tongue depressors: plant labels on a budget

Somehow, back-to-school season is upon us, and you know what that means: shopping and shopping some more. Between school supplies, dorm must-haves, and fresh outfits, getting your kids back in the classroom can put serious pressure on your budget.  That’s why we turned to Dina Sweeney, director of merchandising for Kidpik, who knows everything about school shopping season and how to save. Luckily for us, Sweeney has been around the back-to-school block many times with her two college-age kids and is full of wallet-friendly advice. Read on for Sweeney’s top five tips for sticking to a back-to-school budget without sacrificing style.

Redesigning your home on a budget can often seem synonymous with «impossible»—one thing many design elements have in common, from tiling to flooring to redecorating, is being costly. But, there is one designer that is changing the game, giving a new synonym to DIY redesigns: luxury.

Think before you allow poppies to proliferate. Poppies rob a lot of goodness from your soil.

I just purchased a new containerised Rhododendron named ‘Sappho’. The picture on the label is of white flowers with spotted purple centres. There are lots of buds, about 20, and they are looking lilac.  I thought of taking it back as that was not the colour I wanted.

This garden centre label is colourful and was surprisingly close in colour to the plant it was selling.

Kenneth Cox at Glendoick   Offers some of the best advice on rhododendron identification and recording. …..Using GPS handheld devices would allow reasonably accurate mapping to made by taking positional readings in each area of the garden and recording what is planted there. If you want  you can then allow garden visitors to access these records on their own devices. There is no limit to the interactive potential if you are prepared to invest time and money…..

As the year passes, and as each new season settles upon us, we are blessed with abundant and various seasonal crops and produce. While in most mainstream grocery stores, we can now find our favorite foods all year round; however, many prefer to eat what is being grown specifically in that season. Here in South Carolina, entities such as Certified SC Grown is just one example of an organization that is working to bridge the gap between field and plate, making finding local, seasonal fruits and vegetables more attainable.

Escape to a world of tranquility with your very own Zen Garden! Whether you have a small balcony or a spacious backyard, these affordable Zen Garden Ideas on a Budget will inspire you to create a calming retreat tailored to your style and budget.

With summer in full swing, it's the best time to appreciate the outdoors — whether it be lounging by the pool, hosting a small garden party or enjoying meals in the backyard. You may prefer a peaceful retreat for yourself, a simple setup for outdoor dining with family or a spacious gathering spot for friends. No matter how sunny or shady, woodsy or open, large or small your backyard is, we've rounded up creative backyard decor ideas to inspire your dreamy space.

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Are you looking at plants in your garden and wondering why they aren’t flowering?

BAD NEWS, GOOD NEWS: Proposition 37, the California initiative that would have required labeling of foods containing GMOs, was outspent by its massive corporate food opponents and went down to defeat last week, in a flood of deceptive and expensive ads. But I want to think that the awareness that this fight created was the start of something good; that it got us all thinking, and forming an opinion.