Posts

The Best Herbs to Plant Together in Containers and Garden Beds The 7 Best Shrubs to Plant in Containers Give Your Garden a Great Entrance with These Enchanting Ideas 15 of the Easiest Herbs to Grow for Beginners 14 Giant Perennials That Will Make a Big Impact 9 Gorgeous Spring Container Garden Ideas 26 of the Best Hosta Varieties for Your Shade Garden Discover other great hostas. The Best Perennial Vines That Will Take Your Garden to New Heights...

17 Ideas for Better Outdoor Living Spaces Create a Backyard Getaway

Introduce bold personality to your gray color scheme with accent furniture and decor in vibrant tones. In this living room, a dark gray accent wall is lifted by pops of fuchsia, periwinkle, and dusty blue. Metallic gold appears on the coffee table legs, an ornate hanging picture frame, and a side table to brighten the space. This primary bedroom uses a soothing blend of cool grays and warm golden-honey hues....

Buy It: King Arthur Gluten-Free Flour ($9, Target)

Buy It: Wilton Muffin Pan ($11, Walmart) Test Kitchen Tip: For the lightest, most tender muffins, don’t overmix. It’s okay for batter to be slightly lumpy as you spoon it into the pan. You want to stir just enough to incorporate all ingredients together. Buy It: Silicone Muffin Liners ($7, Walmart) Test Kitchen Tip: Beat the clock on busy mornings by baking these ahead. You can freeze them for up to 3 months!...

Arriving on the heels of the holiday season (and with Easter right around the corner), there might not be room in your budget for yet another round of seasonal decorations—let alone showering your loved ones with lavish gifts. Instead of skipping the celebration altogether, or settling for the same old chocolate-and-flowers routine, hit up your local dollar store and stock up on these fun finds. They are sure to level up your holiday game without emptying your wallet....

Make the I Heart You Valentine’s Day card: Print the template onto plain paper, then cut out along the solid lines. Trace the cutout onto 12x12-inch cardstock, cut out, then fold as indicated by the dotted lines. Make the Heart Accordion Valentine’s Day card: Print the template onto plain paper and cut out. On a piece of cardstock, draw and cut out a 5 1/2x12-inch rectangle. Fold accordion-style along the short side (as indicated by the dotted lines)....

Test Kitchen Tip: Hit fast-forward on this summer supper by starting with purchased pizza dough. Test Kitchen Tip: Salt the zucchini to help remove some of the excess water so you don’t end up with a soggy crust. Test Kitchen Tip: Let the zucchini bread stand overnight before slicing so that it’s extra moist the next morning. Test Kitchen Tip: Prep ahead for less stress. Assemble the entire lasagna and chill for up to 24 hours before baking and taking it to go....

Topsoil Myths & Misunderstandings These four common assumptions about topsoil can trip you up. But knowing these basics will help you successfully create the best environment you can for your plants. Topsoil Myth 1: All Topsoil Is Pretty Much the Same Topsoil can differ dramatically, even in the same yard and from one garden bed to another. All the earth in your yard is made up of sand, silt, and clay in various amounts....

Zucchini and Tomato Frittata When it comes to cooking up this frittata recipe, you can make it a little more special and a lot tastier by using a few summer ingredients from your garden. If you’ve got a few spare cherry tomatoes and a small zucchini, toss them into your skillet ($25, Walmart) alongside eggs, mozzarella, and walnuts. Just one bite of this easy veggie frittata (ready in just 30 minutes), and it’ll be your new go-to brunch recipe....

How to Choose the Best Eggplant When you think of eggplant, you probably envision the large pear-shaped or cylindrical varieties with shiny, purple skin. Though this is the most common variety in the United States, eggplant does vary in shape and size, from a couple of inches to a foot long. The color varies with variety, including white, green, reddish-orange, and striated hues. Want to grow your own eggplant? Our garden pros can teach you how....

1. Match Deck Colors to Your Home’s Exterior Your deck colors should be a cohesive part of your home’s exterior color scheme. To help guide your choice of paint or stain colors, consider the existing shades on your siding, trim, and other exterior elements. You can pull out one of the hues used elsewhere on the facade for your deck or select an accent color that blends with your home’s style....

1. There Are Many Water Lily Colors When you imagine a water lily, you probably think of the classic white bloom bursting from a deep green lily pad. But water lilies actually grow in a rainbow of colors, including pink, red, orange, yellow, purple, and blue. Tropical varieties take on jewel tones (purple, orange, bright blue, and yellow), whereas hardier varieties lean toward a pastel palette. Sometimes the blossoms on hardy varieties change shades as they age....

When scents build up gradually, it’s easy not to notice them. “Our brains are trained to notice new scents,” says Emily Calandrelli, a science expert and host of Emily’s Wonder Lab on Netflix. “When there’s a lingering scent—even a bad one—your nose treats that as white noise; you don’t notice it anymore.” Here’s how to de-stink common problem areas right under your nose. 1. Focus on Air Quality “Open the windows!...

Before cleaning with bleach, however, it’s important to take some safety precautions. You should never pour bleach directly down the drain as it could cause damage to pipes or a septic system. Remember to always work in a well-ventilated area when cleaning with bleach; this could mean opening a window or turning on your bathroom exhaust fan. Keep pets and children away from the bathroom while cleaning with bleach. We also suggest wearing rubber gloves to protect your skin from the chemical....