Home & Garden

An alluring landscape can make a home that much more enjoyable. Many homeowners devote considerable time to their lawns and gardens, and that devotion can pay both instant and long-term dividends. A well-groomed landscape can make it more enjoyable to relax in the yard, and such a property will be more attractive to prospective buyers […]

David and Gale Myers have some 400 varieties of Japanese Maples and other cultivars at Davidsan’s 22-acre nursery. PHOTO BY GINNY LEE For tree lovers and connoisseurs of Japanese maples in particular, Davidsan’s, at 919 S. Farmingdale Road near New Berlin, is a paradise. David and Gale Myers’ 22-acre tree farm is the largest Japanese […]

Get Your Roses Ready for the SeasonApril 16, 5:30pm. Barney Bruzetti on getting your roses off to a good start and keeping them beautiful all summer. 30 minute presentation followed by Q&A session. Free to public. Gardens in front of Building #30, Illinois State Fairgrounds, 801 Sangamon Ave., 782-1698. Grow Springfield Annual Spring EventApril 16, […]

Stand-alone camera systems with video recording and remote monitoring are an alternative to security system-integrated video surveillance. PHOTO BY DIANNE CROWN For Michelle Tjelmeland, a good home security system is about personal safety. Various zones in her Springfield home are wired and monitored with door chimes, motion sensors, sirens and flashing lights set to signal […]

A curb appeal-boosting outdoor amenity that fell out of favor for years in new single-family home construction appears to be on the rebound. It’s the front porch, and it’s in greater demand today than it has been in years. In fact, the U.S. Census Bureau revealed in June of this year that nearly two-thirds of […]

Demonstration garden programSep 18, 5:30-6pm, Free program, “Creating a Prairie Garden Demo.” University of Illinois Extension Sangamon-Menard Unit, 2501 N. Eighth St., Illinois State Fairgrounds, Bldg. #30. 217-782-4617. Springfield Audubon SocietySep 18, 7pm, Arvin Pierce, ACBees Apiaries, talks about joys and challenges of keeping honeybees. View an observation hive with live bees. Adams Wildlife Sanctuary, […]

More and more people are staying at home to entertain rather than heading out for a night on the town. The trend of staying at home has sparked many homeowners to invest in their backyards, with outdoor kitchens and patios. But, with the crisp fall air, homeowners have to look at how to extend the […]

A professional blower door test provides readings on air leaks into a home. Most people don’t turn to Gary Hurley until it’s too late. Hurley is energy services manager for Springfield City Water, Light and Power, and he oversees the utility’s home energy audit program. Hurley says CWLP has conducted about 110 energy audits so […]

The author’s watch-pug stands guard over a fire of manageable size. PHOTO BY BRUCE RUSHTON Nothing is more cozy come fall – and winter – than a nice roaring fire. Gas fireplaces can’t compete with the snap-crackle-pop of real wood burning within a hearth turned wonderfully warm by glowing embers of oak, hickory and maple. […]

It was a house of mirrors. But this was the kind you had to live in. “No matter which way you turned, you saw yourself reflected back. It seemed like the entire house was covered in mirrors. Every wall, the ceilings, even the kitchen was mirrored,” says Allyn Rawling, a real-estate agent with Coldwell Banker […]

Julie Butler of Tossed and Found has put together rooms in her store, which features recycled and reupholstered furniture. PHOTO BY LAUREN P. DUNCAN Before throwing out that dresser with a broken drawer or the outdated coffee table, be aware there are a few people in Springfield who can turn it into something new. With […]

PHOTO BY METRO CREATIVE CONNECTION Lawn care questions in the wake of last summer’s drought are now pouring in, said a University of Illinois Extension horticulture educator. Rhonda Ferree listed the following as her top 10 tips ranked in order of importance. 1. Fertilize at the proper time. Most homeowners only need one application per […]