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A warm, sunny, autumn day can be gorgeous, refreshing, invigorating, and exciting. It may evoke feelings of nostalgia, as you remember the thrill of finding the perfect Halloween pumpkin on just such a day in your childhood. It may make you adventurous, as it sparks the urge to hike through the woods, reveling in the vibrant colors of the foliage. Indeed, it can conjure many emotions. Unfortunately, however, in many people, it causes twinges of regret, as they gaze wistfully at the glorious day, wishing that they had not put their picnic tables away for the winter.

That's what you're supposed to do, right? It's a tradition. After the end of September, at the latest, all picnics must be tabled until next Memorial Day, because, left outside, exposed to the elements, the old picnic table soon won't have a leg to stand on.

Certainly, that's the way we remember it; but today's picnic tables are a lot sturdier than their predecessors were. Because of some of the improvements in wood treatments, as well as the introduction of many new, synthetic materials, they're incredibly strong. In fact, depending upon the material you choose, and where your picnic table is placed, you may be able to leave it outside all year long. In any case, a properly treated picnic table can last indefinitely.

Western red cedar, one of the most popular woods for picnic tables of old, remains a favorite today, partly because it has natural oils that make it resistant to decay and insects. It is also has properties that make it dimensionally stable, give it a rich, dense texture, and prevent it from warping. Add to that its natural luster and distinct, pleasant aroma, and it's not only a tough wood, but a tough wood to beat, to boot. It can be sealed and stained to maintain its reddish hue, or allowed to weather to a rustic gray.

Treated pine picnic tables, which are also in high demand, are made from top-grade arsenic-free pine that has undergone a process of kiln-drying, before and after a special pressure treatment, to help to prevent decay and minimize warping, checking, and twisting. They can also be sealed and stained, or allowed to weather to gray.

With one of the largest and best selections anywhere, AllPicnicTables.com has picnic tables made from every material imaginable. In addition to cedar and pine, you'll also find stunning oak and teak tables, as well as virtually indestructible vinyl, polywood, thermoplastic-coated steel, aluminum, and fiberglass picnic tables. The metal and synthetic tables are designed to be left outside year-round, without rusting, cracking, warping, or chipping. They are also available in a full spectrum of colors, and many are suited for commercial use.