Below are some of the most popular things to donate, three places to donate them to, and tips on what to do before you donate. Books It’s hard to give away beloved books—so don’t. Keep them, display them, and enjoy them. What about all of those books that you’re not reading, though? Donate those. Knowing they will go to a good “home” makes the task of donating books much easier for me....
Why Does My Front Load Washer Smell Bad? After nearly six decades of being taught how to use a standard top-load washer, Americans had to learn a new way to wash clothes when front load washers appeared in stores. We want to use lots of detergent. We want to see lots of suds. We want to add lots of fabric care products like scent enhancers and fabric softeners to our laundry....
How to Identify a Leafcutter Bee Leafcutter bees are solitary bees of the Megachilidae family, and there are about 242 native Megachile species in North America alone. They are about the same size as honeybees; but their bodies are black and furry where honeybees are dark brown to black and yellow striped. Another way to identify a leafcutter bee is the way the females transport pollen. Other types of bees have unique pollen “baskets” on their rear legs for collecting and carrying pollen....
What Is a Gardenia? There’s more than one type of gardenia. However, when people use that word, they are usually referring to the common gardenia (Gardenia jasminoides). The species name signals that it has reminded people of the jasmine plant but is not true jasmine (genus Jasminum). In fact, an alternate common name for it is “cape jasmine.” Gardenias are broadleaf evergreen shrubs. They can be grown outdoors year-round in USDA planting zones 8 to 11....
Dining rooms are fun to decorate because you can be a little more free with your color choices. There is an expectation, much like in a powder room, that the dining room will be a little more bold, or even fancy. Rich and dark colors that overwhelm a living room where you spend more time may be appropriate in a dining room that has limited use and can handle those darker colors....
Mullein is also a friendly herb; it is easy to grow and soft to the touch. Children are drawn to the furry nature and unique appearance. Borage does very well with little water. In extremely dry locations, you may find it is also easier to keep control of. Borage loves to reseed and become a part of your landscape. Don’t just settle for pink! Echinacea comes in a rainbow of colors, from orange to white and ranges of gold, pink, and reds to choose from....
The majority of the species are considered weeds and a far cry from the plants with attractive bronze or purple leaves and tassel-shaped large flowers in striking colors that make amaranth a favorite for bouquets and cut flowers. The two purposes of growing amaranth are not mutually exclusive. The species grown for their large seed heads can be just as striking as those grown purely for their striking flowers. The five most commonly cultivated amaranth species in North America are:...
Many gardeners are attracted to heirloom roses because growing them gives them a sense of continuing a tradition. Not that you have to be a history buff to like heirloom roses. Some people grow them simply because they have a better fragrance than many modern roses. If you do like the idea of continuing a tradition, here are ten popular heirloom roses that would be a perfect fit for a cottage garden....
Even during a blustery winter, you can have the bright hues of red, purple, and yellow that pop and are accentuated during the frosty winter snowstorms. Here are ten plants that bloom from late November till late March to keep that hope for spring alive. (Note that these plants bloom at different times, depending on your hardiness zone.) USDA Growing Zones: 6 to 9Bloom Color: Pale YellowSun Exposure: Full SunSoil Needs: Rich, medium moisture, well-drained...
Each garden planner has various tools that will make it easy for you to come up with a plan of action. You’ll be able to specify size, shape, and terrain, add boundaries such as fences or walls, plan a sprinkler system, place plants, trees, or bushes, and much more. Many of these programs let you zoom and move around to get all the features placed exactly where you want them....
Some of the plants described here are adaptable to a wide range of sunlight, from full sun to shade, and some can thrive even in deep shade. While some of these plants can tolerate full sun, they enjoy the relief of partial shade in hot climates. Here are 11 perennial flowers that grow well in partial to full shade. USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 7Color Varieties: Purple-blueSun Exposure: Full sun to part shadeSoil Needs: Rich, moist, well-drained...
Take a look at their 2022 predictions for what you’ll be seeing everywhere in the home space. 1. Bursting With Color When pink became a neutral, it was only a matter of time before the rest of the color wheel followed. This trend will originate with clothing, but you can be sure it’ll expand out of your wardrobe and into the rest of your home. Eclectic art and bold décor in bright colors will mix with statement lighting, colorful walls, and fun accents....
Know Your Ants The first step in controlling ants in and around your home is to know what type of ant it is. This is important because baits are generally the best option for control, but different ants have different food preferences. Additionally, some ants rarely enter homes or only do so singly, so placing bait inside will do little to get rid of ants that are living outdoors. In addition to several articles linked below, the University of Wisconsin has created a comprehensive, easy-to-read online tool to get to know your ants....
Here, get inspired by 12 unique countertop ideas you can install in your kitchen, as well as the pros and cons of bringing each one into your home. Pros: The unique aspect of this counter is how much of an innovative improvement on good old-fashioned laminate countertops it is. Cons: It is still laminate, and prejudices linger among homebuyers when it comes to this material. Thus, it may lead to a lower resale value....
To make a pool noodle horse, fold the top end of the noodle over and secure it with twine. Decorate with googly-eyes and a mane made out of fabric, craft foam, or yarn. Write one Old West nickname per party guest on a small sheet of paper. These words will be used in front of the party guests’ real names on their wanted posters. Some suggestions: DastardlyCoal EyesRattlesnakePanhandlerLassoSaddle HandsLeather FootBootprint...
It is time to banish your winter woes with a little Scandinavian style. Nordic winters are long, dark, and brutal. Do locals dread the frigid weather? Surprisingly not. In fact, Scandinavians celebrate the frostiest season, and boosting indoor coziness is a big part of the party. To make life inside comfy-cozy this winter, implement a few of these 13 Scandinavian décor trends. In fact, Nordic décor bloggers have been raving about these outrageously chunky and wonderfully cozy, wool blankets all over the interweb....
Ashes are dioecious trees—which means that individual trees contain either male or female parts, but not both. Male trees can be chosen if you do not want the messiness of the fruit/seeds. The fruits on ash trees are samaras, similar to the winged seeds of maples, and they are usually grouped in clusters on the stem. Here are 13 species of ash trees used as shade, lawn, and street trees....
We turned to some of our favorite interior designers and decor experts to find out which trends they refuse to give up, no matter what the fads are saying. Whether you’d call it bougie, basic, cheugy, or cringe, here are scoffed-at trends that we love all the same. “Our guilty pleasure design go-to is a sheepskin rug,” McCarthy and Turitz say. “They make any space so cozy and textured. You can find them practically everywhere in amazing colors, faux, real, large, or small....
