Home & Garden

For centuries, the maple trees on the Hale’s family farm provided sap to be processed and sold or consumed. C. O. Hale, the  grandson of Western Reserve pioneer Jonathan Hale, had a keen interest in all aspects of farming, including tapping the sugar maple trees on this farm. ...

The days are getting longer, garden stores are stocked with seed packets and onion sets. We're getting closer to garden season. This year, make plans to share your hobby with a child Their sense of wonder is refreshing and contagious. Working with plants and building a garden can bring all the senses alive, creating fun as well as providing the opportunity for learning life lessons. Blogger Donna Hessel shares creative tips on sharing the joys of gardening with children.  ...

When there’s light snow covering the ground, it’s easy to see the “bones” of your garden. It's a perfect time to plan for redesigning existing garden plots, adding new ones, or creating transitions from one to another for a more pleasing flow. In this inspiring and practical blog piece by Donna Hessel, discover how to develop an artist's eye and redesign your garden in ways that please the senses. ...

I noticed two things not so long ago, while I was working outside getting my yard ready for winter. First, all my neighbors had the same leaf blower. Did I buy the wrong one? Was there a Groupon I missed? The other thing I noticed is they were all putting their grills away, and that’s when I stopped feeling crazy for having the wrong leaf blower and started thinking they were crazy for not wanting to do some wintertime grilling. ...

Birth month flowers, like stars and gemstones, have symbolic and sentimental meanings. There's the January carnation, the April daisy and the October marigold, for starters. Find your birth month flower and see if its symbolism characterizes you. ...

What better way to spend a winter day than enjoying exotic orchids? We're in luck. Head over to the Cleveland Botanical Garden and prepare to be surprised by the variety of shapes, colors and fragrances from these delicate-looking flowers. ...

It’s best to have your home’s heating system inspected by a professional once a year – just to make sure everything is clean, working properly, and ventilated to the outside. It’s a good idea to have basic, non-perishable, food items on hand, as well as blankets, layers, and if necessary, a safe place to go. Also, be careful not to have portable heaters or open gas burning in the house, which can lead to potentially-fatal carbon monoxide exposure. ...

January is a great time to think about possibilities for gardening in 2021, even if they're not quite “resolutions.” Here are some suggestions you might consider. Your garden will thank you. ...