Posts

Considerations for Planting Spring-Blooming Bulbs There is no perfect moment, calendar-wise, for planting bulbs. The ideal time to plant your spring bulbs depends on where you live and seasonal weather conditions. To break dormancy and ensure flowering, most of the more common spring-blooming bulbs (like tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, and crocus) must be exposed to temperatures of 40 degrees or colder for at least 12 to 14 weeks. Exposing bulbs to these cold temperatures stimulates them to turn on flower formation and initiates root growth....

Fast Facts Scientific Name: Vireo griseusCommon Name: White-Eyed Vireo, Chick-of-the-VillageLifespan: 5-7 yearsSize: 4.5-5 inchesWeight: .3-.5 ouncesWingspan: 7.5-8 inchesConservation Status: Least concern White-Eyed Vireo Identification This bird’s general jizz includes a short, thick, black bill that is slightly hooked at the tip, and a body shape that includes a thick neck, large head, and relatively rounded wings. While these traits will help identify the bird as a vireo, birders need to look more closely for specific field marks to confidently identify the exact species....

Fast Facts Scientific Name: Sphyrapicus varius (occasionally Picus varius)Common Name: Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker, Sapsucker, Spanish Woodpecker, Common SapsuckerLifespan: 4-6 yearsSize: 8-9 inchesWeight: 1.5-1.7 ouncesWingspan: 16-18 inchesConservation Status: Least concern Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker Identification Its upright posture, stout, thick, straight bill, and stiff, forked tail immediately identify this bird as a woodpecker, but birders should pay close attention to other field marks to properly identify the yellow-bellied sapsucker. Males have a black-and-white striped face with a red forehead and crown, as well as a red throat with a thick black border....

Color Family: VariousComplementary Colors: VariousPairs Well With: Neutrals, white, black, complementary bold accent colorsMood: Fresh, bright, clean, airy, invitingWhere to Use: Living spaces, kitchens, bedrooms, bathrooms, cabinetry, furniture Here are some of our favorite neutral paint colors to spruce up a new home.

We’ve gathered inspiration from some of our favorite home and lifestyle bloggers, with “before” and “after” dining room makeovers that will have you ready to entirely change up your space. So whether you’re embarking on a dining room remodel or just appreciate stellar design as much as we do, scroll down for 11 examples of stunning DIY dining room transformations. 

We spent two weeks testing top-rated king mattresses in The Lab, evaluating them on ease of setup, comfort, quality, and value. Our favorite, the Tuft and Needle Mint Mattress, is topped with breathable, motion-dampening foam, features a luxe knit cover, and comes with a 10-year limited warranty. Here are the best king mattresses. What do buyers say? 12,000+ Tuft & Needle reviewers rated this product 4 stars or above. The Tuft and Needle Mint Mattress is our best overall pick because it has the most features to support different types of sleepers....

Color Family: VariousComplementary Colors: VariousPairs Well With: Light neutrals, whiteMood: Bright, inviting, airy, interesting, energeticWhere to Use: Small spaces, accent walls, accent furniture Here are some of the top paint colors for small spaces from Dee Schlotter of PPG and Misty Yeomans of Glidden.

It’s easy enough to pull out the old bottle of wine or gift card — which can be lovely. But, it’s always nice to give loved ones something a little more meaningful when possible. It shows your intentionality, and makes the giftee feel extra special, too. Luckily, there are lots of options that meet the mark — from self-care sets to unique card games and more. Check out these thoughtful gifts that you can keep on hand for any last-minute occasions to come....

But rather than ditch our plans for a very merry holiday season entirely, we decided to turn to the experts and ask: How can we have a minimalist holiday season that still feels jolly and joyful? Read on for their tips for an effortlessly simplified holiday season. Stay Neutral and Stick With the Classics As we all know, trends come and go—and Shira Gill, professional organizer and author of Minimalista, says this is one of the main reasons people end up with too much stuff during the holidays....

You may wonder how some specimens manage to qualify for inclusion in a list of drought-tolerant trees, while others do not. The qualifiers possess certain beneficial traits that help them withstand dry climates better. There are common threads that run through some of the selections on this list. The Warnell School of Forest Resources points to a few of these beneficial traits, citing: Leaves that use water efficientlyNatural protective waxes on leavesExtensive root systems that are able to extract any available moisture from the soil...

Brick is an adaptable and frequently used patio surfacing material. Either set on a base of sand or mortar, it provides a durable, non-glare surface that coordinates well with many architectural styles. Two Types Basically, there are two types of brick: common and face. As the name implies, common is the type most often used in outdoor residential applications and is also less expensive than face. Common brick is made from clay or shale and fired in a kiln....

It may sound counterintuitive, but it’s true: there are plenty of budget-friendly ways to create a more expensive look all around your home, from the entryway to the living room to the bedroom and every space in between. A smartly-chosen accent chair or a thoughtfully-placed decorative sculpture can elevate a room instantly, as can a sleek metallic lamp or set of pictures frames—but none of these need to drain your savings....

Use the Free section of Craigslist to see if anyone is giving away free moving boxes. You’ll have better luck finding free moving boxes on Craigslist near the end of the weekend or the beginning of the week since that’s when most people take the time to unpack or clean out old boxes. We also suggest using the Wanted section to post that you’re looking for free moving boxes. Many people who are giving away their moving boxes will look here before posting in another section....

In climates where temperatures don’t drop below 60 degrees Fahrenheit, gardenias can be grown outdoors. Everywhere else, they are overwintered indoors and brought outside for the summer. Although gardenias are tropical plants, they don’t tolerate too much direct sun and do best in dappled sunlight to partial shade. There are more than 200 gardenia varieties, ranging in size from dwarf and groundcover cultivars to shrubs reaching eight feet in height and spread....

Label wicker baskets, hang and assign bins, or make a container system.Use a pegboard, spool board, or reuse a jewelry holder.Get a wall organizer, repurpose a china cabinet, or use a shelving unit.Install a swinging door with storage on each side or get a rolling storage panel that slides behind doors or into a spare space.Get a craft table with storage compartments or repurpose a filing cabinetDesignate a room or area of a room for storage or rework a closet space...

Just because a particular white-flowering plant has been popular over the years does not mean that it remains a good choice if you are shopping for good plants for today’s landscape. There are some once-popular plants that now have earned reputations for invasiveness or poor performance, and you may want to steer away from them as you make your landscape choices. Here are 18 white-flowering plants that are popular in landscapes—plants that you may see in many locations....

If you’re not in the know, stock tanks are giant water bowls for cattle and horses. Most farm and ranch stores sell them in a variety of shapes and sizes. Arguably, round 8-foot wide tanks make the best plunge pools—one that measures 2 feet tall holds more than 500 gallons of water. This gorgeous tank from @sunwoven shows that a stock tank pool doesn’t have to be basic silver or bland option....