Latest Home & Family Articles

Hydroponic gardening may aid food supply

Sunday, January 29, 2012

I grew up in NASA’s Apollo years from 1961-72, when space-age technology yielded such essentials as memory foam, smoke detectors and water filters. The agency …

Succulents for the rest of us

Sunday, January 22, 2012

High in the mountains of Europe, conditions are typical for succulent plants: lean, gravelly soils, wind, intense sunlight and long periods without rainfall. In this …

Think like a designer when rotating crops

Sunday, January 15, 2012

When you shop from catalogs, it’s easy to just click and buy. But when it comes to seed catalogs, there’s a lot more to the …

Plan ahead with seed catalogs

Sunday, January 8, 2012

It pays to plan ahead. This was painfully evident last year when I discovered retailers pricing 1-gallon potted organic tomatoes at more than $7 apiece …

Feed birds in winter to guarantee a show

Saturday, December 31, 2011

Not all birds fly south for the winter. Some hardy souls tough out the cold, gray months, making them a bit brighter for the rest …

Orchids can survive holidays with TLC

Sunday, December 25, 2011

I appreciate orchids most in winter, when a large spray of bright flowers chases away the doldrums. They make such wonderful holiday gifts because their …

Gift ideas for the gardener on your list

By JOE LAMP’L Scripps Howard News Service | Sunday, December 18, 2011

I was recently asked to name my must-have garden gift ideas for the holiday season. I hadn’t thought of this topic for years, so I …

Design a garden that rocks

Sunday, December 11, 2011

It’s said that the great gardens of Japan owe their timeless beauty to the genius of garden masters who truly understood how to work with …

Find new roles for old fountains

Sunday, December 4, 2011

Perhaps it’s time to turn that cracked old fountain or birdbath in your yard into a planter. The first time I saw this kind of …

Natural decorations for the holidays

Sunday, November 27, 2011

When holidays, a sluggish economy and green living collide in a perfect storm, of sorts, it’s time to seriously consider that old standby: natural decorations. …

Mulch makes for better gardening

Sunday, July 3, 2011

Mulch works miracles in the summer garden. Mulch for vegetable gardens is simply organic matter spread on top of the soil around plants. It works …

Kids, pets don’t have to mean losing your look

By TERRI SAPIENZA The Washington Post | Tuesday, November 10, 2009

It all started when Liz Levin’s daughter was learning to stand on her own. As the D.C. designer watched her toddler, Julia, seek support from …

Divide and conquer a large yard

Sunday, June 26, 2011

New homeowners can feel lost when confronted with a large yard. If money were no problem, you’d hire a designer to create a basic site …

Get the house (somewhat) clean in just 10 minutes

By MEGAN K. SCOTT The Associated Press | Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Who says you need to spend an entire Saturday cleaning the house? If you can spare 10 minutes once or twice a day, you can …

How to help baby fruit trees thrive

Sunday, June 19, 2011

So, you got all fired up and planted baby fruit trees in the yard. Now what? A million American dads are saying the same thing …

When traveling, make time to check out garden ideas

By HENRY HOMEYER | Tuesday, November 10, 2009

I love to travel. I love the new vistas, architecture, foods, plants and gardens. I love talking to gardeners and learning how they grow things …

In rough times, need for help even greater

Monday, November 9, 2009

It’s overwhelming. There are hundreds and hundreds of people in our community who, for the first time in their lives, don’t have the money to …

Children can help with flu prevention

By BETSY TAYLOR The Associated Press | Friday, November 6, 2009

ST. LOUIS – Mention swine flu to a young child, and odds are pretty good you’ll get a blank stare. But an increasing number of …

The unnecessary cost of lawns

Sunday, November 1, 2009

The official count is 130 golf courses in and around Palm Springs, Calif. Every fall, the grass on these greens is forced into early dormancy …

Hunt Community Knitters’ needles in need of fresh supply of yarn

Sunday, October 25, 2009

Yarns from baby blues, pinks and yellows may turn into blankets for wee gals and fellows. Chocolate browns, beiges and tans may reappear as scarves, …

Grow oaks straight from acorns

Sunday, October 18, 2009

In California, the acorn was central to virtually every American Indian tribe as their primary source of food. Produced by the many native species of …

Naturally ‘green’ ideas for Christmas

Sunday, December 13, 2009

More than a century ago, somewhere on the American Great Plains, an immigrant family sat huddled in their sod home as the snow fell outside. …

Growing delectable winter greens

Sunday, November 22, 2009

In states with mild climates, a garden doesn’t go to bed for the winter, it simply changes character. By Thanksgiving, the beds and borders are …