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* For a more creamy consistency, add up to 1 cup more broth or water.

3 cup whole milk ½ cup uncooked pearl barley ¼ cup granulated sugar or honey 1 2-inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and grated (2 teaspoons packed) 1 cinnamon stick ¼ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg Pinch kosher salt ½ of a vanilla bean 2 egg yolks ½ teaspoon ground turmeric ½ cup packed dark brown sugar 1 1/2-inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and grated (1/2 teaspoon packed) ⅓ cup chopped pitted Medjool dates ¼ teaspoon salt

6 egg yolks 1 cup butter or margarine 1 teaspoon finely shredded lemon peel 2 tablespoon lemon juice dash white pepper

Here’s a hint: Look for old, worn bricks if you’re going for a country or cottage look. Newer bricks are often better suited for contemporary or formal landscapes. Click here for garden makeover projects Click here for more backyard landscaping ideas Click here for top fragrant plant picks Click here for more on landscape lighting Click here for lawn-care tips Click here for more tips to make your landscape seem more spacious...

Buy It: Open Kitchen by Williams Sonoma Ramekin Set ($20, Williams Sonoma)

Gourds require a long, warm growing season. In Zones 4 and below, consider starting seeds indoors several weeks before the last frost to get an early start on the season. Sow seeds in individual pots filled with potting mix. Sow seeds 1 inch deep—2 seeds per pot. Keep pots warm and moist and provide a strong light source. When seedlings are well-established and outside temperatures are above 50°F, acclimate plants to outdoor conditions....

The key to desert plants’ survival depends on adaptations to dry conditions. Desert plants boast several different growing methods that make the most of the climate’s limited rainfall while enabling plants to thrive in glaring sun, rocky or clay soil, and strong wind. The desert plant family includes cacti, shrubs, grasses, flowers, and trees—greenery you would see in any other environment. In addition, semitropical and tropical plants often thrive in desert regions, injecting a splash of color into the scenery....

*Tip: If you can’t find red heart-shape candies, make your own. Melt red candy coating discs according to package directions. Spread in a 1/4- to 1/2-inch-thick layer on a sheet of waxed paper. Let stand until set. Use a small heart-shape cookie cutter to cut out heart shapes. Place on bars. (Or use a tube of purchased red frosting fitted with a plain tip to pipe hearts on bars after cutting into bars....

Hackberry bears bright green leaves that turn yellow in autumn. Though not known for fall color, it does produce sweet, edible fruit that attracts birds and other wildlife such as squirrels. The dark red or purple drupes (berries) mature in late summer or early fall and persist on the tree through winter. This tree also displays interesting bark. Young branches sport corky outgrowths similar to euonymus or sweet gum, while older bark features a unique warty, sometimes scaly, look....

½ 12 ounce pkg. silken soft tofu 2 tablespoon vegan mayonnaise 1 tablespoon sweet pickle relish 1 tablespoon lemon juice 1 teaspoon prepared horseradish 1 teaspoon bottled hot pepper sauce ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika 1 clove garlic, peeled and halved Salt and pepper

Why Do Plants Need Fertilizer Much like people do, plants need a set of essential nutrients to grow properly and stay healthy. All plants must have nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium in particular, known as macronutrients because plants need these the most (there’s also several micronutrients that are needed in such small quantities, you usually don’t have to worry about them). Without enough of these macronutrients, you’ll eventually end up with very sad plants that have weak stems, smaller leaves, fewer flowers, and poor color....