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 […]
Outdoor Rooms and Fresh Looks for Summer
Now that summer is officially here, how about a few ideas to freshen up your home for the season? One of the easiest ways is to add garden flowers–if you don’t grow your own, you can stop off at your local farmers’ market for a large bouquet for just a few dollars. Another idea is […]
Outdoor Entertaining
It felt like summer would NEVER be here. But it finally is, and the plants in the garden have been enjoying the damp, cool weather. My hydrangeas are especially happy, and my upper terrace (below) is now ready for a 4th of July party. You can create this kind of garden-room look on your deck […]