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 […]
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 […]
