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Linda is a seasoned writer and home-decorating authority. She loves sharing design trends, decor ideas, and useful tips with her readers. What do you think of when you hear the term “cottage style”? Is it a sophisticated cabin in the mountains, a casual beach bungalow with coastal accessories, or a cute little house with a picket fence brimming with collectibles?

A Newbie Cone with its companion blossom appeared---October 7, 2019 Transplanted WonderEach time a new cone begins to emerge the magic of each one tickles me pink. This pine cone ginger plant had been transplanted 14 months ago into a large pot.This was the first time I had ever done so was not sure how it would adjust to its new home.

We& 39;ve all had them and cringe at the sight of them. Those pesty little things are more than just a nuisance. They are bad for your health, carrying disease and mayhem everywhere they go. You& 39;ve tried sprays but that only seems to work locally and temporarily. Does that surprise you? Roaches have survived the ice age.

Mazlan is thrifty and tries to reuse everyday items in as many different ways as possible. What Can I Do With Used Tea Bags?A typical person drinks tea and throws away the bag without a second thought. If you want more bang for your buck, you reuse it for another cup and then throw it in the trash, right?

My Search for a Kitchen Sink: How I Chose the Blanco Silgranit II Granite Composite Sink How much can you say about a kitchen sink? As I found out, quite a lot! In this updated long-term review of the Blanco Silgranit II granite composite sink, I hope to share with you how satisfied we have become with our purchase.

Sean has been in the industry of gardening and landscaping since 2006. He is also a certified arborist that specializes in plant health. The aloe vera plant is a perennial with thick, light green succulent leaves. The plant is believed to have originated near the Mediterranean sea and northern Africa, but its exact origin is debatable.

In this project, I was able to combine two of my favorite activities—bird-watching and DIY.Do you want to attract birds to your garden? Are you looking for a cheap bird feeder pole? This article will show you how to build one out of an old patio umbrella. The finished result is a tall pole with six sturdy arms that will allow you to hang an array of bird feeders.

Jamie loves writing about DIY projects, decorating on a budget, craft ideas, and creative ways to reuse and upcycle products. These rhinestone-covered bottles are beautiful and elegant and will add that decorative touch to any room in your home. They were very inexpensive to make, though.Getting StartedI already had the glue and the bottles.

Eugene, an avid self-taught DIYer and engineer, has acquired almost 40 years of experience with power/hand tools, plumbing, and woodwork.Make Concrete Without a MixerA cement mixer does a great job at mixing concrete, thoroughly blending cement, stone and sand to give a consistent result. However it& 39;s also possible to mix concrete by hand without a mixer with a little care and some effort.

Dan has been a licensed journey-level electrician for some 17 years. He has extensive experience in most areas of the electrical trade. What Are Rope Lights?In the simplest terms, rope lighting consists of many small bulbs embedded into a solid tube of clear, bendable plastic but there is more to it than that.

Randy has a Ph.D. in Plant Pathology from U. of Wisconsin and practices his craft at universities and USDA-Agricultural Research Service. While pure sand is not an ideal medium for growing plants, it can be used to successfully grow a number of different plant species. I remember going to my grandparents& 39; homes during holidays and summers, where the soil was a very deep, loose sand.

Jill likes cooking, writing, painting, & stewardship, and studies gardening through MD Master Gardener & Master Naturalist programs.Pollution, fungal spores, mildew, dirt, insect eggs—all sorts of deposits can lessen the appeal of beautifully barked trees and potentially harm them. Washing specimen trees like lacebark elm, Kousa dogwood, and sycamore is a simple task any gardener can do any time of year, even in autumn and during the mild days of winter.

An avid gardener for over 40 years, Dolores has landscaped for private clients and maintained one client& 39;s small orchid collection. HIbiscus OverviewFor a lush tropical look in your garden, the hibiscus family of plants offers a large variety of forms and habits. While there are many types of hibiscus, this article centers on three of the most popular plants.

Dan has been a homeowner for some 40 years and has nearly always done his own repair and improvement tasks. He is a licensed electrician. Shingling A RoofUnderstanding how to shingle a roof isn& 39;t rocket science; laying asphalt shingles is actually pretty simple and straightforward. There are a few tips that will help the work, however, as well as a few places that are of more importance than others.

Audrey is a lover of all things DIY. The personal touch is so important and something we all can enjoy—in the creation or receiving! Peppers are plants that can be classified as very sensitive when it comes to dipping temperatures. Pepper plants of any variety quite frankly like it hot—whether they& 39;re chili peppers or sweet peppers.

Rachel worked as a farm manager for 3 years in Pennsylvania. She owned and operated a small farm in Minnesota for 5 years, until 2019. What& 39;s a Scythe?At the risk of appearing a little strange, I want to share with you my love of mowing with a sycthe.First thing& 39;s first: A scythe is a tool consisting of a long, curved blade attached to a straight or curved handle.

Leah Lefler enjoys adventures with her family and frequently camps with her two sons.Fall Garden Clean-Up Putting the Garden to BedSome gardeners are fortunate enough to live in a climate that has a year-round growing season. Most of us, however, live in an environment that experiences some degree of winter and a cessation of plant growth.

Sean has been in the industry of gardening and landscaping since 2006. He is also a certified arborist that specializes in plant health. The Croton (Codiaeum variegatum) houseplant in commonly called & 34;Bush on Fire& 34; due to its bright, variegated foliage. There are many varieties with red, orange, yellow, purple and/or white variegation.

I love gardening and DIY, especially when I can combine the two! How to Build a Hanging Garden With BottlesOne day I was looking at my empty 2-liter plastic bottles and wondered how I could recycle it. I love gardening and decided that whatever I was going to use the bottles for had to be for something my garden.

Jill likes cooking, writing, painting, & stewardship, and studies gardening through MD Master Gardener & Master Naturalist programs. Easy DIY Plant MarkersWant to repurpose throw-away items and yard waste into trendy plant markers? Here are some simple ideas to try. Recycled Materials to Use as Garden MarkersWine CorksSmall, cute and simple to make, wine cork plant markers are particularly appropriate for kitchen container gardens and herb gardens.