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 […]
Reinvented ancient patterns make every space pop with their bold colors and tribal designs. By Mary Lynn Bruny Want a fresh face for your décor? Then it’s time to go wild! Everywhere you look this season you’ll find mod reinventions of classic ancient patterns in rugs, throws, pillows and poufs. Vibrant, Old-World textiles like rich […]
Born of creativity and passion, this house — and its owners — breaks all the rules when it comes to conventional ideas. By Lisa Marshall • Photos by WeinrauchPhotography.com Built entirely from scratch with recycled materials and artistic touches, this eclectic north Boulder home is part “startling,” part “installation piece” and thoroughly home to owners Marcela Ot’alora G. and […]
Multigenerational households, which combine generations of a single family under a single roof, are increasingly common in today’s economy. By Bruce H. Wolk The Pew Research Center released a study in October 2011 confirming a trend architects have noted for years: Generations are combining households. The study, aptly titled “Fighting Poverty in a Bad Economy, Americans […]
These tools and accessories will make gardening easier and more productive By Mary Lynn Bruny Just because you love gardening doesn’t mean you should work harder than you need to. The right tools not only get the job done better, they make gardening more enjoyable while keeping you safe and your plants healthy. Look for […]
Courtyards perfectly complement Colorado’s sunny clime, with calming spaces that nurture the indoor/outdoor connection. By Bruce H. Wolk The residential courtyard—that hallmark of lush Tuscan villas and beautifully tiled Mexican haciendas—is making inroads in Boulder County. This architectural element is emerging here for the same reasons that nobility and landed gentry incorporated courtyards into their homes—privacy, […]
Here are common pests in local gardens, trees and homes, and ways to prevent and eradicate them. Or, in a few cases, overlook them. By Carol O’Meara Between summer’s buzzing bees and burst-ing blooms is an army of bugs dedicated to turning your home and garden into an all-you-can-eat buffet. But you needn’t worry about […]
Anchored by something old and many things new, this Mapleton Hill garden has transitioned alongside its owners. By Carol Brock • Photos by WeinrauchPhotography.com If only tables could talk, instead of turn. If they could, the old sandstone-slab table in Sheila and Peter Dierks’ Mapleton Hill garden would have a few tales to tell. The […]
Fragrant, colorful and delicious, citrus trees are a joy to grow if you give them a little attention. Here are plant and care recommendations. By Sue Price One of Marcela Ot’alora G.’s favorite memories is drinking lime water made with the fresh limes that grew so readily in her native Colombia. But when Marcela exchanged […]
Garden styles are as varied as people. Here are six of the more common styles, and the elements that define them. By Rebecca Schneider Have you ever seen a garden that resonated so well with you that all you wanted was to sit in it and absorb the colors, shapes, sounds and smells? Gardens, like people, […]
Get a jump on your vegetable garden this spring by sowing seeds. Here’s a primer to you get started. By Carol O’Meara Photos by Weinrauchphotography.com Last year’s patch of lettuce, tomatoes and peppers proved so tasty, you’re already dreaming about this summer’s sweet, crunchy produce. But why dream when you can plan? Spring is the […]
Want flower baskets bursting with color and blooms? By Thad Johnson, Yatahai Gardens Here are Yatahai Gardens’ growing tips for the best baskets: Add Texture and Dimension. Blend straight, upright plants like geraniums, mounding plants like petunias, with trailing plants like verbena and lobelia. Always Have a Focal Flower. Include at least one bold-blossomed plant, […]
Plant more roses than you think you have space for? Why not? Inspired by Ruth Roberts’ 50-year-old Boulder rose garden, Lynn Nichols’ garden overflows with roses of all varieties. Here’s his advice for aspiring rosarians. By Mell McDonnell Photos by Lynn Nichols A visitor to Lynn Nichols’ rose garden is usually given three things: a […]
Yatahai Gardens grows everything it sells from seed—a distinction few greenhouses can claim. By Lisa Marshall Photos by Thad Johnson It’s a frigid December day, with 6 inches of snow on the ground and a chill wind ripping across Boulder County’s eastern plains. But inside a humid 74-degree greenhouse at Yatahai Gardens, Thad Johnson has […]
By Carol Brock Q. Let’s talk about the history of Long’s Gardens. Your grandfather, J.D. Long, originally started the gardens as an extension of his seed business? A. He was like a lot of people who came to Colorado in the late 1890s. He had tuberculosis. He worked at various jobs, but got a job […]
Long’s Gardens is a Boulder legacy, with roots that stretch to the early 1900s. Incredibly, it’s still run by the same family, but the challenges of running the farm have changed from generation to generation. By Carol Brock Photos courtesy of Long’s Gardens Some urbanites may entertain the romantic notion of buying a farm and […]
Creating a sustainable soil environment is crucial to growing vigorous plants. Here’s a guide to organic fertilizers that will help your soil become healthy. Text and Photos by David Wann All fertilizers are investments, but organic ones are more likely to give reliable returns. Fertilizers from natural sources release a wide spectrum of nutrients slowly […]
Boulder County homeowners are more familiar with wildlife than most urban dwellers. The best motto is “live and let live,” but a wildlife expert offers tips when unwanted animals move into your home. By Carol Brock Photo by Tony Campbell As a professional wildlife-control operator and rehabilitator, Jack Murphy has seen it all—from skunks under […]
It’s time to clear away winter cobwebs and invite in fresh spring breezes. Here’s how to make everything in your home spick-and-span. By Mary Lynn Bruny Ah, spring! The sun is shining more brightly, and if you take a close look at your home, you may see it needs some spring-cleaning. If you want to […]
