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Horror in the garden: Carnivorous plants take a bite out of pests
With their sweet fragrance and pretty colors, pitcher plants beckon, inviting insects to partake of what must be the most delicious nectar nes…
To Carol with love: notes on a special daphne
I fell in love with Carol Mackie almost from the day she arrived here. True, she was nothing special to look at early on, but she always had a…
Right at Home: placemats with panache
The placemat is a favorite at many dinner tables: The often-whimsical plastic version catches the slip of spaghetti from a youngster's fork, w…
May 15, 2013 12:00 am PhotosPhotos
New blooms, veggies and more debuting for 2013
Whoever believes there's nothing new under the sun hasn't seen the plants being introduced for the 2013 gardening season.
Exploring the artsy side of 3-D printing
Three-D printing technology is a game changer in the arts and crafts world.
May 15, 2013 12:00 am PhotosPhotos
Collecting Forgotten Tales: The lost worlds of architectural salvage
Chances are, when you walk into an architectural salvage store, you're going to fall in love with something.
May 13, 2013 5:15 pm PhotosPhotos
Fixer-upper in Michiana Shores creates serendipity
From the first step inside this home, you can feel the energy – a vibrancy reflecting the couple who live here. Their renovation of this “fixe…
May 13, 2013 12:00 am PhotosPhotos
Urban adventures: discovering your city on foot
Adah Bakalinsky says there are more than 650 public stairways in San Francisco. She knows because she's climbed them all, except the newest on…
May 12, 2013 12:00 am PhotosPhotos
Ask a Designer: style in a small outdoor space
Design magazines and home decorating catalogs tend to feature sprawling backyards with big wooden decks and room for everything from decorativ…
May 11, 2013 12:00 am PhotosPhotos
Ways to save water—and money
An American family can use 400 gallons of water per day - and about 30 percent of that is used outdoors.
May 10, 2013 12:00 am PhotosPhotos
Garden walls can come alive with 'living pictures'
Looking for a fresh way to liven up your garden walls? Think plants, not paintings.
Erba stella is a plantain but not a weed
My friend Bob would shudder if he knew that I planted plantain today.
As Seen on TV! Ronco kitchen line reaching new generation with new face guiding consumers
"Even when I'm shopping in a store and I see that little 'As seen on TV' sign, I get pulled in," Engel said. "I love the gadgets."
May 04, 2013 12:00 am PhotosPhotos
Pond Expo showcases latest gardening trends
Beginning gardeners as well as gardening veterans can head to the Pond Expo in Crown Point for ideas and inspiration, said Kathy Bartley, the …
April 25, 2013 12:00 am PhotosPhotos
Gardeners make plans with no certainty in forecast
The worst U.S. drought in decades was gripping two-thirds of the nation, and many gardeners were spending hours watering just to keep their pl…
Window boxes are raised-bed gardening writ small
Window boxes deliver color, edibles and fragrance. They're practical, too, as raised-bed gardens that elevate their contents to within easy reach.
International Antiques Fair brings rare finds to Chicago
This Thursday evening marks the beginning of the 16th Annual Merchandise Mart International Antiques Fair.
April 25, 2013 12:00 am PhotosPhotos
Group kicks off planting of ancient tree clones
A team led by a nurseryman from northern Michigan and his sons has raced against time for two decades, snipping branches from some of the worl…
Scandinavian style fits spring
Perhaps to alleviate the dreariness of long northern winters, Scandinavian style tends toward folk-art florals, crisp checks, plaids and strip…
April 24, 2013 2:30 am PhotosPhotos
Create garden color the artist's way
Long a companion for artists, the color wheel can also be a handy tool for gardeners.
Grow in small spaces: Container gardening perfect for compact areas
Growing fruits and vegetables doesn't have to be reserved for those who have a large outdoor space.
April 22, 2013 10:53 pm PhotosPhotos
Nature takes starring role in stamping
I was chopping vegetables for dinner recently when my 14-year-old daughter, Grace, disappeared with the unusable end of the bok choy. She retu…
Pussy willows add some color to spring
No, the fantail willow's color won't knock your socks off. It's a hazy yellow, a soft cloud that comes from hundreds of gold-capped threads po…
(Nearly) weedless gardening is possible
Buried in every soil are countless dormant weed seeds just waiting to be awakened by exposure to light and/or air.
Ask a Designer: decorating with plants
Even if your garden has yet to grow, you can add beauty, fragrance and a sense of springtime to your home by decorating with lush plants and p…
April 15, 2013 12:00 am PhotosPhotos
Man Around the House: TV show host Jason Cameron shares spring yard and house prep tips
Mary Joan Dickerson of Cedar Lake is a big fan of the cable networks HGTV and DIY, treating the shows and programming about do-it-yourself lan…
In northern New England, this season's name is mud
It's known in northern New England as the fifth season: mud.
Right at Home: Show features cookware, creativity
On New York's Pier 94, this spring's Architectural Digest Home Design Show was a chance for professionals and armchair decorators to see a sam…
House & Grounds: Gull Lake home designed for lakeside living and entertaining
Mary and Kevin Beyer knew they wanted to take full advantage of their waterfront property on scenic Gull Lake in Hickory Corners, Michigan.
April 08, 2013 12:00 am PhotosPhotos
Build color confidence into your crafts
Artists and craftspeople know that the colors they choose - and leave out - are critical ingredients in their works' success, no matter the medium.
April 05, 2013 1:05 pm PhotosPhotos
Gardening for a well-stocked bar
When Amy Stewart orders a drink, she doesn’t consider how cooling a gin and tonic will be after a long hot day or about the sweet minty punch …
April 04, 2013 12:00 am PhotosPhotos
Composting is safe, natural way to increase growth
Charles Hensel has been composting for almost 60 years, and says the idea of composting being difficult and smelly is a misconception.
March 31, 2013 12:00 am PhotosPhotos
Spring means yard work for hummingbird watchers
The world's smallest bird can take up a big chunk of a person's spring to-do list: Trim the trees, weed the garden, make the nectar and hang t…
March 26, 2013 12:00 am PhotosPhotos
Decals can transform a wall cheaply, easily
During a recent home remodel, Diane Wright decided the stairway leading to her garage needed some perking up. So she went online and found a w…
March 26, 2013 12:00 am PhotosPhotos
Hotel living is the norm at wealthy NYC apartments
For the well-trained concierge at exclusive Manhattan apartment buildings, no request is too extravagant.
Saplings from Anne Frank's tree take root in US
Saplings from the chestnut tree that stood as a symbol of hope for Anne Frank as she hid from the Nazis for two years in Amsterdam are being d…
Seedlings need water; capillary systems help
Watering these seedlings is crucial: Timely watering keeps them chugging along apace; two or three days of neglect could spell death.
Miller Beach home offers minimalist luxury
A member of the Mies van der Rohe Society, George Rogge adhered to the architect’s philosophy when he began designing his Miller Beach home; a…
March 21, 2013 12:00 am PhotosPhotos
Decorate for Easter with faux chocolate eggs
Easter and April Fool's Day may be far apart in spirit but they're jammed together on the calendar this year. Here's a quick and inexpensive c…
March 20, 2013 12:00 am PhotosPhotos
Right at Home: modern takes on Easter decor
For those who prefer celebrating with a modern aesthetic, there are many attractive decor options that are a tad less cute and a tad more cont…
March 19, 2013 2:00 am PhotosPhotos
Houston couple puts Faberge collection on display
Included in that collection, now nearly all of which is on display at the Houston Museum of Natural Science, is one egg gifted by the Russian …
March 19, 2013 12:00 am PhotosPhotos
A dream come true
Deciding where to live is challenging for an adult-let alone a little girl. But when two kids vacationed with their families along the Lake Mi…
March 16, 2013 12:00 am PhotosPhotos
NIPSCO Provides Incentives for New Energy Efficient Homes
As sustainable building - "green" construction that uses environmentally friendly materials and saves energy and water - becomes more mainstream.
March 16, 2013 12:00 am PhotosPhotos
Successful design strategy starts with clear vision
It was just over an acre of rolling land dotted with trees-the perfect site to break ground for their 5,000-square-foot house
March 15, 2013 12:00 am PhotosPhotos
Irish Inspiration
They say everyone's just a wee bit Irish on St. Patrick's Day. So, on the eve of this year's celebration of Irish heritage, I thought it would…
March 14, 2013 9:30 pm PhotosPhotos
Happy hours in the garden: Grow your own cocktails
Gardening can be an intoxicating hobby, especially if the botany is booze-related.
Fernwood Symposium: Growing and consuming the best fruits and vegetables
Thomas Jefferson’s revolutionary credentials go far beyond Founding Father and authoring the Declaration of Independence; he also inspired a r…
March 14, 2013 2:00 am PhotosPhotos
Spring prints have artsy vibe
Visiting this spring's decor previews often felt like exploring an art gallery. There was an artistic vibe to everything from dinnerware to dr…
March 14, 2013 1:00 am PhotosPhotos
Hate cleaning the grill? Some hire the work out
Nick Escalante enjoys grilling his family's meals a couple of times a week year-round, but doesn't like cleaning the greasy mess that comes with it.
Make a room your own with custom fabric, wallpaper
When Renee Pedro bought a house with mid-century décor, she decided to embrace the look.
In This Issue
Most Popular
- 1 Police seek public's help identifying person who dumped puppies
- 2 Dyer man dies following construction accident at Northwestern University
- 3 Woman enters guilty plea on child molestation, exploitation charges
- 4 Lowell man, 86, dies after accidentally setting himself on fire
- 5 Feds: Van Til indicted for using public employees, resources for campaign work
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