Bonus: The canopy also casts a soft, filtered light on the patio, keeping it cooler on hot summer days. Test Garden Tip: Don’t forget plants such as ornamental grasses and quaking aspen that generate sound anytime there’s a breeze. Test Garden Tip: Look for columnar (also called fastigiate) varieties that grow tall but stay narrow to keep them from eating up yard space. Our Favorite Decorative Fence Ideas 19 Flowering Vines That Will Take Your Garden to New Heights...

Unlike many common flowers, the blooms of crossandra are asymmetrical and fairly one-sided. Also, all of the reproductive parts are hidden in the tube of the bloom so they require specific pollinators to create their seeds. The five-petaled blooms are borne on columnar square bloom stalks, which are unique in themselves and add a neat effect when the plants are covered in blooms. Butterflies are very fond of crossandra and can be found visiting them for their delicious nectar....

Kitchen-Friendly Herb Cuban oregano bears a strong menthol or camphor scent that intensifies when the leaves are crushed, so use this powerful seasoning carefully. It is most often used in dishes that include poultry, lamb, beef, and stuffing. Cuban oregano can be used fresh or dried for cooking. How to Care for Cuban Oregano Cuban oregano grows well in part-shade areas like porches, patios, or courtyards that receive a few hours of morning light....

Growing Triandrus Daffodils Grow these daffodils in full sun or part shade and moist, well-drained soil. They tolerate shade and heavy, damp soil better than other daffodils do. Improve poorly drained soil before planting the bulbs, or plant your daffodils in raised beds where you control the soil mixture. Daffodils grow best when surrounded by dry soil in summer, so skip the irrigated landscape beds. Aim for a planting spot that receives at least 6 hours of sun a day—which may include the ground beneath the canopy of deciduous trees....

Trick to Know: Put spray paint to work on highly textured surfaces – it’s the best medium for hard-to-reach areas. Trick to Know: Use smooth, sweeping motions when spraying. Holding the can in one spot for too long can cause drips. Trick to Know: Paint small objects inside an open-top cardboard box. For bigger items, make a spray paint booth using large pieces of cardboard. Trick to Know: Stand back when painting....

Recently, Dot’s announced on their Instagram that they’re officially launching a second flavor of pretzels in 2020. The new flavor is called Dot’s Southwest Style Pretzels, and that’s really all the info we have about their flavor for now. We’re guessing they’ll probably be a little spicier than the original recipe, but we may never know exactly what goes into the coating—they’ve kept their first seasoning a secret for seven years, after all....

½ cup no-calorie, heat-stable granular sugar substitute (Splenda) ⅓ cup unsweetened cocoa powder dash salt ½ cup boiling water ½ teaspoon vanilla

1 tablespoon vegetable oil 1 cup chopped onion (1 large) 1 clove garlic, minced 1 14.5 ounce can fire-roasted diced tomatoes with green chiles ½ teaspoon ground cumin

1 tablespoon vegetable oil ½ cup chopped onion (1 medium) 1 tablespoon bottled minced garlic (6 cloves) Salt 1 14.5 ounce can petite diced tomatoes, undrained ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper 1 28 ounce can red enchilada sauce ¾ cup beef broth or vegetable broth ½ ounce unsweetened chocolate, chopped 1 tablespoon honey

3 tablespoon butter or margarine 2 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder 2 tablespoon milk 1 ½ cup powdered sugar, sifted ½ teaspoon vanilla Peanut Butter Brownies: Prepare Five-Way Fudge Brownies as directed. For frosting, in a medium mixing bowl beat 1/4 cup peanut butter until fluffy. Gradually add 1 cup sifted powdered sugar, beating well. Beat in 1/4 cup milk and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Gradually beat in about 1/2 cup additional sifted powdered sugar until the frosting is easy to spread....

Choose Seating with Staying Power First and foremost, make sure there is enough comfy seating available to encourage friends and family to kick back, relax, and linger after hours. Cozy furniture that feels like it belongs indoors, such as a pair of armchairs and a sofa (like this five-piece Better Homes & Gardens set, $1,396, Walmart), gives off a family room aura and can be arranged in a semi-circle to keep the conversation flowing....

⅓ cup olive oil ⅓ cup cider vinegar 1 tablespoon snipped fresh cilantro 1 teaspoon sugar 1 teaspoon coarse-grain brown mustard ¼ teaspoon salt ⅛ teaspoon black pepper Sweet Pepper Salsa 1 medium green sweet pepper, seeded and finely chopped ¼ cup finely chopped, peeled jicama 2 tablespoon finely chopped red onion 1 tablespoon snipped fresh cilantro 1 ½ teaspoon red wine vinegar ½ fresh serrano chile pepper, seeded and chopped ⅛ teaspoon salt

ASPARAGUS RIBBONS Thin asparagus ribbons are easy to cut using a sharp vegetable peeler on thick asparagus spears. Trim the asparagus, then lay it flat on a work surface. Beginning from the stem or bottom end, peel toward the tips. Either take care to avoid snapping off the tender tips with the peeler, or deliberately break off the tips to toss in the salad with the ribbons. Tips Cover and refrigerate any remaining dressing....