If you’re building or remodeling a house to be more energy efficient, consider these things during the planning stages.
There’s more than one way to get soaked if you’re a plant. Here’s a comparison of four irrigation systems to help you find ones that suit your garden. By Mary Lynn Bruny Are you sick of the endless time-consuming chore of hand-watering your garden beds? Adding an automated irrigation system certainly makes gardening more enjoyable. […]
Stephen Schmitz and Naomi Rusk built this tree house in their backyard for their children and friends’ kids to enjoy. The tree house also has a zip-line, a playground, a playhouse and baby swings to make it “multigenerational,” Schmitz says. Photos by www.weinrauchphotography.com Nothing stimulates children’s imaginations like their own private play space. “Play is […]
Dreaming of your outdoor room? How to dress your patio.
Decorating a home with reclaimed materials doesn’t always translate to shabby chic. Interior designer Joanne Palmisano shows how elegant and eco-friendly go hand in hand. By Joanne Palmisano photos by susan teare Salvage material goes by many different names. I consider salvage anything that is secondhand: recycled, reclaimed, repurposed, vintage, antique, and even “junk.” If […]
When a couple remodeled their Mapleton Hill home, they uncovered hundreds of items from past inhabitants. Photos by www.WeinrauchPhotography.com By Lisa Marshall Alex Besser was sorting through the clutter left behind by the previous owner of her new Mapleton Hill home when she spotted a dusty leather suitcase languishing in the shadows of the cramped […]
Modern upholstery fabrics are both durable and desirable. By Kate Jonuska It used to be an either/or proposition. You could live near your furniture, admiring its high-fashion upholstery fabric from afar. Or you could actually live with your furniture, accepting the inevitable aging, fading and wear that result from everyday sitting—as well as the inevitable […]
These culinary tools make cooking and cleanup a whole lot easier. By Carol Brock The use of tools was once thought to be a mark of human superiority—until scientists discovered that primates, birds and other creatures make and use tools just as effectively as people. But when it comes to the kitchen, tools are a […]
It’s not every day you hear you’re doing a good job. So it’s nice when someone tells you so. I was at the Boulder Home & Garden Fair at Twenty Ninth Street on May 10, and I hope many of you were there too. A woman approached and asked if I was Carol Brock. “Yes!” I […]
Although a rhino might have trouble squeezing into it, an individual or a couple would fit quite nicely. “It” is a new type of sustainable housing dreamed up by Louisville-based Rhino Cubed. The company’s environmentally friendly “houses” are made from spent shipping containers. Created by architect/artist Sam Austin and arts patron/environmentalist Jan Burton, the houses combine […]
From the Task Force on Systemic Pesticides The Task Force on Systemic Pesticides provides comprehensive, independent analysis to inform more rapid & improved decisions on the use of systemic pesticides & their impact on biodiversity & ecosystems. This video highlights the recent Worldwide Integrated Assessment report on the use of neonicotinoids and its effect on […]
If something sounds too good to be true, it usually is—but not in the case of hybrid cars.
Bad insects are wreaking havoc on gardens and yards, and decimating ash trees in Boulder County. Here are ways to keep these invaders in check. By Carol O’Meara Boulder County has long been a mecca for lovers of nature, beauty and the outdoor lifestyle. But lately it’s become the destination location for newcomers of a […]
[youtube width=”560″ height=”315″ video_id=”8E15Ais7mO8″]
The WOW factor in any yard By Mary Lynn Bruny To the delight of gardeners everywhere, each year growers introduce a host of enticing new plants for purchase. Either they’re versions of old favorites with an exciting new twist or they’re completely novel. While some have been around a few years, others are so new […]
In general you think of yourself as savvy gardener, you utilize homemade compost, companion planting and the square foot gardening approach. But have you ever considered the role of pH in your gardening endeavors? Consider that pH plays the single most influential role underground to the health and vigor of your garden. […]
Funny how the time passes. Last fall, we were all reeling from the flood. Then winter came and went, with many of us spending those months fixing our basements and repairing our homes. Now spring is here, my favorite season in Colorado. But after last year’s flood, I feel a little uneasy about […]
The water has retreated. The basements have dried. For many homeowners, the catastrophic flooding of September 2013 is becoming a distant memory. But chances are, your landscape hasn’t forgotten. By Lisa Marshall “When you get nearly a year’s worth of moisture in a week, there are bound to be lingering effects,” says Thad Johnson, owner […]
Berms do more than screen noises. They make a garden interesting. By Panayoti Kelaidis Almost a quarter-century ago, the great garden designer Harland Hand was wandering around our new garden in east Denver. We told him we intended to install some rock-garden beds in the backyard. He gazed at us intently and said, “They’d better […]
Raised beds let you grow a LOT in less space. by David Wann photos courtesy David Wann Raised beds are a common sight in local yards, as more and more people discover the joys, savings and benefits of growing their own vegetables. These local gardeners join millions worldwide who use raised beds, a technique practiced in […]
