There are dozens of uses for license plates if you just think outside the box a bit. The colors and designs lend them selves to loads of home decor projects, both inside and outside the home. Have you ever thought about using number plates in DIY projects?  Using recycled items saves money on the projects …

Large, showy indoor plants are a delight in the home. Growing dracaena fragrans gives the feeling of being in a corn field. The striped yellow and green leaves bring a lot of softness to any corner of a room. It is not too hard to figure out why Dracaena Fragrans is called The Corn Plant.  The …

Aphelandra squarrosa, also known as zebra plant can be a real challenge to grow. But the spectacular flowers and showy striped leaves make it worth the effort. If you love to grow flowering houseplants, zebra plant can’t be beat The flowers come in late summer and autumn on a tall flower stem that is long …

Pruning forsythia requires some basic knowledge of how the plant is meant to grow. Forsythia flowers give us one of the first splashes of color in early spring gardens. But to get that color and a well shaped shrub, it’s important to trim forsythia bushes correctly. Check out this article for more information on forsythia …

No holiday season would be complete without the buttery and crisp taste of a Scottish Shortbread cookie.   Biting into crunchy shortbread cookies gives you a light as air texture and taste that just can’t be beat. The cookie is so popular that January 6 has been labeled as National Shortbread Day. Let’s learn how to …

Spaghetti recipes are always a big hit at our house. They are cold winter comfort food at their tastiest. There are literally dozens of ways to incorporate a tasty spaghetti sauce into a quick and easy weeknight dinner sensation. One of my earliest spaghetti recipes was a combination of both beef and pork that became a …

There are many healthy kitchen swaps that you can use all year round for weight loss success. Implementing these food swaps will make sure that those extra pounds won’t find themselves on your thighs and rear next year.  For many of us, the start of the year means making a New Year’s resolution to lose …

This DIY candy cane vase makes an easy holiday decor project that is as much fun to put together as it is to display. Since it uses poinsettia flowers it goes right along with all your Christmas plants. All you need are some candy canes and a few inexpensive supplies. Grab some peppermint sticks and …

This year, make some Irish Cream Fudge as a part of your Christmas traditions! It is creamy and sweet and has a lovely consistency. This delicious Bailey’s fudge recipe has a surprise addition of coffee for a great flavor. Who doesn’t love the taste of a glass of Bailey’s Irish cream during the holidays? It …

Liriope Muscari Variegata is an evergreen perennial that easily spreads to form a deep carpet of grass-like plants that makes a great ground cover or border plant. This form of liriope aptly has the common name “variegated lilyturf.” Variegated liriope is less invasive than the normal variety. Keep reading to find out how to grow …

This delicious one pot beef curry recipe is big on flavor but low on calories. It truly is one of the easiest curries that you can make, but don’t let that fool you.  The flavor is amazing!  This Thai curry is a gluten free and easy to make meal that will delight your family. I …

This list of 15 bulbs to plant in fall will make sure that next year gets started with a burst of color with very little effort on your part. If you enjoy the beauty of spring-blooming bulbs, it takes a bit of early planning to get that look in your garden. I’ve also included lots of …

Kalanchoe millotii is a member of the crassulaceae family.  It is a n ornamental succulent plant that is native to Madagascar. Since it is not particularly cold hardy, it is grown as an indoor plant in most areas of the country. Keep reading to find out how to grow this fuzzy succulent. Succulents like kalanchoe …

If you like growing indoor plants that have an exotic look, why not try growing Sago Palms?. This plant makes a great choice for those new to houseplants since it prefers drying out before you water it again. A sago palm tree – Cycas revoluta – is easy to grow indoors as long as you …

How well do you know your flower bulb types?  Do the words bulbs corms rhizomes tubers and bulbets seem like Greek to you?  Read on and you find out what you need to know to be a bulb expert. Flowering bulbs are some of the easiest plants to grow. Some of the spring flowering bulbs, …

These caramel apple recipes feature the regular toffee apple snack as well as bars, cookies, and other desserts that deliver the fabulous taste of this traditional fall treat. The recipes show that the caramel apple flavor is more than just a snack on a stick. Did you know that October 31 is National Caramel Apple …

Is fall foliage at its peak where you live? Here in NC, the colors are ablaze.  Fall blooming perennials and annuals are available, but nature gives us a pop of color each year naturally. In these photos garden fences and gates, surrounded by the colorful fall leaves, tell the story of the change of seasons …

Which herbs should choose for your indoor garden?  Here are my top 10 picks for herbs to grow indoors. There is nothing quite like the taste of fresh herbs to really add a boost to your homemade recipes.  Many gardeners enjoy growing herbs outside during the summer months, but winter temperatures will kill them off …

This collection of apple recipes will make great use of the plentiful harvest of this popular fruit. Fall is the time of the year when the choice of fruit and vegetables is not as wide as it is earlier in the year. Some fruits come into their own in Autumn. Apples are one of those. …

This fall gardening checklist will help you get ready for the gardening off-season. Learn about autumn garden care and how to winterize your outdoor space to make things so much easier when the garden starts blooming next spring. Getting out in the garden this time of the year is a great time to look back on …

This Fall Entryway Makeover takes my front door and entry through from fall and right into Thanksgiving with natural elements and the rustic colors of autumn leaves, pumpkins and more. From the robust colors of the foliage to flowering mums and on to the multitude of pumpkins, Indian corn, and gourds, Fall has it all.  …

Are you looking for something fun and whimsical to add to your Halloween party table? This candy corn centerpiece is super easy to make and adds a spooky looking effect very quickly. I don’t know if you are like me, but I love using things found in my yard in Halloween decor projects. It keeps …

Seeing how many ways there are to dress up your home with window box planters was inspiring. They are a fabulous way to create curb appeal and are easy to take care of. I have recently discovered a love for window boxes.  During my summer vacation, we toured 10 states and visited many Botanical Gardens. …

Rosemary is normally quite easy to control if you keep it in a pot, but if you have it growing freely in the garden, it can easily get woody and shabby looking. This is when these tips for pruning rosemary are helpful. All garden plants need pruning at some stage, and rosemary is no exception. …

Have you ever been in a garden setting and wondered how to identify a plant that you have just come across? So have I! That is where the PlantSnap mobile app comes into use. With this handy phone app, all you need to do is snap a photo of the plant, and PlantSnap will give …

Touring a botanical garden with children in tow can be a challenge. But this is not so with Beech Creek Botanical Garden and Nature Preserve. This delightful garden center seems tailor made for kids and is the perfect way to introduce them to flowers and nature! This delightful botanical garden is located in Alliance, Ohio and …