Buildings with a “living roof” are all the rage with the current focus on ecologically minded construction techniques. Originally European and historically planted with turf grasses, green roofs are popular worldwide for reducing pollution and runoff and improving insulation, among other environmental benefits. … read more

Gravel patios or “terraces” are an outdoor element used in home landscapes in Europe for many centuries. Elegant and natural, they are typically made of crushed indigenous stone, widely used for many years because it was a readily available and inexpensive material. The … read more

During these sometimes gray winter months, we can still find plant pleasures indoors. Houseplants are the plants that keep on giving enjoyment all year long, whether it be with foliage or with cheerful and entrancing flowers. Here are a few easy-care, no-fail plants … read more

Let me clue you in on a baking dish that will make life easy and fun. Some will remember the delightful dishes and cookware that accompanied many a family meal. A lot of those items were Pyrex, a U.S. product that reached the … read more

If you have just moved into a new house and need to know how high to hang all your pictures, start by holding up an artwork so that the center of it is about 5 feet from the floor. Have a second person … read more

When you are thinking about holiday decorating, it is usually after you have built or remodeled — and you realize that you should have put an outlet here or there, or planned for holiday lights. While those things can be added after the … read more

If decorating a Christmas tree for the birds sounds like fun, there are a few important things to remember. The most important element as far as the birds are concerned is that it be decorated with food. Variety isn’t important but quality is. … read more

You’ve invited all the guests, planned menus and then you realize that it might be nice to do some little fix-ups around the house. Don’t fret, there are lots of little things you can do to make your house look fresh and sparkle … read more

Fall brings a bounty not everyone is excited about: piles of fallen leaves. In my garden, this abundance feels like early Christmas. All that organic material is at my disposal, and the only cost is a bit of exercise! I hope you will … read more