You can feel it coming — the holiday ads are everywhere and decorations fill stores. Even if you love the holidays, it can be a stressful time. Adding to the stress are concerns over illness (a possible COVID uptick, an unusually severe flu season) and dealing with gatherings with opinionated relatives who seem to get […]
how-tos
Posted inAt Home
New Ways to Display Poinsettias This Holiday Season
Nothing says the holidays like a poinsettia. This year, try some new ways to display this festive plant. Poinsettias are available in a variety of colors including white, pink, hot pink, yellow, peach, marbled and speckled. These colorful parts of the plant, often referred to as flowers, are actually modified leaves called bracts. The real […]
Posted inAt Home
Two Holiday Desserts Featuring Apples
Whether your festivities include immediate family or bring together relatives from around the country, the holidays are about making memories with loved ones. From the first days of the season to the last, many families spend their precious time together with favorite activities and the best foods the holidays have to offer. This year, you […]
Posted inGarden
Gift Ideas for the Gardener in Your Life
With the holidays here, everyone wants to find the perfect gift. A thoughtful gift that resonates with the recipient is a wonderful way to show that you care. But what do you about those friends and family members whose interests you don’t understand? Maybe you have a loved one who enjoys gardening, but have no […]
Posted inGardeners Corner
Give the Gift of Preserving the Garden’s Harvest
Give a gift that helps your favorite gardeners enjoy the flavors of their garden well past the end of the growing season. Both new and experienced gardeners often spend their gardening budget on plants and seeds, leaving little or none to invest in food preservation equipment and supplies. Prepare your favorite gardener for the next […]
Posted inAt Home
Tips for Eating Healthier This Holiday Season
From Thanksgiving until the New Year, temptations to eat foods we normally would never have in our homes, let alone consume, confront us. It’s almost as if the world were conspiring to undo all we have accomplished by making unhealthy fats, sodium and empty calories as attractive as possible. And many of us will fall […]
Posted inAt Home
Recipe for Turkey Cranberry Dinner Rolls
Starting with parades and ending with family meals, Thanksgiving provides all-day opportunities for celebrating life’s special moments with those nearest and dearest to your heart. Waking up to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is a tradition that brings smiles and happiness for many families, and this year, an iconic brand will join the festivities. […]
Posted inGarden
Notable Native Ferns
Ferns are some of the earliest forms of plant life found on the planet. Fossil records date back to about 500 million years. About 300 million years ago, ferns dominated swamp forests, where they became the coal deposits that we mine for energy today. Even the family they are classified under — Pteridophytes — sounds […]
Posted inAt Home
Recognizing the Five Biggest Holiday Hazards for Your Pets
The holiday season presents opportunities for celebrating with loved ones, and for many families, that includes their dogs and cats. However, holiday foods and decorations can pose health risks for pets and the hustle and bustle may be overwhelming. To help keep your pet safe amid the jolly chaos, consider these potential hazards from the […]