Dry Meadows & Waysides of Istria

Drying flowers doesn’t have to be complicated. To get beautiful colors and sturdy blooms, sometimes it’s just a matter of choosing the right ones and using simple techniques. Erin Howell-Conner, manager of Howell’s Greenhouse & Pumpkin Patch in Cumming, Iowa, knows a lot about this process. She has a lifetime of experience growing, drying and designing with flowers grown in the fields around her home and knows which ones are the best to dry.Simple method for drying flowersWhen you want to make a dried-flower wreath, a posy or even a larger arrangement in a container, air drying is the simplest and easiest method. All you have to do is hang a small bunch of

Hi, I'm Liz from the decorating and DIY blog SimpleDecoratingTips.com

A groomed, grassy field can be good for certain uses, like sports or picnics. But for broader «ecosystem services»—things like plant pollination, pest control, soil quality, and climate regulation—the smart money is in meadows.

There’s a lot to consider when it comes to determining the right plan for your yard. It will be dependent on your location and climate, to be sure, but could also hinge on your budget, skill level, and how much time you have on your hands. That being said, those who live in drought-prone areas might think their landscaping decisions hinge less on what plants to use and more on whether or not to just hardscape and call it a day. But there are an array of drought-tolerant plants that can help create a lush landscape, even if rainfall and irrigation both come at a premium. One option is the dry garden. 

Tulips are popular around the World, often known as the soul of Spring, and historically symbolic for perfect love. Finding the perfect Tulip for your location can often be challenging, particularly as many of Tulip cultivar’s are fussy and short-lived.

Owen Wormser’s popular 2020 book “Lawns into Meadows: Growing a Regenerative Landscape” (affiliate link) is just out in a new second edition. Owen is a landscape designer at Abound Design, his firm based in Western Massachusetts, and we talked about the life of a meadow and its maintenance. Meadows are not an overnight project, nor are they something that remains static and unchanging, I am reminded.Plus: Enter to win a copy of the second edition of his book by commenting in the box near the bottom of the page.Read along as you listen to the April 17, 2023 edition of my public-radio show and podcast using the player below. You can subscribe to all future editions on Apple Podcasts (iTunes) or Spotify or Stitcher (and browse my archive of podcasts her

Hailing from hot, arid climes, such as the Mediterranean and Australia, drought-tolerant plants can withstand prolonged periods of heat with no rain. The majority thrive in full sun, with their roots in well-drained soil or gravel beds that have been enriched with peat-free compost. As our climate changes, they ensure borders are a floriferous show of colour and scent all summer long, without the need to water.

Bath & Body Works

I have a confession: I coordinated three years of sneaker trials for a sister magazine of Better Homes & Gardens, and in the process learned all of the best practices for shoe care along the way. Despite that intel, and despite the fact that everyone from appliance brands like Maytag to footwear companies like Nike advise against it, I sometimes toss my shoes in the dryer. 

Supermarkets can provide an overwhelming selection of processed foods. But there are some simple pleasures they don’t usually offer, such as a lavish choice of shelling or dry beans.That’s when resourceful gardening skills can

Preserving freshly picked basil from the garden for future use is a wonderful way to savor its flavor throughout the year.Because the harvests can

Whatever the habitat we were in, it was the diversity that was so exciting. With little human intervention, there was a balance that meant no single species dominated and every step revealed new species that gradually changed with the terrain evolving into perfect conditions for another array of plants. Close to the sea, a me