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If you’re a fan of the quintessential indoor-outdoor Western lifestyle that comes along with expansive floor-to-ceiling glass, a warm wash of natural light, breezeways that maximize airflow, and surrounding serene landscape, you can thank famed architect Cliff May. Regarded as the founding father of the iconic California ranch house, May’s work has been repeatedly published in Sunset since the 1930s. What made his work stand out at the time was how he designed homes not so much based on architecture but on the way people wanted to live in them. Making the most of the Western climate, his goal was to provide a closer relationship with nature through garden courtyards and blur the line between how we use interior and exterior spaces. May in turn created private sanctuaries where families could relax and enjoy a lifestyle of informal outdoor living. He invented the way most people want to live in the West, and his influence is felt throughout the region some 90 years later.

If you’ve spent any time on design TikTok, then you’ve surely come across interior designer and TikTok creator Julie Jones.

“Impossibly unaffordable” are two words that Californians are probably less than thrilled to hear. In a recent report from Chapman University in Orange, California, and the Frontier Centre of Public Policy (FCPP) in Canada, that’s exactly how four California metros are described. The 2024 edition of Demographia International Housing Affordability shows San Jose, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego listed among the top 10 least affordable housing markets—not just in the United States, but worldwide. 

A summer garden can be a source of joy and beauty, but maintaining it doesn't have to come at the expense of the environment. With the right approach, you can make your outdoor space both aesthetically pleasing and sustainable. In this article, we share practical tips for creating a summer garden that is not only a feast for the eyes but also kind to nature. From selecting the right plants to efficiently using water and energy, discover how simple adjustments can make a positive impact on your garden and the surrounding environment.

When gardening and landscaping, having the right tools can make all the difference. For moving mulch, compost, plants, or clippings efficiently from one area to another, you need a great wheelbarrow. After all, owning one of thebest wheelbarrowshelps make it possible to grow beautiful flowers or delicious edibles! With so many options to choose from, we know that selecting the best wheelbarrow can be overwhelming. That’s why we put together a list of our favorite wheelbarrows, ones we still love after years of use and that we know will help make your time spent in the garden easier and more efficient. Our Top Picks: Our Favorite Wheelbarrow: True Temper Wheelbarrow – $219.99 at Amazon What Other Gardeners

Pot-grown plants are like caged animals; being confined, they can’t ‘forage’ so they rely totally on us for food. Most compost only supplies ‘starter’ nutrients that are soon used up, so begin feeding plants growing in pots six weeks after potting or repotting.

The sunflower, known for its striking yellow bloom and impressive height, is a favourite plant in many gardens. Originally from North and South America, the sunflower has gained symbolic meaning over the years, often associated with sunshine, happiness, and loyalty. Caring for this beautiful plant is relatively straightforward, but there are a few key considerations to keep in mind to ensure your sunflower grows and blooms optimally.

Susan Calhoun’s garden in Poulsbo, Washington started out as an ugly patch of lawn that stretched along a property line. It was close to the shoreline and extremely close to a neighboring house. She craved privacy and four-season appeal but didn’t want to install a heavy line of shrubs or trees and create a claustrophobic “garden room.” Always having been a big fan of ornamental grasses and their undeniable texture, Susan decided to build a double border with grasses as the backbone. To that foundation, she added colorful plants that shine in different seasons, ensuring that this garden always looks good. Susan insists that designing this type of magical garden was easy; it just took the right planning and plants. The following are some of the main areas of this enchanting space, and the perennials, grasses, trees, and shrubs that help it shine.

The plants recommended in this article are very heat tolerant, but even the best-adapted plants need a little extra care when extreme heat strikes. Since heat can stress plants, and stress can lead to further problems, reducing that stress is paramount. Here are some ways to keep plants thriving through very high temperatures.

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