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A walled front garden helps your curb appeal strike the right balance between architectural and natural elements. We are all familiar with the natural elements recommended for basic curb appeal: manicured lawns, trimmed and healthy trees and plants, and seasonal and colorful additions to the landscape. A lot of visual interest is left on the

Add some impromptu sculptures and spots of color to your garden and patio with these simple projects. Decorating the patio with small details brings a sense of wonder and serenity to your outdoor space. Fortunately, there are some very easy and inexpensive ways to do it. Here are a few ideas to try. Mood-lifting Messages

These little light-up bugs bring delight to summer nights. Here’s a few ways to celebrate their arrival. The airborne bioluminescent beetle called the firefly or lightning bug (official name Lampyridae) surely captures our imagination. Movies, music festivals, operas and comic book characters all carry the “firefly” moniker. Festivals, crafts and activities for the whole family

You sowed, you watered, you weeded. You swept and you washed. All that toil has led to a garden and patio ready for relaxation. Things may get slightly out of order, though, as the summer goes on. Here is a list of little chores for outdoor room and landscape maintenance. Summer is the time to

Walk up to your space as guests would. What is the first thing you see and what is the biggest element? A homeowner’s eye may be drawn to a different object or scene than a guest’s view. People tend to look at the center of things or the biggest thing. If that object is a

The spring rains are slowing down and it’s time to get out there and dig in the garden. This is the season gardeners wait all year for. Don’t let the poison ivy, poison oak or poison sumac creepers interrupt a wonderful summer.   Each one of these poison plants contain the same irritant, urushiol oil.

Floral fragrances wafting through the warm air is one of the best parts of summer. Sunny days bring spectacular blooms and sublime scents. But what about the nighttime? Some of these light-colored, night-blooming plants emit sweet aromas to go in with your full moon cocktails or your star-gazing on lazy summer evenings on the patio.

Earth Day is this Saturday. Join the rest of the world by taking a few minutes to mark the occasion. Even the smallest of efforts honors Mother Nature. Here are three choices of small efforts that can make your home a greener place to live. Regrow food from scraps Did you know that some vegetables

Raised garden beds and tiered garden walls in older home landscapes were often constructed using cast-offs from the railroads. However, the creosote-treated wood was never legal for residential use. According to the website of the US Government’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), creosote, a chemical wood treatment and pesticide, is not to be used on any

It isn’t a tough sell. Playing in the dirt is awesome and kids’ natural curiosity will get them interested. Here are a few tips for uprooting the children out of the game room and replanting them in the garden.   Set aside space for their projects A well-defined area, no matter the size, is an