McClatchy Newspapers

FRESNO, Calif. -- Visalia isn't the first place you would think of if someone said "tropical paradise." Then again, you haven't seen Michael and Victoria Brady's backyard.

Tall palms, rocks and boulders surround a swimming pool that includes water cascading down rocks. There's a grass-covered tiki hut, as well as a fake volcano with smoke bellowing from the top of the waterfall; red lights simulate the glow of lava.

"We had them put in a smoke machine," says Brady, a 60-year-old retired co-owner of a software development company. "It looks impressive at night. There are no actual flames (with the volcano). We didn't think that would be safe."

Positioned among the landscape are about 12 tikis, including some with eyes that glow bright orange. The pool also has fiber-optic lighting that changes colors, from dark blue to green to magenta.

When Michael Brady knows company is coming, he likes to bring out the five or six bamboo tiki torches and light them for maximum effect.

"You've got to have open flames," Brady says. "It adds to the whole tropical feel of the place. It just wouldn't be the same without some open flames, and the tiki torches provide that."

As the weather warms and people spend more time outside during the evening hours, outdoor lighting can provide guidance along paths. While many fixtures are lit with electricity or solar panels, there are others that have real flames and can give yards a different atmosphere.

TORCHES AND LANTERNS

When it comes to outdoor lighting that flickers with real flames, there are basically two styles: torches or lanterns. But the choices in those two areas are growing.

Torches made out of bamboo, such as the tiki ones, typically consist of bamboo baskets made of woven bamboo strips attached to a bamboo pole. Inside the baskets are either metal or plastic canisters of torch oil. Metal caps, with wicks sticking out of them, cover the canisters. Snuffer caps to safely extinguish flames also may be attached. A few bamboo torches also use candles instead of an oil canister.

Tiki brand torches, which are sold widely in stores, are available in more than 200 varieities, says Jennifer Grosshandler, the senior marketing manager of Menomonee Falls, Wis.-based Lamplight Farms, which owns the brand.

Besides bamboo torches about 5 feet tall for yards, there are shorter ones for walkways and tabletops. The differences among many of the bamboo torches are the weavings of the bamboo strips and their color. Most are shades of brown or beige.

"We try to coordinate with the outdoor-living themes out there," she says. "It gives consumers options for decorating outdoors."

Other torches are made of metal and often can be filled with oil. Brady found a black metal torch that has a replaceable propane canister.

Like the bamboo torches, these metal ones also can be staked throughout the yard. However, some come with clamps at the bottom of the poles and can be attached to fences.

The cost of torches, especially bamboo ones, starts at $5 at various stores and home-improvement businesses, depending upon the size.

Lanterns also can be used to light pathways or areas. They're usually all metal, or glass and metal, and they come in various styles. Some look like carriage lanterns that you can hang on hooks, while others look like pagodas for pathways. Candles, such as tealight ones, can be easily slipped inside, while other lanterns may require oil.

You can also find small, decorative metal torches on stands for tabletops, citronella candles in coconut shells, citronella candle torches, and yard stakes with glass-and-metal butterflies and tealight holders.

KEEPING THE FIRE GOING

While you probably could leave the torches and lanterns outdoors all year long, most often just make brief appearances just during special occasions.

With torches, keep the snuffer caps on when they're not in use.

Remove the oil in torches or lanterns when you're done with your party. It can be poured back into the container for replacement fuel.

Check all the parts before you use them, especially with bamboo torches.

Make sure the canister that holds the fuel is in good condition. Metal ones might begin to leak.