Home And Garden
Collectors drink up discarded beer cans, memorabilia
One person's discarded beer can is another collector's treasure.
Feb 07, 2010 | 12:00 am | Loading…
Don't be afraid to regift
Everyone has a holiday "not-so-perfect" gift story: eight candles, 10 pairs of socks, four boxes of candy. And what about the gifts that just weren't right? You know the ones. Aunt Ginny's box set of soaps or Uncle Harry's $3 talking alarm clock.
Feb 07, 2010 | 12:00 am | Loading…
Taishan marigolds winners at Olympics and your garden too
Taishan marigolds were stars at the Beijing Olympics in 2008, and this spring you will have the opportunity to put them to the test in your garden too. This award-winning marigold series gets its name from Taishan Mountain, one of the five revered mountains in China.
Feb 06, 2010 | 12:00 am | Loading…
How to make the most of Valentine's Day flowers
There may be cheaper ways to declare your love on Valentine's Day than by saying it with flowers, but that doesn't mean having to forgo a bouquet. Just put more thought into the presentation.
Feb 06, 2010 | 12:00 am | Loading…
Amazing what recycling can do
What's most impressive about recycled and eco-friendly products is that each one was once a completely different item. I know; that's obvious. But stop and think about it. It's amazing.
Feb 06, 2010 | 12:00 am | Loading…
Plan now for a colorful summer of bulbs
Bulbs -- they're not just for springtime anymore. Although we place anything that comes in a little bulbous packet within the category of "bulb," tulips, lilies, daffodils and dahlias are examples of a much larger group called geophytes. Within the geophyte category are bulbs both tunicat…
Feb 06, 2010 | 12:00 am | Loading…
The Obamas invite famous guest chefs to the White House
Think of it as take-out, but at the presidential level.
Feb 06, 2010 | 12:00 am | Loading…
It's time to get your thumbs green
The first one came before the Christmas decorations were put away. I told myself it was far too soon to start the spring dream.
Feb 04, 2010 | 12:00 am | Loading…
How to make ZZZzzz dreamiest bedroom
Right after I had my first child, now 16, a knowing father of several had this comforting insight: "You'll never sleep through the night again." He was only slightly exaggerating. I hate to break this to new parents -- but sleep deprivation doesn't end with infancy. Kids go from teething …
Feb 04, 2010 | 12:00 am | Loading…
Plan now, plant later
For many gardeners, the new year starts in September with lawn renewal, followed by the planting of bulbs, shrubs and trees well into the autumn.
Feb 04, 2010 | 12:00 am | Loading…
What is rehmannia root?
Because it is native to China, Japan and Korea and it resembles the herb foxglove that provides the heart drug, digitalis, rehmannia is commonly referred to as Chinese foxglove. This plant nourishes with vitamins A, B, C and D.
Feb 04, 2010 | 12:00 am | Loading…
New products for 02/03/10
No longer question which drink is yours
Feb 02, 2010 | 12:00 am | Loading…
Learn about plants and gardening during lecture series
Oak Lawn, Illinois Park District will host a series of gardening lectures presented by Park Horticulturist Dolly Foster. Lectures are scheduled for Monday evenings at the Oak View Center, 4625 W. 110th St., Oak Lawn as follows:
Jan 30, 2010 | 12:00 am | Loading…
Home gyms must be fun, functional
Choosing a room to function as a home gym or personal workout space is just as important as finding the right equipment. The key is to make the space inviting, experts say.
Jan 28, 2010 | 12:05 am | Loading…
Bundle of joy, bundle of expenses
Expecting a baby? You'll be giving birth to some major home-decorating costs as well. Estimates are that outfitting a nursery costs anywhere from $2,000 and $6,000, and that's just the start.
Jan 28, 2010 | 12:00 am | Loading…
At every Super Bowl, the football widows win
On Feb. 7, football widows from Times Square to Tijuana will form a human wave as they celebrate the end of football season. I know that's not how football fans view Super Bowl XLIV. But I speak for those women looking forward to the week after the Super Bowl when they can finish a senten…
Jan 28, 2010 | 12:00 am | Loading…
Getting to the bottom of it
There's a reason why a new book about helping disorganized teenagers was published midway through the school year, rather than in September.
Jan 28, 2010 | 12:00 am | Loading…
Mark your calendars for native plant sale
The Lake County Master Gardeners Annual Plant Sale will feature native plants, native trees and shrubs, native and non-native perennials, as well as some hanging baskets and annuals. The sale will be held 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 8 at the Lake County Fairgrounds Fine Arts Building in Crown Po…
Jan 28, 2010 | 12:00 am | Loading…
Decorating together: How to fix up, not break up
In some ways, it was simpler before. When Joy Lane Hicks wanted to buy a new piece of furniture or do some redecorating, she says, "I would start with, 'Hey, honey, I have an idea,' and he would drop his head, groaning and moaning."
Jan 28, 2010 | 12:00 am | Loading…
What is shatavari?
The "green medicine" found in the one hundred tuberous roots of the shatavari plant address so many female complaints so dependably that this botanical is known in India as "she who possesses one hundred husbands." Shatavari is a close relative of the common asparagus plant.
Jan 28, 2010 | 12:00 am | Loading…
Germplasm that's good for you
Despite its sinister sound, a "germplasm collection" spells good things for farmers and gardeners alike.
Jan 28, 2010 | 12:00 am | Loading…
Pantone experts pick a soothing green-blue as color of the year
'Tis the year to dream about escaping that daily grind and trading it in for a tropical adventure. The counselors of color at Pantone, who consult with those in the home, fashion, beauty and advertising industries, once again have announced their "color of the year." In 2010, Americans ar…
Jan 28, 2010 | 12:00 am | Loading…
