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The star shape of its white flowers gives it both its common name and scientific name. It blooms in March or April, a beautiful harbinger of spring. Fuzzy, pussy-willow-like buds precede the spring display of mildly fragrant flowers. Later in the season, it produces bright pink seed pods. By early autumn, it bears fruits full of brilliant orange seeds. Star magnolias blossom a bit earlier than saucer magnolias, usually from February through April, climate depending....

The common poppy typically flowers in late spring through early summer. While the flowers are often scarlet red, hybridization and selective breeding have led to several cultivators with blooms in shades of yellow, orange, pink, and white. These poppies require almost no maintenance when they are planted in their hardiness zones, and they are great for naturalizing. They also work well in garden beds, cottage gardens, borders, and pollinator gardens....

Toad lilies are not overly susceptible to pests or diseases. However, slugs in the garden may cause damage by eating the foliage of these plants. Light Toad lilies prefer partial to full shade. They are often found growing naturally on the edges of shady forests. In areas with intense sun and hot summers, full shade is ideal. Partial shade or morning sun and afternoon shade are ideal for areas with milder climates....

Yellow trout lily is normally planted from corms in the late summer, or by seeds sown in late spring or early summer. It is a relatively slow-growing plant; root divisions may not flower until their second year, and seedlings can take as much as five or six years before they flower. Trout lily is best planted in a location where it can spread and naturalize. Plant them about 5 inches deep and 2 to 4 inches apart for a colony effect....

Selecting a Planting Site Your planting site must have well-draining soil and receive lots of sunlight. Container growth is an option if you don’t have a suitable garden site. Avoid planting sage by cucumbers, as its aroma can actually affect the taste of the cucumbers. Spacing, Depth, and Support Only lightly cover seeds with soil, and position nursery plants at the same depth they were in their previous container. Space sage plants about 1....

When it comes to caring for your ficus tree in winter, bringing the plant indoors when the temperature drops might not be enough to guarantee its health. The ultimate goal when wintering ficus trees isn’t growth, but rather survival. With the proper care routine during cold weather, you can minimize leaf drop and help your plant experience a healthy dormancy throughout the season. Here, learn tips about ficus care in winter to help your tree survive until it resumes new growth in the springtime....

What Is Striping? Striping is nothing more than pushing the grass down in one direction and then the other, as you mow the lawn. Similar to the grain on suede or velvet, the effect is two different shades of green, a light, and a dark. The effect of stripes you see on a lawn or playing field is simply light reflecting off the grass blades. Blades bent towards you look dark, while those bent the opposite way look lighter....

But the good news is, all of these problems can be stylishly solved using a few tips, tricks, and a little creative ingenuity. So, if you’re ready to wash away your studio woes, bring these ideas into your life. (We’re feeling inspired by the small but mighty apartment of Ali Labelle, featured in The Glitter Guide and pictured here.) Organizing your books by size and color, investing in beautiful storage baskets, and thoughtfully placing area rugs in corners you want to appear more polished are easy ways to transform would-be visual clutter into stylish decor....

Secure the Bottom of the Box Once you’ve decided which books you’re moving, make sure you use the right box. You want to make sure that the box will support the weight and be free from any type of water damage. If you’re packing with used boxes, make sure the inside is clean and dry. Grab your packing supplies and tape the bottom and check to make sure it’s secure....

Pistachio trees grow in arid, hot climates that get plenty of sunshine and the seedlings are best planted from potted nursery specimens in late fall. Pistachios contain several acidic compounds that are toxic to horses, but which are harmless to other pets and humans. Outside these ideal locations, pistachio trees are very difficult to grow. Planting a Pistachio Tree Growing pistachios isn’t an option for everyone because of their specific climate needs....

How Does Water Damage Homes? Water damage is not always the result of dramatic events like hurricanes and floods. Homes often are ruined by pinhole-sized leaks in pipes, poorly graded soil, blocked gutters, or a sump pump that refuses to turn on. Much water damage results from easily curable flaws that most do-it-yourselfers can fix well in advance of a problem. Water damage in a house can be truly disastrous. Left unchecked, even a slow leak will rot out drywall and studs, create black mold, and eventually weaken major structural elements like joists and beams....