You are invited! Please join us as WestSound Home and Garden takes a look at the joys and challenges of entertaining. With a bit of preplanning and some sage advice from our entertaining experts, throwing a party can be as much fun for the host as it is for the guests. The candles are lit. […]
how-tos
Posted inThe Outdoors
10 Steps to Winterizing Your Outdoor Power Equipment
If you’re done aerating and getting your lawn ready for the winter, you’re probably ready to put your outdoor power equipment away. Did you know that outdoor power equipment needs to be winterized before it is stored for the fall? That helps avoid problems in the spring. The Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI) recommends for […]
Posted inPeople & Places
How to Choose Your Perfect Wedding Venue
You’ve seen the big-screen wedding movies. Setting is important on the movie screen. It sets the tone and establishes the mood. In “Wedding Crashers,” the nuptials took place at the stately Inn at Perry Cabin in Maryland. The movie “Bridesmaids” filmed the ceremony in the bucolic Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanical Garden. And four […]
Posted inAt Home
Keep Orchids Beautiful and Blooming
Lift your spirits, enliven your indoor décor or give the gift of beautiful blooming orchids. You’ll enjoy these exotic blossoms for months with just minimal care — once you know what to do. Start with a healthy flowering plant. The phalaenopsis or moth orchid is the most widely available and easiest to grow. It’s similar […]
Posted inAt Home
Traditional Pumpkin Carving Techniques
Editor’s note: Are you among the estimated 64 million Americans who will be carving a pumpkin this Halloween! This excerpt was adapted from the newly published book “Easy Pumpkin Carving: Spooktacular Patterns, Tips & Ideas” can help you make the best jack-o-lantern on the block. Check out the book for more ideas. Do you know […]
Posted inAt Home
12 Tips to Help Home and Business Owners Prepare Ahead of Storms and Floods
The preparations you make now, ahead of storms or floods, can help you recover faster and stay safe during cleanup. The Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI), an international trade association representing small engine, utility vehicle and outdoor power equipment manufacturers and suppliers, reminds home and business owners that it’s best to get ready before a […]
Posted inGardeners Corner
One Simple Step Can Improve the Health and Vigor of Your Lawn
Do just one thing this fall, and you can improve the health and vigor of your lawn. Fall fertilization helps lawns recover from the stresses of summer and provides needed nutrients to grow deeper roots and a denser stand of grass. And that means fewer weeds and a healthier lawn that’s more resistant to drought, […]
Posted inAt Home
Tips for Buying Houseplants
Editor’s note: This excerpt is adapted from David Squire’s book, “The Houseplant Handbook: Basic Growing Techniques and a Directory of 300 Everyday Houseplants.“ Choosing and buying plants for the home needs care if they are to create spectacular displays that last a long time. There are several sources of houseplants, including garden centers, plant nurseries, […]
Posted inGarden
To Water or Not to Water?
Wilting leaves. Sooner or later, everyone who gardens — from just a single house plant to a grand vegetable patch — will encounter a droopy plant. The remedy is a universally known response: Water the plant. Pour some water on it or set up a sprinkler. Just get water on it somehow. Everyone knows that, […]