As water conservation becomes increasingly important, many homeowners are turning to drought-tolerant landscaping to save…
There’s nothing quite like a bouquet of roses, whether you’re presenting someone with a romantic gift or simply want to enjoy them in your home. Creating a rose bouquet involves much more than simply gathering a bunch of blooms! There are a few secrets to creating the perfect bouquet. First, we tend to be partial…
If you would enjoy a garden full of flamboyant blooms with a tropical look, canna lilies might be an excellent choice for you. These perennial flowers are available in a variety of different colors, and they sport large paddle-shaped leaves. The plant itself is lovely, and would make a terrific addition to your landscaping even…
Talk to any foodie or experienced cook about their favorite herbs, and basil is sure to receive an honorable mention. Basil is highly versatile, adding a delicious flavor to an enormous variety of dishes. But one reason basil is so useful is that there are so many different types of it! You might be planning…
More and more people are growing their own food at home, due to concerns over food safety and freshness. Plus, growing vegetable crops is a fun and valuable skill to learn! However, growing vegetable crops can also be overwhelming for the beginner. What if you invest time and energy into a crop that doesn’t produce…
Commercial plant growers have always used greenhouses because they needed a controlled and protected environment to raise flowers and food crops. This allowed them to continue production year-round, no matter the weather or region. Recently, though, you might have noticed small greenhouses popping up in your neighbors’ backyards. You might be wondering why so many…
For just about any home improvement project that you can imagine, it would be simple enough to head to your nearest hardware or landscaping supply store. There, you will find everything you need to complete your project, but sometimes it’s more fun to create unique touches for your home and yard. You can personalize them,…
If you’re building a new home, or just purchased a fixer-upper, you might be facing some big decisions about your yard. It can be tempting to go the “simple” route, put down a carpet of grass, add a few of your favorite shrubs, and be done with the whole thing. But you won’t achieve a…
So, you must cut down that old, sickly tree, or perhaps, you’ve lost one due to a storm. Whatever the reason, you might find yourself wondering if there is anything you can do with the stump and leftover logs. There are plenty of creative ways to recycle parts of your fallen tree. Make planters. Depending…
Rose bushes provide a beautiful accent to your landscaping, and you will enjoy their lovely aroma throughout the blooming seasons. Some gardeners enjoy cutting roses and bringing them indoors to create floral arrangements throughout the home, while others press the blooms and use them in craft projects. But there’s another terrific way to use your…
Who doesn’t love a refreshing cocktail after a long day at work? For some people, a sipping a favorite cocktail while lounging on the porch is a great way to unwind. For others, experimenting and creating new cocktail recipes is practically an art form! For amateur mixologists, pricey herbs can be an obstacle to the…
Do you how plants imbue a room with the feeling of life, and yet you don’t consider yourself the greatest gardener? For those of you who want to cultivate a few indoor plants, but have neither the time nor know-how to keep them healthy, an air plant garden might be the perfect solution. An air…
For gardeners who enjoy a touch of whimsical nostalgia, a fairy garden is the ideal project. If you have kids, they might also get in on the fun. You might even find yourselves watching the garden on balmy summer nights, hoping to get a glimpse of a magical little visitor. It’s all make-believe, of course,…
One of the greatest things about living in Southern California is the amount of time we get to spend outdoors! With mild seasons and a sunny climate, most of us could be spending some time outside almost every day. We know, of course, it’s even more fun when you can bring a few comforts of…
Have you made a salad lately? Most likely, you pulled a container of week-old greens from your refrigerator, added a few more vegetables, some dressing, and perhaps nuts or cheese. A salad can be a healthy, well-balanced, and delicious meal. But many people say they feel bored with salads, that it’s difficult to keep greens…
The holidays are approaching, and with them come decorations galore! You’ve probably been seeing holiday décor in stores for weeks now, and poinsettia plants are on sale everywhere. Poinsettias are popular at this time of year, because their brightly colored red (or sometimes white) leaves provide a splash of festive color during the winter. The…