Home and garden

I’m veering away from gardening this week to discuss an emerging issue concerning backyard flocks of chickens, ducks, turkeys and geese that many people in the area have. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife recently posted a warning of a spike in avian influenza cases in domestic flocks across the state.

So here we are at Thanksgiving. If last week’s weather forecast held, there is probably some snow on the ground, a little later than normal but it’s here. The weather forecast for the next three months calls for wetter and colder weather, typical of a La Nina year.

Ever heard of euphorbia plants? Of course you have, if you’ve ever purchased a poinsettia this time of year to brighten the house. Euphorbias (pronounced yew-for-bee-a), commonly called spurge, are a genus of plants that one writer described as shape shifters in the garden meaning that they come in many different forms and unique colors. As a genus of over 2,000 species found on every continent except Antarctica, they have adapted to a wide range of habitats and add unusual shapes and colors to garden plantings.

I want to thank the gentleman who recognized me at Costco last week and asked how to control the box elder bugs he’d been trying to control this fall. I haven’t dealt with them and welcomed the chance to do some research.

Ever had trouble getting seeds to germinate in the garden in the spring? If so, it’s time to do some research to see if your seeds need to be cold stratified before you plant them.

When it comes to cool colors such as blue and green, there are various reasons why they work well together. They are both soothing colors in which their different tints, tones and shades can take on different nuisances. Dark shades of green can work well with deeper shades of blue for a smoky, luxurious feel. Lighter colors such as pale shades of blue and green work well together for a more ...

Pastel colors can provide softness and neutrality to nearly any room of the home. From living spaces to dining areas and bedrooms, these soothing colors can also bring a sense of lightness and serenity. Looking for ways to infuse pastels into your home? Here are some top tips. 1. Balance with neutrals. Pair pastel colors with neutral colors such as white, cream or gray for a fresh, modern ...

At a very young age, Kevin Zhang learned that gardening was not for the faint of heart. Some of his earliest memories are of his grandmother plucking fat green caterpillars from the tomato plants in her garden with a pair of chopsticks and dropping them into soapy water.

Do you have wood rot happening at your home? It’s a very common problem, and it’s getting worse each year, in my opinion, because new lumber is more susceptible to rot, and many tradespeople are not coating the fresh cut ends of wood with paint or preservative. As you might expect, clever alternative products have appeared in the marketplace to take wood rot off your plate. I’ll discuss those in a moment.

When it comes to design, bold color is like the life of a party: often loud, confident and distinctive. While soft hues whisper, full color makes a statement. Think emerald, sapphire, hot pink, mustard or even fire-engine red; these shades don’t just decorate a space, they often define them. Bold color isn’t only for risk-takers; it’s for anyone ready to bring instant energy, style and ...

As we wrap up our gardening season for 2025, I thought it might be fun to look at some gardening myths that people often take as accurate but aren’t.

For decades, building new meant building bigger. Down came the bungalows and ranch homes and up went the sprawling McMansions.

A few months ago, I brought my 20-ounce hammer and a traditional nail set tool with me to church. A six-penny finish nail, driven by a carpenter in the late 1800s through a piece of oak trim, had worked its way out of the wood about ⅛ inch. The head of the nail caught on my shirt one morning when I leaned against the wall to give my back a rest.

Fall is here and brown, orange, and green are classic fall colors, that can help infuse warmth and comfort into your home décor. When used thoughtfully, these hues can make a home feel cozy and stylish without being overwhelming. Here are some dos and don’ts for using classic fall colors. Do Do layer different shades. Combine burnt orange, rust, terracotta, chocolate brown, and forest or sage ...

At a recent Saturday Coffee in the Garden meetup, community members gathered in the Sn̓k̓ʷan̓ɬqtn̓ Community Garden across from Shadle Park High School to learn about a garden project that is filling a small, oddly shaped piece of city land that had been growing nothing but weeds and collecting trash for years.

Last summer, after years of bouncing from rental to rental, Brianna Racoosin bought her dream home, a sunny two-bedroom condo in East Williamsburg, Brooklyn. To cover the $1.1 million price tag, Racoosin, an art teacher at a public high school, didn’t take out a mortgage; she paid in cash, thanks to a trust set up by her parents.

I installed a pocket door in my son’s basement several days ago. The basement remodeling project has stretched out over a year because we can only work together on Saturdays and on occasional days he can take off from work. It was a unique pleasure to show him how simple it is to install a door that disappears into a wall.

One of the easiest ways to bring personality and history into a modern space is through lighting. Antique or so called “old-fashioned fixtures” add warmth, character, and craftsmanship that one often can’t find in a modern fixture. Whether it’s a sparkling chandelier, a pair of vintage sconces, or even a retro floor lamp, lighting can help tell a story. When you mix older style lighting pieces ...

October is here and it’s time to start checking off fall garden projects before the cold weather really hits.