Home and garden

Most people see Spokane’s West Plains as a wide-open plateau of flood blasted basalt and grasslands surrounding marshes and clusters of pines topped off with a lot of airplanes. The winds sweep across it, and the frosts come early. Among this rugged landscape, however, are people who have built close knit communities that look after each other and celebrate their friendships. And their art.

If you have a blank canvas, empty wall or bland space, consider adding an inviting and perhaps unexpected architectural detail: wood paneling. If you are looking to modernize or give a boost to a bland space, one of the best ways to do this is by adding elements of wood to create a design element.

My 52nd wedding anniversary is less than five months away. I was so lucky to find my beautiful and loving wife. In all those many years, I think we’ve had fewer than four serious arguments. I discovered years ago that it doesn’t pay to cross swords with a woman with Irish blood.

OK , folks, let’s get real. This is not the spring to burn weeds off with your handy -dandy weed burner.

You may be dazzled by the outdoor kitchens you see on home improvement TV shows. Designers work hard each year to create trends of every type. You see it in clothing, paint colors, new cars and trucks, etc. This is done to pry dollars from your savings account. New products of every type fuel the economy.

Happy April everyone! It’s nice to have an early spring for a change. Unfortunately, spring will fade into summer and the unknown. Our winter has been dry and if the summer heat arrives early, we will have to start watering early.

You may be plagued with mold and mildew in your tub and shower area. It is a very common problem. The good news is that if you’re willing to spend just 30 extra seconds once you have rinsed off all the body wash and shampoo from your hair, I can just about guarantee you will never have mold and mildew again.

OK, folks, I think it’s safe to consider winter is over, such as it was. I have gardened here for nearly 50 years and have never been able to dig holes in January or February. It was strange to be out finishing a major path project in a sweatshirt. On to spring.

Gardeners around Spokane already feel the pangs of anticipation, and no doubt, green-thumb daydreams and garden plans are in the works, but if you’re still deciding on what to plant, the city of Spokane Water Department has a few recommendations.

Flex spaces, those multiuse areas that bend and grow to accommodate the disparate and changing needs of a household, took off during the pandemic. We had to get creative about how we used space when we were home 24/7, making room for work, school, hobbies, fitness and, well, everything else. But they’re still very much a part of how we live now.

Marmots seem to be a hot topic on my social media feeds right now and most of the comments are about them moving into garden spaces. Here are some facts about the critter that is Spokane’s unofficial mascot.

The past couple of weeks I’ve written about bulk materials to improve your soil. This week I want to tell you about the macro- and microcomponents or nutrients that might need to be added to your soil.

Today’s bathrooms are no longer just about function. They’re about mood, luxurious and innovative materials, and bold design.

I’ve shared in past columns how I’m helping my son finish off about 1,200 square feet of his basement. I’m saving him more than $100,000 in labor and profit costs he would have had to pay a contractor.

David Easterbrook is an unlikely influencer. The retiree has more than 1 million followers watching him water his plants on Instagram. Easterbrook doesn’t have your average backyard garden. The horticulturalist and former curator at the Montreal Botanical Garden is one of the world’s leading experts in bonsai.

Last week I talked about the practicalities of using animal manures as a soil amendment. This week I want to talk about a few other common soil amendments like compost, peat moss and coir fiber.

I’m about to share an incredible story about Jennifer’s new $20,000 septic tank that failed in the first year. You may not care about septic tanks, but this column may save you tens of thousands of dollars if you plan to build a new home, add a room to your home, install a new roof or sign a contract for any other major project.

As we begin our spring garden season, I want to share information over the next few columns on soil amendments. Soil amendments are materials added to soil to enhance its physical and chemical properties, improving texture, moisture retention, aeration and nutrient availability. We’ll start with manures.