Nothing Like a Party!
There’s nothing like a party to get things done around your house and garden. When I was planning my son’s 40th birthday party in early May, I got busy making sure our deck was party-ready. Deferred maintenance becomes really obvious when you start envisioning things from a guest’s point of view. Here are four essentials for turning […]
Six Things I Learned Hosting My 50th College Reunion Kickoff Party
Planning a party is a great motivator to make improvements that you have been putting off. We were expecting about 50 people on June 8, so in late May we asked our gardener to spread a coat of fresh mulch over all of our flower beds, and to power wash our driveway, upper deck, and lower deck, which were covered with a […]
Curb Appeal–Improve Yours With 3 Simple Tricks
It’s high summer here in Portland, Oregon, and this is NOT a gardening column. I wanted to open with these beautiful shots the charming front garden of my dear friend, Margaret Retz, because it is the ultimate in curb appeal. Even if you are not a gardener, there are three simple things you can […]
5 Tips for Easy Summer Entertaining
We are blessed in the Pacific Northwest with a moderate climate that makes outdoor entertaining possible from May through September. If you are new to outdoor entertaining, here are a few tips to make it easy and fun: 1. FOOD: Don’t try to do it all yourself. Plan simple menus, prepare most things the […]