Home And Garden

WSU Extension Master Gardeners: Not too late to plant veggies

May 19, 2013

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Get your deck ready for summer parties

May 19, 2013

I was looking at my home’s back steps, constructed of pressure-treated wood, and decided it was time for the annual get-rid-of-the-mildew-and-seal-them program. For some reason, …

Wildflower walk at Wild Horse Wind Farm showcases diversity

May 5, 2013

ELLENSBURG — Beauty rests here. And grows. But you might not know it. However, if you travel over cliffs, up winding roads, past alfalfa fields …

On Gardening: Citizen scientists key to gathering important data

May 12, 2013

If you are a gardener you don’t need to have a Ph.D. in botany, zoology or other related sciences to help make important contributions to …

Jim McLain: Head west of Cascades to view rare blue blooms

April 28, 2013

Blue blooms in our gardens are loved by most of us, but what we call blue flowers are mostly blends of blue and red to …

What to do in the garden in May

May 5, 2013

“I love spring anywhere, but if I could choose I would always greet it in a garden.” — Ruth Stout May is a beautiful time …

WSU/Yakima County Master Gardeners: Hooray for Heuchera — made for the shade

April 21, 2013

For those who enjoy year-round color in the garden, Heuchera (pronounced HEW-kerr-uh) is a great choice. This is a catch-all name for a group of …

April is month to prepare garden for growing season

April 7, 2013

The recent heavy rains and cold temperatures of March have left many of us pondering if spring would ever come. However, as each day passes …

Homestead Purple verbena still leads the pack

April 7, 2013

Sometimes it’s just hard to improve on the best. Such is the case with the Homestead Purple verbena. For more than 20 years it has …

Fiery orange tulips create stunning spring crescendo

March 31, 2013

A complementary color scheme implemented in the garden from late winter to very early spring can be just the jolt you need to get you …

‘No-tilling’ how much gardening method saves on labor

March 31, 2013

Few of us can imagine gardening without the labor of digging. It seems, after all, that this is what you should do, what everyone always …

Gloria Swanson’s mansion for sale for $39M

March 24, 2013

HACKENSACK, N.J. — Looking to trade up? If you’ve got $39 million, you might take a gander at Gloria Crest, a 1926 Italianate castle on …

Sale offers chance to add much-touted native plants to yard

March 24, 2013

In recent years there have been a lot of articles in gardening magazines, newspapers and even entire books written urging homeowners to use native plants …

Egg artist finds niche in Victorian-theme decoupage

March 24, 2013

AKRON, Ohio — Elizabeth Vernon’s canvas is calcium. Vernon is an egg artist who decoupages Victorian designs onto delicate eggshells. Her gleaming varnished creations bear …

Salvage army deconstructs home’s basics for ReStore

March 17, 2013

DANVILLE, Ky. — Houses look rock-solid, until it’s time to take them apart. But when you have an army of volunteers and a special drill …

Caliente Hot Rose geranium new for spring

March 17, 2013

There is nothing like a greenhouse ready for spring that makes you forget about the miserable weather outside. Across our greenhouse, I spotted my favorite …

Master Gardeners: Tend to chores while waiting for spring to stay

March 17, 2013

Happy St. Patrick’s Day to all of you! Our weather this month is certainly playing tricks on us by teasing us with warm, springlike temperatures …

Jim McLain: Pussy willows offer an early flourish of spring

March 10, 2013

Early this month, just like clockwork, pussy willows started showing up in floral shops and other outlets that sell fresh flowers. These inimitable harbingers of …

Master Gardeners: March is time to spring into action

March 3, 2013

March is here at last! Bulbs are emerging, willows are showing the first haze of green, there is much chatter in bird land — and, …

Hellebores are cold-hardy beauties

March 3, 2013

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — Almost two decades ago, Cheryl Turner decided to spruce up her yard, specifically an east-facing backyard with trees. “I began researching …

Jim McLain: Moon gardening trends wax and wane over years

February 24, 2013

I first heard about gardening by phases of the moon when I was a first- or second-grader. Mom was telling Dad at supper about a …

Southern wax myrtle perfect choice for butterflies

February 24, 2013

Over the last few weeks, the large southern wax myrtle right outside my office has come alive with a feeding frenzy of birds. I’m paying …

Dogs have a nose for truffles

February 23, 2013

SNOQUALMIE — In the Cascade foothills of Washington state’s King County, Lolo raised her head to catch a whiff of the dank morning air that …

Master Gardeners: Plant a hummingbird-friendly garden

February 17, 2013

Q: I love hummingbirds. Which flowers will draw them to my yard? A: Rufous, calliope and black-chinned hummingbirds are the ones most often seen in …

Night in Pompeii is a stunning display for the garden

February 17, 2013

Night in Pompeii absolutely stole my heart at last year’s plant trials, and I wasn’t alone. I could see positive reactions from large retailers and …

Witch hazel is colorful addition to winter garden

February 10, 2013

Paleontologists have been searching for our “missing link” ever since Charles Darwin’s “Origin of Species” was published in 1859. And as far as I know, …

Dwarf fruit trees bring Florida to your door

January 23, 2012

LEXINGTON, Ky. — The flavor, fragrance and bright color of zesty lemon, tangy lime and sunshine-sweetened orange can lift mid-winter doldrums. Mix in the common …

Fresh-cut flowers make for lovely Valentine’s gift

February 10, 2013

Winter would be so blah without Valentine’s Day to brighten it with cards and candy. Flowers take it to the next level of loving thoughtfulness. …

Master Gardeners: Even in February, there is garden work to be done

February 3, 2013

“When your garden is finished I hope it will be more beautiful that you anticipated, require less care than you expected, and have cost only …

Jim McLain: Curl up with a good gardening book to chase away blues

January 27, 2013

The frigid days of winter — exaggerated by long sieges of stagnant air caused by temperature inversions that often blanket the Yakima Valley — keep …

Grafted tomatoes are big news for spring planting

January 27, 2013

Gardeners will be hearing about grafted tomato plants for spring, if they have not already. I get an armful of mail-order catalogs almost daily, and …

Winter treats for visiting birds

January 6, 2013

The birds at our house thrive on a gourmet diet — pretty much year-round. There’s a meal worm feeder for bluebirds, nut feeder for woodpeckers, …

Master Gardeners: January gardener can keep busy planning, prepping

January 20, 2013

There’s not much going on in the January garden — at least not much that you can see under that blanket of snow. But the …

Tax credits for energy efficiency are back

January 20, 2013

Federal tax credits for energy-efficient home improvements are back. Reinstatement of the popular credits was a little-noticed part of the American Taxpayer Relief Act, the …

Watch out for mold testers looking to make a buck

January 20, 2013

Few states have enacted guidelines that prohibit companies from performing both mold testing and mold remediation. In fact, in most states, the same company that …

An organized 2013 starts now

January 13, 2013

Getting more organized in the new year is often at the top of resolution lists. But as with other resolutions, most people start out strong …

Ditch resolutions this year in favor of more realistic gardening goals

January 13, 2013

We are about two weeks into the new year, and many New Year’s resolutions are already in shambles. I’ve never been a big fan of …

Make 2013 the year of the house

January 6, 2013

I’m not big on New Year’s resolutions. It’s not that I couldn’t stand some self-improvement. It’s just that it takes more than a calendar page …

Plants make excellent last-minute gifts

December 23, 2012

When in doubt about what to take to a hostess or give as a last-minute gift for someone special, select a plant that can be …

WSU Extension Master Gardeners:

December 30, 2012

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It’s back to the basics in the landscape for the new year

December 30, 2012

The New Year is a great time to take a slow, hard look at your landscape. Examine it like a potential buyer. There is really …

When and why to add a liner to the chimney

December 30, 2012

Q: We just had our chimney cleaned and the gentleman is advising us to have our chimney lined, for which he gave us an estimate …

Jim McLain: Organic gardening better for environment, if not nutrition

December 23, 2012

A startling, upsetting study — at least for many organic farmers and gardeners — was published in the September issue of Annual of Internal Medicine. …

Fill an afternoon with easy projects

December 16, 2012

Little gifts can bring big smiles. With school and neighborhood holiday parties around the corner, help your child get a head start on party preparations …

WSU Extension Master Gardeners: Glorious gifts from the garden

December 16, 2012

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Jim McLain: Annual Christmas Conundrum: Real or Fake

December 9, 2012

Every year starting after Thanksgiving there is a debate in the minds of Christmas shoppers: Should we buy a real Christmas tree or an artificial …

Designed well, small spaces offer plenty of room, storage

November 11, 2012

I was surprised that New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s recent proposal to create affordable micro-apartments (only 275 to 300 square feet each) in a city …

WSU Master Gardeners: December in the garden a time for dreaming

December 2, 2012

December is a great time to dress in three or four layers of clothing and take a winter walk around your garden and shake off …

Smart technology can help conserve energy use

November 25, 2012

AKRON, Ohio — Our homes are getting smarter. Smart technology that automates our homes’ devices is becoming mainstream, making it convenient for us to rein …

Jim McLain: Yakima’s four seasons a reason to be thankful

November 25, 2012

Thanksgiving Day 2012 has come and gone. Unfortunately, too many of us think of this special day, which was created as a day for expressing …

Master Gardeners: Bring outdoors inside to decorate your holiday table

November 18, 2012

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Ornamental grasses a fall star

November 18, 2012

NEWPORT, Va. — In the fall, ornamental grasses are stars in the garden, their feathery plumes glowing in the autumn light. Morning Light miscanthus sinensis …

Jim McLain: Help your trees survive winter weather

November 11, 2012

We are sometimes surprised and bewildered when spring arrives and we find that one of our deciduous trees shows serious signs of dieback — when …

Sticks, pears transform table

November 11, 2012

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — Don Haynie can take a lot of little nothings and turn them into a big something. Give the floral designer sticks …

Marigolds a fall favorite

October 14, 2012

Marigolds have always been among my favorite flowers for fall. It was about this time last year I got into a pretty heated argument about …

Master Gardeners: Garden chores aren’t over, even in November

November 4, 2012

“Winter is an etching, spring a watercolor, summer an oil painting and autumn a mosaic of them all.” — Stanley Horowitz Winter can be a …

Jim McLain: Get fall chores done before the snow flies

October 28, 2012

The first heavy killing frost last weekend served as a reminder we need to get our lawns and gardens ready for winter before the snow …

Creating attic storage very simple, or nearly impossible

October 28, 2012

Q: I want to convert part of my attic for storage. How do I do it? A: It depends on how your attic is constructed. …

Master Gardeners | Fall a great time to inspire young gardeners

October 21, 2012

Q. How can I get my children interested in gardening? I want them to be ready for next spring. A. You don’t have to wait …

McLain: Take inventory of your garden tools this fall

October 14, 2012

Soon you will be cleaning and storing your gardening tools for the winter. But have you actually used your whole arsenal of tools? Before you …

What to do in the October garden

October 7, 2012

Perhaps October is the best time of all to be out in the garden. The temperatures have cooled and the color that surrounds us takes …

Illinois’ dry summer becomes drab fall

September 30, 2012

CHICAGO — Arborist and “tree doctor” Craig Casino spends his days making house calls and checking on his patients, just like an M.D. This year, …

Fall is time to savor bounty, polish off garden chores

September 30, 2012

Late September is a time to savor your gardening accomplishments. Cold weather is around the corner and every delight in the garden, be it flower …

Record Mickey collection ‘a passion’

September 30, 2012

CELEBRATION, Fla. — It’s the happiest condo on Earth. Filled to the brim with plush dolls, pin and key-chain displays and thousands of figurines — …

Letters to Hemingway getting crucial repair

September 30, 2012

ANDOVER, Mass. — The paper conservator’s scalpel picked at the red and black specks, flicking away the fly droppings that had stained Ingrid Bergman’s letter …

Plant enough flowers to make a show

September 16, 2012

In my seminars as I show beautiful flower combinations, I always warn those in attendance that you can’t get that look from a jumbo six-pack. …

Spiders may be creepy, but they are vital to your garden

September 23, 2012

Many people, including gardeners, have a deep-down loathing of spiders. Not many people use adjectives like “cute,” “adorable” or “beneficial” when they think of these …

Fairy gardens add magical flair to yard

September 9, 2012

FRANKFORT, Ky. — There is a sort of magic that happens in fairy gardens, those miniature landscapes meant to inspire tiny mythical creatures to visit …

Master Gardeners | Colchicums a beautiful, fall-blooming bulb

September 16, 2012

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Rock gardens can add alpine flair to backyard

September 9, 2012

With signs of the gardening season slowly slipping away, many of us who are passionate gardeners are already looking ahead for a new project for …

Good garden tools have a way of hiding in plain sight

August 26, 2012

‘A place for everything and everything in its place” was an admonishment that I heard repeatedly when I was growing up. But for some reason, …

September can be a great time to plant

September 2, 2012

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Fall gardening can yield hearty crops

September 2, 2012

The growing season isn’t over with the end of summer. Until the first hard frost hits, you have plenty of time to plant, pick and …

Grafted tomatoes could become backyard items

August 12, 2012

I came across an article on the Internet about grafted tomato plants in April. Grafted tomatoes? What was this all about? Maybe it was some …

How do you decide sun requirements?

August 19, 2012

“Gardening is something you learn by doing – and by making mistakes … Like cooking, gardening is a constant process of experimentation, repeating the successes …

Flowers to brighten summer’s dog days

August 19, 2012

August is not an easy month to enjoy. It’s hot. It’s muggy. It’s the end of lazy days. Flowers, however, have the power to cool …

Papaya a stunning new petunia

August 12, 2012

If you have longed for a petunia from the “hot” side of the color wheel then keep your eyes open for the new Potunia called …

August heat can complicate your gardening

August 5, 2012

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Composting an environmentally friendly way to improve soil

July 29, 2012

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Resources to help you deal with weeds

July 29, 2012

Weeds will drive you crazy if you let them. Don’t let them. Instead, be the smart gardener and know thy weeds before you do battle. …

Jim McLain: Scary-looking bugs a garden’s best friends

July 22, 2012

“From ghoulies and ghosties and long-leggedy beasties and things that go bump in the night, Good Lord deliver us.” — traditional Scottish prayer You probably …

Is July too late in season to plant a garden?

July 15, 2012

“Gardening is an exercise in optimism. Sometimes, it is the triumph of hope over experience.” — Marina Schinz Q: I was too busy and did …

Try dahlias for an abundance of blossoms

July 15, 2012

There’s something delightful about dahlias. They are roaring back into favor, capturing the hearts of gardeners of all levels. Their many colors­ — yellow, purple, …