Latest Home & Family Articles

Control backyard flies naturally

Sunday, April 29, 2012

Predator insects are a valuable means of controlling problem pests such as the aphid, which is the prey of the ladybug and praying mantis. Gardeners …

Five factors will help you sow seeds successfully

Sunday, April 22, 2012

Growing plants from seeds sown directly into the soil looks easy, but can be downright frustrating for beginners because there are so many ways a …

Lesson learned from crown rot

Sunday, April 15, 2012

I can count the number of truly major mistakes in my gardening career. There is one great faux pas that I’ll never forget, and I …

Microbes boost plant production

Sunday, April 8, 2012

Organic food gardening always will be about the soil. Natural soil isn’t just mineral grains and organic matter. It contains living microbes such as bacteria, …

Cistus deserves a fresh look by gardeners

Sunday, April 1, 2012

“Ambergris, a waxy secretion formed in the intestines of sperm whales, is one of the most sought-after substances in the world.” This description came from …

Begonias offer world of color

Sunday, March 18, 2012

Haute designers have grabbed tangerine red, eggplant and earth tones to define 2012’s color palette. This combination of richness and warm ocher may be found …

Cultivate good scents with lavender

Sunday, March 11, 2012

It may be the oldest herb in cultivation, its use chronicled in ancient Egyptian texts. Later, it became a staple of ancient Greeks, and then …

Get a shed for yard tools and give your garage a break

Sunday, March 4, 2012

“Only in America do we leave cars worth thousands of dollars in the driveway and put our useless junk in the garage.” Whoever first came …

Torture-tested plants can still come up roses

Sunday, February 19, 2012

When extreme weather descends, as it did last year in Texas, it’s called a “torture test.” While many lament such difficulties, one rose grower claims …

Heirlooms protect world’s food supply

Sunday, February 12, 2012

Tomatoes that ripen all at once on a perfectly sized bush aid in mechanized harvesting, but that’s a short season for fresh picking. Tomatoes that …

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, …

Zucchini picked smaller yields larger crop

Sunday, August 14, 2011

Giant zucchini are the trophy of the nouveau vegetable gardener. These big green squash that reach the diameter of a human leg are awesome to …

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 …

Getting plants through the hot days

Sunday, August 7, 2011

Farmers refer to the hot days of July as “cucumber weather” because it takes high heat to make these plants grow like crazy. But high …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …