Roughing up soil is the best way to make it healthy. Here’s a primer on amendments for this area. BY CAROL O’MEARA Roughing up soil is the best way to get it in shape for both plants and beneficial microbes. Here are the best soil amendments for this area’s growing season. Every gardener dreams of […]
Learn the right way to plant trees. BY MARY LYNN BRUNY Think you’re planting trees correctly? Compare your method with the experts’ and give leafy life-forms a leg up with these tips from two local arborists. When choosing a tree for your lot, consider its mature height in the planting location. Will limbs grow into […]
How to put a little je ne sais quoi into your garden. By Karen Mitchell Some of us visit France to take in the sights, the history and the gastronomic delights. But when Erica Althans-Schmidt made a recent trip, her sightseeing focused on the many gardens in France, from formal château and parterre gardens to […]
Dramatic, showy foliage makes this king of begonias an indoor/outdoor must-have. Text and photos by Mary Lynn Bruny The Rex begonia is a regal plant worthy of a throne in any home. “Rex” means “king” in Latin, and this plant is definitely king when it comes to showy, ornamental foliage. With a huge variety of […]
Wildfire season is around the corner. Are you ready? A mountain resident who lost two homes to fire tells how to safeguard your investment. BY MARK COLLINS People who have lived and fought fires in the foothills above Boulder for more than 30 years remember a time when the greatest danger came from inside […]
How a 1963 ranch home went from blah to beauteous By Sue Bjorkman, photos by don murray photography inc. Bill Cheatwood makes a living out of remodeling, so it’s no surprise he turned his own ordinary ranch into a sustainable home with substantial curb appeal. Twenty-one years later, “I’m not done yet,” he says. After […]
When you’re short on time and long on pantry items, here are quick meals that are tastier than their packaged counterparts. By Rebecca Schneider After a long exhausting workday, your stomach’s growling and the kids are chiming in with “What’s for dinner?” Instead of takeout or the usual pasta with canned tomato sauce, take dinner from […]
For this former bagel-baking magnate, country living is the staff of life. By Lisa Marshall, photos by Roxanne Capaul With their fortunes made and their kids grown, many baby boomers have been known to treat themselves to a fancy convertible or a dream vacation. Boulder Bagel Bakery founder Michael Sclafani took a different approach. “I […]
Chill out with these delicious cocktails come summer by planting a cocktail garden this spring. BY BECKY GARBER Plant veggies, herbs and fruits this spring for summertime cocktails on the patio. When it comes to vegetable gardens, tomatoes and basil are always on the planting list. But what about lavender, mint and pearl onions? All […]
Fall root vegetables that people love to hate—and why no one should You can still enjoy fresh fare in fall if you take advantage of all the wonderful autumn root crops. By Carol O’Meara As summer’s fresh vegetables become a fond memory, delicious garden fare is still available for fall meals, thanks to the bounty underground that’s ready to […]
Insecticides used in Boulder County and elsewhere are threatening bees’ survival—and ours with it Bees are essential to local agriculture and beyond, but insecticides used here and elsewhere are threatening their survival—and ours with it. By Sarah Warner Bees around the world are dying at unprecedented rates from an alarming phenomenon known as Colony Collapse Disorder […]
These smart critters are well adapted to urban life and your backyard Your backyard is not only a haven for you, it’s territory for the cleverest critters well adapted to urban life: raccoons, coyotes, foxes and crows. By Mary Lynn Bruny You walk out your front door one day and notice a crow perched on your […]
How a relentless gardener turned his tangled underbrush into a paradise Ralph Hart didn’t let an unruly landscape get the best of him. Instead, he relied on gumption, grit and fearlessness to turn his slippery slope into a paradisaical retreat. By Carol Brock • Photos by WeinrauchPhotography.com When Ralph Hart moved to Mapleton Hill in […]
Autumn to-do’s to get your house winter worthy Here are fall maintenance to-do’s to get your house winter worthy. Some you can do yourself; others will require a pro. By Wendy Underhill Add this item to the list of reasons you’re glad you live in Boulder County: Fall home maintenance is easier here than in […]
A New Age farmhouse that’s a “green come true” for its owners Large on space but low on energy bills By Sue Price Photos courtesy McCrerey Fine Homes If this house were a person, she’d be a beauty queen with a Ph.D. in environmental engineering. Gorgeous and eco-friendly, this home truly is the Queen of […]
Brighten your home this season with affordable accessories and accents Autumn’s here, signaling the transition from outdoor to indoor activities. It’s the perfect season for freshening your space with affordable accessories and accents. By Carol Brock In autumn, when sunlight dwindles and nights turn nippy, our homes become more our havens. A few new accessories […]
Eco-friendly products to get you squeaky-clean, teeth to toes If you’re trying to green your lifestyle, there’s no better place to start than your own body. These eco-friendly products will get you squeaky-clean, teeth to toes. By Rebecca Schneider If you’re trying to live a greener lifestyle by eliminating toxins in your household, why slather […]
Fall is the ideal time to plant fruit trees. Here’s what you need to know if you want them to grow successfully. By David Wann The best time to plant a fruit tree is 15 years ago,” one saying goes, “and the second-best time is now.” With that in mind, I volunteered to help plant a small […]
How to make the most of your remodeling or building budget. By Lisa Truesdale If you’re remodeling an existing home or building a new one, setting a budget is essential. Though you may be tempted to want the very best of everything, sometimes it’s just not necessary to splurge on high-end features. You can cut […]
Fences don’t have to be humdrum, boring affairs. Consider these fresh fencing ideas. Too often we resort to plain wooden fences to screen our homes from prying eyes and traffic noise. But fencing can be practical and decorative. So before you pound those stakes in the ground, identify your fence’s purpose. Do you want to […]
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