Home & Garden

Expand your entertaining area with a flagstone patio, sitting wall and lighting. As with any industry, the landscape industry works to keep up with popular trends over the years – from xeriscaping to hedges surrounding a property. Trends come and go, but the job of a landscape designer is to stay current with the latest. […]

PHOTO BY ANNE CUSACK/MCT New gardeners often ask, “What is compost and do I need to buy it?” When starting a new garden, it is hard to imagine we should initially spend more time, money and energy on compost than on plants, said a University of Illinois Extension horticulture educator. “It is plants we want,” […]

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 PHOTO BY LAUREN P. DUNCAN Before throwing out that dresser with a broken drawer or the outdated coffee table, be aware there are a few people in Springfield who can turn it into something new.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 […]

A Creta stone raised garden is a perfect way to make an accessible garden for all to enjoy. PHOTO COUTRESY DESIGNER LANDSCAPES, INC The idea of putting in a raised-bed vegetable garden can be confusing if you’re not sure where to start, said a University of Illinois horticulture educator. It can be especially difficult for […]

PHOTO BY METRO CREATIVE CONNECTION It’s time to plan for a new home orchard or to consider replacements for aging fruit trees in an existing home orchard, said a University of Illinois Extension horticulture educator. “There are several different kinds of fruit trees to consider: apple, cherry, peach, pear and/or plum,” said Richard Hentschel. In […]

Mesclun is a mixture of assorted small, baby salad leaves also known as a mesclun mix. You can purchase mesclun bagged in cellophane at your grocer. Yet freshly harvested from a few square feet in your patio, garden or front stoop, mesclun is an easy tender treat, said a University of Illinois Extension horticulture educator. […]

Joan Walters has been around the world, and it shows in her spacious downtown apartment. Nearly every square foot of wall, door or floor features a different artifact – perhaps a tribal mask, a statue or a book – from her travels to Peru, Ecuador, Japan, Italy and other far-flung places. “I’m an art lover; […]

“A lot of people tell me they’d like to get off the grid,” says Bob Croteau, renewable program coordinator for City Water, Light and Power. “That’s really one of the worst decisions you could make because it is extremely expensive to do so and it leaves you having to make serious lifestyle changes.” There are […]

In the wide open spaces we find in today’s contemporary homes, every centimeter counts and the floor’s role is more important than ever – it is the room’s focal point and the element that sets the tone. The timeless natural beauty of wood gives decors one-of-a-kind personality immersed with warmth and a signature style. And […]