Home & Garden

Go Ahead, Be a Drip

By David Wann Water costs are steadily rising, as is the price of food. A drip-irrigation system can help ease both of these things. With this type of irrigation, less water is needed and yields are usually higher, because water is applied directly to the root zone. Drip irrigation also reduces weed growth, as compared […]

Seed to Supper

Some Boulder restaurants take eating local to the next level by growing some or even most of the food they serve. Text and chef photos by Peter Bronski Are you a “locavore?” If so, how local do you eat? It doesn’t get any more local than growing your own food. But even if you dine […]

Seed to Supper Chef’s Recipes: Colterra Beet Salad

Photo by Magdalena Szachowska Colterra Beet Salad 2 large organic red beets 2 large organic chioggia beets 1 oz organic chives 1 oz organic basil 1 oz organic italian parsley 2 oz local Haystack Mountain Chevre 1 oz toasted walnuts 1/4 organic fennel bulb Organic extra virgin olive oil Apple cider vinegar Preheat oven to […]

Tomato Talk

It’s time to start tomatoes indoors, so here are our picks for the tastiest tomatoes to grow in the garden this year. By Carol O’Meara The National Garden Bureau declared 2011 the “Year of the Tomato,” and what a year it will be. The most popular vegetable in the U.S. has millions of devoted fans […]

Coping with Climate Change

Gardeners know Colorado’s weather wreaks havoc on plants, and it’s not getting any better with global warming. But the way you garden can make a difference in slowing carbon emissions. Here are sustainable gardening tips from a community gardener. Text and plant photos by David Wann Gardening in the Front Range is never a cakewalk. […]

Feature Garden: Everything’s Coming Up Roses

Because almost everything is a rose in this fancier’s 50-year-old garden. Text and garden photos by Kimberly Ezzell Ruth Roberts has finally lost count of all the roses in her yard. After planting and tending them for 50 years at her west Boulder home, “I have more roses than anybody else would want to have,” […]

Container Clout

There’s no limit to the creative use of containers to enliven a garden. By Petra Spiess Container gardening is a simple way to enjoy nature without the work of a full-fledged landscape. Even if you have an ample garden, containers bursting with annuals and perennials will certainly enhance it. But the containers themselves can, too. […]

Landscape Do’s and Dont’s

Try these tips to create a happy, inviting landscape. By Carol O’Meara Keeping a lovely house with an immaculate interior may be where your skills lie. But if guests are dismayed by your overgrown yard, savvy décor alone may not impress them. If it’s time for a landscape face-lift, here are some tips from the […]

Avoiding Blooper Buys

Here are some guidelines for buying home furnishings based on bloopers that others have made in their homes. Text and homeowner photos by Mary Lynn Bruny With spring in the air and the economy looking a bit better, you may want to buy a few new home furnishings you’ve been holding off on purchasing. Prices […]

Taking Sides & Stacking the Deck

When it comes to siding and decks, there are options other than wood that are attractive, durable and sustainable and require less maintenance. By Lisa Truesdale There aren’t many “sure things” in life, but it’s a safe bet that any home you enter will have wood in it somewhere. From framing and siding to flooring […]

Green Guide: Simple Ways to be Green

Here are easy ways to make a difference in the planet’s health, and consequently, humankind’s health. By Anne Minard If you’re reading this, you’re probably part of the solution already. Our community has a reputation for eco-conscious citizens, businesses and government officials, and it’s richly deserved. But we can always do more. Photo by Morgan […]

The Modern (Not Massive) Ranch

This ranch home went from dark and gloomy to chic and airy, without overwhelming the neighborhood’s character in the process. By Juana Gómez For 25 years, a photo of Julie and Tim Herrin sat on a shelf in their former home’s dark basement office. Tim had just finished a race, bike in one arm and […]

Fighting Fire with Facts

No home is fireproof, but these strategies will make your home fire-resistant. By Scott Rodwin & Ron Flax In the wake of the Fourmile Canyon Fire that destroyed 169 homes in Boulder County, learning how to create a fire-resistant house is on the minds of many residents. Though there’s no such thing as a fireproof […]

Purr-fect Havens

Living in proximity to wildlife has its joys—and sorrows. If you have outdoor cats, they’re at risk from predators. Here’s how to keep your cats safe and happy. By Ruthanne Johnson They leap to kill birds, pounce on mice and even wrestle snakes into submission. Yet despite their killer instincts, cats have somehow stolen our […]

Fountains of Youth

Potions and powders claim to reduce wrinkles on aging faces. Nobody likes to grow old, but are there things we can do to slow the aging process? By Kate Schwartz Seamons We’re bombarded with appeals to our vanity every day. Ads tell us to buy this cream, apply this mask, take this or that, and […]

Color Your World: Tips to Take the Leap from Boring Beige

[Companion article to Beyond Beige] In a color quandary? Here’s how to take the leap from boring beige to beauteous color in your home: Pick colors that create a mood or atmosphere. Ask yourself, “How do I want to feel in this space? How could color support this room’s purpose?” Consider the relationship of wall […]

Tantalizing Tidbits

Did you know… Marinating meats in certain herbs and liquids before grilling can reduce cancer-causing compounds by up to 60 percent? When cooking meats at high temperature, the amino acids, sugars and a compound called creatine in the meat convert to heterocyclic amines (HCAs). While HCAs have been shown to increase cancer risk, antioxidants in […]

Beyond Beige

Break out of the beige rut with this advice from a local color consultant. [Also see companion article, Color Your World, for Tips on adding color]  Text and photos by Cathy Rivers We’ve all been there. Overwhelmed by the thousands of paint chips or going for the safe resale bet, we hit the color-default button […]

Thrifty is Nifty

Secondhand shopping is a great pastime, if you crave thrills, deals and green deeds. By Wendy Underhill When Shirley Jenkins stopped off at Boulder’s new Goodwill store, she thought she’d pick up a few things to decorate her daughter’s dorm room. After two hours of scrutinizing the jam-packed shelves, Jenkins (not her real name) came […]

Green Guide: Turning an Energy Hog into an Efficient Home

If your home guzzles energy there’s no better time than now to do green remodeling, because rebates and incentives still exist. Two local green builders explain what your best bets are in terms of payback and the environment. By Scott Rodwin & Ron Flax If your house is more than 15 years old, an energy-efficient […]

Deer-Terrents

By Molly Rettig If deer treat your yard like a buffet—munching roses, gulping from your pond, and nibbling your hard-grown fruits and veggies—you’re probably at your wits’ end. But it is possible to get deer to pass on the potluck. These cute but pesky garden visitors can attract predators like mountain lions into your yard. […]