The fragrant flowers on the hop tree attract pollinators, including bees and butterflies, and it is a food source for caterpillars of the giant swallowtail butterfly. Become a backyard bartender by using your hop tree to brew beer! Hop Tree Care Must-Knows Hop tree is adaptable, growing easily in a variety of soil types—including slow-draining clay and fast-draining sandy loam—but it does best in moist soil with plenty of organic matter....

How to Cook Salmon in the Oven Use these methods before starting any baked salmon recipe even if you’re baking fish without a recipe. Step 1: Prep Salmon Fresh or frozen, here are some prep tips to follow in order to make a perfect oven-roasted salmon. Thawing: If salmon is frozen, allow enough time for it to thaw, covered, in the refrigerator. For faster thawing, transfer salmon to a resealable plastic bag and submerge in cold water....

More Easy Ways to Boost Curb Appeal What You Need Tape measure1×4 cedar boards1×6 cedar boards1×2 cedar boardsCompound miter sawHammer drillKreg K4 Master System1 1/4-inch coarse Kreg screwsHand sander and 120-grit sandpaperBrad nailerPaintable caulkOil-base primerExterior paintMasonry bit3/16×1 3/4-inch masonry screwsLevel Step 1: Measure and Cut Gather materials. Measure the height and width of your window. For a classic look, the shutter width should be about half the window width. (We used one 1×4 and two 1×6s to make a 14 1/2-inch-wide shutter for our 28-inch-wide window....

4 Steps to Clarifying Stock Whether you need to know how to clarify beef stock, chicken stock, fish stock, or broth use these directions. You’ll need a colander or sieve, cheesecloth, and egg whites. Be sure to use 100% cotton cheesecloth when clarifying stock. You can find cheesecloth in the kitchen supplies section of most grocery stores or it is available online. Step 1: Strain Stock Strain your stock or broth....

With that said, cast iron’s benefits rely on surfaces retaining their seasoned coating (oil baked into the finish at a high temperature), which depends on specific cleaning methods. The methods aren’t complicated but work best when put into play right after cooking. Use this guide to learn how to clean a skillet, including cast-iron skillets and enameled cast-iron cookware. Before You Clean a Cast-Iron Skillet Seasoned cast-iron skillets should have smooth, shimmering, rust-free surfaces that quickly release cooking foods and post-cooking grime....

Before Getting Started Stoves, especially those with gas stove top burner heads, and other inner working stove parts are intricate and vary greatly from model to model and brand to brand. You’ll want to be well informed on how to clean the stove burners on your specific appliance so you do not damage the burner and cause it to malfunction or become a hazard. Your owner’s manual will be a helpful reference....

The ways to cook artichokes almost outnumber the delicious leaves each artichoke produces! For the unacquainted, we’ll share how to eat artichokes and include some artichoke recipes, plus dish on the best way to grill artichokes and serve stuffed artichokes. How to Cook Artichokes From washing to eating, here’s the step-by-step process. Wash the Artichokes Wash artichokes just before you’re ready to use them. If you wash artichokes before storing, the moisture could cause them to spoil more rapidly....

Decorate for the Season These pumpkin decorations won’t intimidate young trick-or-treaters when walking up to your doorstep for candy. Plus, you don’t need to tear it down as soon as November arrives—white lanterns, hay bales, and muted fall colors will carry you through the entire season! Use this design as inspiration to create a front door Halloween display of your own. Step Up Your Stairway A stairway is prime real estate for outdoor fall decorations....

Most varieties of tomatoes can be frozen. However, plum (roma) tomatoes contain the most pulp and will produce the best results. If you don’t plan to freeze your tomatoes immediately, store them at room temperature. Avoid storing fresh tomatoes in the refrigerator, which can make them lose flavor and become mealy. Test Kitchen Tip: Plan on 1 quart of frozen tomatoes per 2½ to 3½ pounds of fresh tomatoes....

6 Creative Command Center Ideas to Organize Your Family Tight Space Vestibule-style entrances create a problem for storage. Find a table narrow enough to fit within the confines while allowing ample space to open the door. Make sure it’s well stocked with baskets, bins, and buckets to keep your out-the-door goods organized! Better Seating Keep clutter to a minimum in your entryway by storing a stool beneath a console table....

Buy It: Instant Pot Duo ($64, Walmart) Buy It: Lodge Cast-Iron Chicken ($25, Walmart) Buy It: Ninja Air Fryer ($120, Target)

1. Assign Guests Categories of Food This is arguably the most critical potluck party tip. A potluck is inherently fun due to its spontaneous nature. But when planning a complete party, you want a full meal! That means you want to avoid repeated foods or missing food groups. At your next potluck, assign guests categories of food to work with, so you don’t end up with only bags of chips or bakery cookies....

Buy It: Good & Gather Crystallized Ginger ($6, Target)

1. Botanical Vintage Art Curate an assortment of botanical-themed vintage art for a gallery wall inspired by Mother Nature. Start by gathering prints and paintings of flowers, leaves, and other natural elements at flea markets or antique stores. Supplement the display by framing real pressed flowers and dried leaves. Arrange your vintage art above the headboard in your bedroom or a living room sofa. 2. Vintage Art in the Kitchen Vintage art makes ideal wall decor for farmhouse-style kitchens....

Season of Bloom: Spring Growing Conditions: Part to full shade in slightly moist, acidic, well-drained soil Size: Up to 6 feet tall Zones: 4-8 Buy It: Autumn Starburst Encore Azalea Shrub ($24, The Home Depot) Season of Bloom: Spring Growing Conditions: Full sun to part shade in average, medium moisture, well-drained soil Size: Up to 50 feet tall Zones: 7-9 Buy It: Red Beauty Holly Shrub ($35, The Home Depot) Season of Bloom: Fall to winter, or winter to spring, depending on variety Growing Conditions: Part shade in moist, acidic, well-drained soil Size: Up to 12 feet tall Zones: 7-9 Season of Bloom: Seasonal bloomer Growing Conditions: Part shade in well-drained acidic soil Size: Up to 6 feet tall Zones: 8-11 Buy It: Jubilation Gardenia ($15, The Home Depot) Season of Bloom: Summer Growing Conditions: Full sun to part shade in well-drained soil Size: Up to 8 feet tall Zones: 6-9 Buy It: Lemon Lime Nandina ($17, The Home Depot) Season of Bloom: Spring Growing Conditions: Full sun to part shade in acidic, medium moisture, well-drained soil Size: Up to 12 feet tall Zones: 5-8 Buy It: Pieris Mountain Fire Plant ($120, Fast Growing Trees) Season of Bloom: Early spring Growing Conditions: Part to full shade in moist, well-drained soil Size: Up to 10 feet tall Zones: 6-8 Season of Bloom: Late spring Growing Conditions: Full sun in average, medium, well-drained soil Size: Up to 3 feet tall Zones: 4-7 Buy It: Cranberry Cotoneaster Shrub ($32, The Home Depot) Season of Bloom: Late spring to fall Growing Conditions: Part shade in moist, sandy, well-drained soil Size: Up to 3 feet tall Zones: 5-9 Buy It: Daphne ‘Aureomarginata Rosea’ ($46, Jackson & Perkins) Season of Bloom: Spring Growing Conditions: Full sun to part shade in average, medium, well-drained soil Size: Up to 3 feet tall Zones: 5-8 Buy It: Sprinter Boxwood ($14, The Home Depot) Season of Bloom: Late spring Growing Conditions: Full sun to part shade in dry to medium moisture, well-drained soil Size: Up to 18 feet tall Zones: 6-9 Buy It: Mohave Pyracantha (Firethorn) Shrub ($90, Fast Growing Trees) Season of Bloom: Summer Growing Conditions: Full sun to part shade in average, medium moisture, well-drained soil Size: Up to 2 feet tall Zones: 5-8 Buy It: White Album Wintercreeper (Euonymus) Live Shrub ($30, The Home Depot) Season of Bloom: Early spring Growing Conditions: Part to full shade in acidic, medium moisture, well-drained soil Size: Up to 6 feet tall Zones: 4-8 Buy It: Lavender Rhododendron Shrub ($34, The Home Depot) Season of Bloom: Spring Growing Conditions: Full sun to part shade in slightly acidic, medium moisture, well-drained soil Size: Up to 15 feet tall Zones: 9-10 Buy It: Variegated Pittosporum ($36, The Home Depot) Season of Bloom: Summer Growing Conditions: Full sun in light, slightly acidic, dry to medium, well-drained soil Size: Up to 6 feet tall Zones: 8-10 Buy It: Rosemary ($14, The Home Depot)