Looking for ways to work off that turkey or entertain family and friends visiting for Thanksgiving? Don’t miss these five events taking place throughout the Chicago area. Frozemont Opens Nov. 27 Rosemont Rosemont transforms into a winter wonderland this Friday when the ice skating rink opens with free sleigh rides, ice sculptures, a visit from […]
The holidays are fast approaching, which means it’s time to decorate. Here are some tips to make your home festive inside and out! Ribbon and Bows Bows with long tails are an inexpensive way to create a fresh look. Bows are standard decoration for wreaths and swagged roping and can even be used as Christmas […]
It’s time to say goodbye to summer, but you can get into the spirit of fall by decorating your home with some seasonal panache. Try a DIY approach and collect fallen leaves, brilliantly colored and textured pumpkins and gourds, and even long tree branches to bring the warmth of the season indoors. Visit a garden […]
The holidays are almost here. For many of us, that means welcoming, and sometimes stressing over, holiday guests. No need to worry though, these steps will help you get your home in order. Plan Ahead Eddie Ross, East Coast editor of Better Homes & Gardens, says it’s all about the preparation. “Try to plan in […]
January is when people start noticing that their houseplants do not look “perfect”. After our furnaces have been running all Fall, the humidity percentages in our homes drop to the single digits. Plants and people do better when the humidity is at least 10-15%. Dormant eggs of insects like scales and white flies hatch when […]
Most roses are marginally hardy in the Chicago area, so horticulturists recommend protecting them over winter. It is particularly true when a rose has been planted during the current year. Grafted roses need to be planted with the graft 2 inches below the surface of the garden soil. After a hard freeze prune the stems […]
After all the rain we have had this Spring, it seems silly to ask people to keep track of the rainfall. Every year I have to ask people, “If you drank a gallon of water last Sunday, but you did not drink any water for a week; would you be thirsty?” Almost everyone looks at […]
Everyone loves the romance of having a real evergreen in the house, but is it just more work than it’s worth? Reasons to Buy a Real Tree Environment “A Christmas tree farm is sort of like a very early forest to wildlife. Less mature forests have more wildlife,” says Jill Sidebottom, area extension specialist […]
Nothing does a makeover better than reupholstery. Whether it’s a flea market find, a prized antique settee, or simply a favorite couch a little worn from use, your furniture will always look fresh with new fabric. So where do you begin? Fabric first. Look for upholstery grade fabric. Thinner materials like organza or fine silk […]
