping your way through a delightful sweetness and plenty of caffeine from both the matcha powder and espresso shots. If you prefer to have less jitters in your drink, you could easily order it ‘half-caff’ or with decaf espresso shots.

For quick reference, here’s how to order the Pot Of Gold drink. Ask for:

• A grande iced latte
• With 2 blonde espresso shots (or your preference for ‘half-caff’ or decaf)
• With your choice of milk
• Topped with Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Foam with 2 scoops of matcha powder
• Add brown butter topping

And voila! This drink is such a fun way to ring in St. Patrick’s Day. If you’re craving an iced blended beverage, I also tracked down some pretty delicious-looking secret menu drinks for a Lucky Leprechaun Frappuccino and a Pot Of Gold Frappuccino.

Check ‘em out – and happy St. Paddy’s!