Home & Garden

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The Queen of Climbers

Whether you pronounce it CLEM-a-tis or cle-MAT-is, these pretty plants climb and shine. By Mary Lynn Bruny During a garden tour years ago, I found myself in the magical backyard of an elderly lady. “Oh, my!” I gushed to her, “Your clematis vines are wonderful!” She looked at me with disdain and said icily, “It’s […]

10 Great Containers

Think outside the pot when it comes to planting flower displays. Anything from hats and drawers to colanders and pails can become a container. Here are 10 “pots” to consider. By Mary Leigh Howell  photos courtesy www.digdropdone.com This growing season, swap out pedestrian flowerpots for more fanciful fare. Flowers don’t care about their container, as […]

Gardening 101

Agriculture program takes high schoolers out of the traditional classroom and into the greenhouse. By Heather Riffel Ridge Austin McDougal was in a rut. As a high school junior, he wasn’t sure where his future was headed. “I was struggling with the lack of connection between what I was learning in class and life after […]

Salute to Solar

Going solar is easier than ever due to dropping costs and different financing options, rebates and credits. Here’s a look at the current state of solar. By Lisa Truesdale Thinking about going solar? Then you probably already know Colorado is an ideal location for it. Our 300-plus days of sunshine are a source of pride […]

Paying the Price

After the flood, many homeowners discovered that recouping losses from their insurance was frustrating and often futile. Their experiences may help you with future claims. By Kate Jonuska In an ideal world, a successful resolution to a disaster would be when what was damaged is either repaired or replaced by the homeowner’s duly paid, rightly […]

After the Big One

Lyons is resolved to open for business after the devastating September flood. By Debra Melani On the night of Sept. 11, 2013, Jay Hodge assessed his options as the incessant rain continued. The river abutting his Rock n River Resort, a few miles above Lyons in the North St. Vrain canyon, was rising. Every half […]

Down the Drain

How to keep floodwater and heavy rain at bay. By Maria Martin Dry creeks are very effective at channeling damaging water away from homes. (Photo by Wild By Design) When discussing the flood that devastated so many areas in Boulder County last September, Scott Deemer says hindsight wouldn’t have helped in a lot of cases. […]

Pet Pleasers

A treat is the surest way to a pet’s heart. But with tainted treats and poisoning scares, consider making healthy treats from scratch with these recipes. By Ruthanne Johnson Beagles are known for their love—scratch that, obsession—with food. And Kerry Karamian’s dogs are no different. Adoptees from the Longmont Humane Society, Joey Bagel and Addie […]

Time to Winterize

We need to prepare not only ourselves, but also our homes for cold weather By Meagan Vitek Dust off the skis, dig out the coats, layer on clothing and stock up on tea. When brisk winds blow, we need to prepare not only ourselves, but also our homes for cold weather. Jack Frost is here! […]

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A Vision and a View

For Joe and Colleen Bammann, the eleventh remodel may be the charm. By Karen Mitchell Over the years, the DIY couple has remodeled several previous homes. With no prior construction skills, the Bammanns started off merely painting but quickly graduated to installing skylights, kitchen counters, cabinets, flooring and landscapes, and even designing and constructing rooms. […]

FabFaves

Despite severe weather during the 2013 growing season, some plants performed like champs. We asked local gardeners and experts to share their summer favorites with us so you can plan to plant some in spring. By Mary Lynn Bruny You have to be tough to be a plant in Colorado, and this past growing season […]

No Pain, You Gain

Gardening is great, but it can be a pain if you don’t do it right. These tips can help you reap the rewards without the aches and pains. By Maria Martin There’s nothing more soothing than getting outside to tend a garden. The cheerful birdsong, the sweet scents, the blooms and the soil all add […]

A Stitch in Time

This home’s legacy is in keeping with its patchwork history. By Lisa Marshall From the cozy third-floor workshop of Peter and Lynne Troup’s Mapleton Hill home, it’s easy to imagine what life might have been like for its original owner, Emma Louise Clark. Perhaps the widowed dressmaker surrounded herself with fabrics and patterns here, stitching […]

From Pit to Pinnacle

When floodwaters ravaged many houses here in September, Neil and Cathy Borman weren’t home. Their neighborhood was particularly hard hit, and the Bormans’ home by Wonderland Lake could have been yet another casualty. By Lisa Truesdale The problematic front yard had a badly leaning, 7-foot-tall retaining wall made of old railroad ties. The wall ran […]

Back in the Saddle

The local horse community contributes to the flavor and face of Boulder County. By Karen Mitchell When Sheila Ranegar heard about a horse that was for sale, her first instinct was to say no. Sheila, who owns the Nederland Equestrian School, passed on the offer as this particular animal wasn’t suitable for her young riding […]

10 Ways to Make Peace

How to create a soothing backyard oasis We asked these pros how to create a soothing backyard oasis: Chris Holthouser, project manager at Outdoor Craftsmen; Bill Melvin, owner of Ecoscape Environmental Design; and Stacy Parcell, enhancement manager for CoCal Landscape. Here’s what they said about creating a place of peace in your own backyard. Location, […]

Homes of All Stripes

When this builder discovered the design preferences of many refugee and immigrant homebuyers, it changed the way he built homes. In 1992, a talented and ambitious builder named Fernando Pagés Ruiz moved from Los Angeles to Lincoln, Neb. Knowing it was the site of one of the country’s Refugee Resettlement Programs, he embarked on a […]

Historic & Colorful

This peaceful home has a flamboyant past and many warm memories. By Lisa Marshall If the walls in Joe and Anna Marie Robb’s house could talk, they’d have quite a story to tell. Built in 1919, the historic west-­Boulder bungalow has been home to an eccentric philanthropist known for wandering the property in a makeshift […]

Tub Talk

Winter is the perfect tub season. If you’re buying a new tub, it’s time to talk tubs. Here are some tips. By Carol Brock There’s nothing better than a hot soak on a wintry day. Whether taking a bath is a rare occurrence or a daily ritual, it’s the ideal way to melt stress and […]

Fermented Foods Find a Following

Fermented foods are making a tasty new splash as “good-for-you-foods”–although our grandparents knew it all along. By Mary Lynn Bruny Photos courtesy shutterstock.com  Several years ago, Tim Brod’s digestive tract was out of whack. “For 10 years my intestines were in a bad place. My energy was in a bad place,” says the Boulder beekeeper. Instead […]

An Eden of Trees

This 3-acre property sports only edible plants for people and wildlife alike. Story and photos by Lisa Truesdale Like any avid collector, Scott Skogerboe will go to just about any lengths to obtain the ideal addition to his collection. He’ll search high and low, far and wide, to hunt it down, not stopping until it’s […]

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