Whether you use them as a snack, as a special ingredient in recipes or to inspire new dishes, Northwest-grown sweet cherries are one delightful way to celebrate the summer season. Ripened on the tree and generally harvested, packed and ready for sale within just one day, these treats are some of the freshest summer fruit […]
how-tos
Posted inGardeners Corner
How to Create a ‘Living’ Wall from Guttering
Editor’s note: This blog post is an adapted excerpt from Max McMurdo’s “Upcycling Outdoors” book, which explains the basic of good outdoor design using scrap items, and includes a variety of step-by-step projects. When you have limited outdoor space, it’s great to create as many planting opportunities as you can. Vertical planting, intended to produce […]
Posted inAt Home
8 Steps to Get Your Mojo Back This Summer
New beginnings are the most exciting and energizing times in life. Summer is always a new beginning because it’s a new season. Now is a great time to get fired up and motivated, and start making changes to get to your next level of YOU. Mojo is that magical charisma you carry that makes you […]
Posted inAt Home
Add Spice to Summer Entertaining
Warmer weather may mean finding ways to cool off, but that doesn’t mean you can’t bring bold flavors to the gathering you’re hosting with family and friends. Whether it’s a barbecue bash or a casual pool party, there is a flavorful blend perfect for nearly every occasion. When the sun is shining, it’s time to […]
Posted inAt Home
Easy and Breezy: 6 tips for Controlling Summer Cooling Costs
As we gear up for sun, surf, barbecues and all the other fun activities that represent summer, many of us are also concerned with how to keep ourselves and our homes comfortably cool this season. Of course, there are also concerns about controlling costs. The average homeowner spends nearly half of their yearly utility bills […]
Posted inGarden
The Orchard Mason Bee
The orchard mason bee, also known as the blue orchard bee, is the Western native pollinator that appears each year in late winter and early spring to pollinate the early-blooming fruit trees and flowers. Its scientific name, Osmia lignaria propinqua Cresson, describes the insect order to which it belongs and also includes ants, bees and […]
Posted inBlog
5 Tips for Summer Road Trips
For many people, summer means setting out on a road trip in search of bucket-list-worthy excitement or a relaxing vacation. Whether you’re going down the road to visit family or across the country to see a national monument, it is important to prepare your vehicle — and its tires — before you pull out of […]
Posted inGardeners Corner
Manage Water where it Falls for a Healthier Landscape and Environment
Too much, not enough, and never when you need it. This is a common complaint of gardeners. Keeping and using water where it falls is the first step in managing this precious resource. Planting and maintaining a healthy landscape is a good place to start. Trees, shrubs, ground-covers and other plantings improve water quality and […]
Posted inAt Home
How to Bring Order to Your Home Office and Creative Spaces
Editor’s note: This is an excerpt from “Simple Organizing: 50 Ways To Clear the Clutter” published by Harvest House Publishers, Eugene, Oregon. Used by permission. When you’re organizing, here’s a simple formula to follow: Less stuff equals more time. This is especially true in home offices and creative spaces, where papers, supplies and chaos tend […]