Butterflies are attracted to bright colors, and butterflies and hummingbirds both like high-nectar plants such as the ones featured in this garden design. Another consideration is providing plants for all stages of the butterfly’s short life, such as adding a water feature such as a birdbath and rocks for sunning. The design illustrated here is a curved border, 30-feet long by 10-feet wide. Most of the flowers selected are suitable for a range of hardiness zones, but alternatives are also listed....

Does Laundry Detergent Expire? Laundry detergents come in liquid, powder, and in individual pods or packet formulas. While most detergents do not “go bad” or spoil, it is possible that they can lose some of their effectiveness in cleaning clothes and stability during storage. Let’s take a look at the stability of each type of detergent. Liquid Formula Laundry Detergents Some liquid laundry detergents have a “best used by” date stamped on the bottle....

This plant produces a lot of fruit, but it can be softer or less crisp than other tomato varieties. On top of producing fruit early in the year, the Early Girl tomato continues to grow longer than other varieties and is sometimes even planted in the fall to create one last quick harvest before the growing season is gone. For healthy tomatoes, be sure to provide a stake or cage to keep flowers and fruits off the ground....

“If I woke up tomorrow with no plants in my bedroom, I would be shocked but I would call someone because we’ve been robbed.” This is something that all plant parents secretly think about, and in the newest episode of In the Weeds With Plant People, Ericka Hart says what we’re all thinking. She gives us a tour of her Brooklyn apartment that she shares with her partner and her plant collection....

“I never thought of myself as a maximalist, but I think with that term we have been programmed to think it means tons of bold colors, patterns, and eclectic decor—but that’s not the case at all,” Kontrafouris shared. “You can be a maximalist with any style or colors because it’s more about the layering and curating a specific feel. My home is filled with neutral patterns and colors, but I love adding layers for depth and visual interest....

Goat’s beard has a clump-forming growth habit with toothed, oval leaves. It produces feathery plumes of numerous tiny cream flowers in the late spring to early summer, which arch on spikes over the foliage. The species is dioecious, meaning it has distinct male and female plants. The male plants bear flower clusters that are more erect than those on female plants, and many gardeners find them more attractive. Female plants produce tiny brown seed pods....

Grape ivy can be planted and cared for year-round indoors. The vine grows slowly, but can survive with the right care for up to 10 years, so it’s a good vine to pick if you’re into plant care for the long run. Light Grape ivy is a low-light vine that will thrive in an east-facing window. It can also be grown well under lights, though because the vine needs only partial shade, it’s often not necessary to do so....

Quail Identification Equipment The proper tools are necessary for identifying grouse and quail, and a properly equipped birder will have an easier time identifying these mystery birds. Optics: Good quality birding binoculars are a must to see quail and grouse clearly, particularly since these birds can be skittish and it is best if birders keep their distance. Wide lenses will collect more light so subtle color changes and fine markings are more easily visible, and a spotting scope can be useful when looking for far away grouse and quail in open grassland habitats....

Definition To understand what’s unique about solid hardwood, first consider its closest cousin, engineered wood. Engineered wood flooring—a plywood-type base topped with hardwood—is often called hardwood flooring. Flooring manufacturers like to claim this, too. Thus the emphasis on the word solid—flooring that is hardwood from top to bottom. Interestingly, it is not all hardwood. Softwoods abound. Even bamboo—not a wood at all—is often sold within the same category. Finally, classic tongue-and-groove is one hallmark of solid hardwood flooring....

With the affordable SoundSpa Sound Machine, HoMedics aims to block out ambient distractions and create a perfect environment for relaxation. In order to test its claims and figure out if a device with such an affordable price tag can still deliver on quality, we gave the machine to a willing tester who wanted to improve the quality of his sleep. “For a while now, I have been curious about adding a sleep machine into my nightly routine to help combat some pesky insomnia,” he explained....

1. Uncluttered If you are a pack rat, this style is not for you. Zen spaces have no clutter and less ornamentation. Its aim is to let go of attachments. So the first task you should do if you’re going Zen is to clean, clear and organize. Get rid of what you don’t need and even reconsider things you think you need. 2. Neutral Choose a neutral and warm color scheme....

While chaos is all but guaranteed during this celestial phenomenon, there are some ways to mitigate the damage. One way to do so is by revamping your space for optimal energy flow, #goodvibes, and less stress. Each Zodiac sign is affected by Mercury retrograde differently, so what works for, say, a Leo’s home would probably cause a Capricorn to rip their hair out. (Okay, it’s not particularly difficult for a Cap to reach that point, but you get it)....

How Long Should You Wait Between Coats of Paint? Oil-based paint is dry to the touch in six to eight hours and ready to for another coat in 24 hours. Latex paint is dry to the touch in about one hour, and it’s safe to add another coat in four hours. Why Paint Recoat Time Matters There are lots of ways to turn a good paint job bad. A dirty or wet surface, humidity, temperatures, poor paint quality—any of these factors can affect the final condition of the paint....

Buying windows with embedded coatings is one way to mitigate the heat and damage. But if your windows do not have these coatings or if you want to supplement these coatings, you may decide to add low-E film to the windows. What Low-E Film Is Low-E film is a coated plastic film, available in rolls, which sticks to the insides of your windows to block or slow the transmission of UV rays....

While they are relatively cheap to replace, it’s never a good surprise to discover they have sprung a leak. Just as bad, foul-smelling gloves are a sign that mold and germs have set up shop inside them. You don’t want your hands to end up as grubby after using the gloves as they would have been if you hadn’t. Rinse the Outside of Your Rubber Gloves off Thoroughly The very substances you want to keep away from your hands are all over the outside of your gloves....

These five common ladder types can be further separated by material, height, and weight capacity. Wood, aluminum, and fiberglass are the most popular material options, while the height of the ladder can extend from just three feet for a small stepladder to well over 20 feet for an extension ladder. The weight capacity typically ranges from about 200 pounds to 375 pounds, so make sure to check the products specifications to avoid purchasing a ladder that cannot support the user’s weight....

Before you list the home, you do want to thoroughly wash all window treatments that still work in the space. This means washing curtains at home or taking them to a dry cleaner. Check labels to be sure. Blinds and shades should be wiped down with a damp cloth or follow manufacturers’ recommendations. In addition, make sure to keep or put up window treatments in bedrooms. This is one place buyers almost always want some type of window treatment....