Outdoors

Come springtime, daffodils appear everywhere. But there are many other bulbs you can plant this fall for additional color next spring. If you’re tired of seeing just swaths of yellow, read on. If you prefer hands-on tips, Emerald Necklace Garden Club is sponsoring a free, open-to-the-public education seminar on unusual bulbs, Sunday, September 19. ...

The annual flowers are at their peak! A fun art activity to do with the grandkids this time of year is flower pounding. Flowers and leaves can be hammered to release their vibrant natural dye onto paper or fabric. Great results come from flowers that are mostly flat and have a lot of color, such as rose petals, bright daisies, geranium petals, petunias and pansies. ...

Your shrubs are trimmed, your perennials and annuals are blooming in sweeps of color and the weeds are (mostly) under control. Yet, something is missing. Could it be garden art? ...

What’s the best thing about learning to grill? It’s getting the experience by doing it, and with the repetition of grilling comes the repetition of eating yummy food, often outdoors. Sounds like a great summer activity if you ask me, but let’s review a few basics that even experienced backyard grillmasters often overlook. ...

Why is it that children are so attracted to dandelions? Maybe it’s because of their bright yellow color and their round, fluffy seed heads that are so much fun to blow into the wind and make a wish. Whatever it is, grandchildren love these flowers that we adults consider only as pesky weeds! ...

The designing, shopping, planting, weeding and maintenance of your gardens is finished (well, almost), and they are at peak bloom. It’s time to relax a bit and show off what you’ve accomplished. Share your garden with your friends at a garden party. Here are some tips for hosting a memorable one. ...

The pandemic has made a lot of people — including mayors, legislators and the public in general — aware of how important being outside is to our well-being and how we need to take action sooner rather than later to ensure a healthy environment as we tackle climate change. With that in mind, bicycle and pedestrian safety is at the forefront of advocacy — building better infrastructure for walking and biking, education in schools, better training for law enforcement, and making certain that legislators know what you want. ...

Head to The Flats East Bank every Wednesday afternoon for the weekly farmers market by the riverside. You'll find fresh, local vegetables, fruits, herbs, bread and more, brought to you by different local farmers and vendors. ...