May 1991

A BEAUTIFUL, MEANINGFUL MOTHER'S DAY GIFT IDEA

How would you like to buy your mom a piece of original art for Mother's Day and make her feel good about herself and you at the same time? That's easy to do. Just order a beautiful house pin for her, like one of those in the hands of Lucinda Yates in the photo above.

Window Gardens

Window gardening is one of life's little pleasures. Though small, a flower box is filed with the same colorful rewards that a big border offers.

THE NEW LOOK OF OLD Roses

Rose lovers, take note. There's a bumper crop of new, old-fashioned shrub roses with French and English roots. Tailored for American gardens, David Austin and Meidiland roses offer repeat bloom, delicious fragrance, and a tough-as-nails constitution.

NEW SPRINKLER

NEWS FROM DOWN UNDER

GARDENS OF THE MIND

TERRIFIC TRELLIS

THE FRENCH CONNECTION

BUILD A CLASSIC CHAIR IN A WEEKEND

GETTING INTO COLLEGE Does hiring a private consultant make sense?

A private consultant is probably waiting just around the comer to help your son or daughter find the perfect college. Such special attention doesn't come cheap, however. Consultants charge anywhere from $50 to $2,000. Is it worth it?

WHEN FRIENDS FIGHT Five questions worried parents often ask

Conflicts between friends cause parents as much, if not more, worry as conflicts between siblings. The reason? For one thing, when siblings fight, they stay siblings. But when friends fight, there's a chance the friendship may end.

THOSE FUNNY SOUNDS YOUR BODY MAKES

It's bad enough that your doctor and well-intentioned friends tell you not to eat that pepperoni pizza. But when your own stomach turns on you with growls and grumbles, well, that's just adding insults to injury.

What Can You Do With a HOUSE LIKE THIS?

"When I think back, I realize it was such a tenement!" says Lucy Leyland. But she and husband, Matt Lieber, bought the 900-sq.-ft. story-and-a-half "shack" because it was affordable-- and because it was on a large wooded lot. They could see the possibilities of what the tiny house could become: a bright and comfortable home for a family of four, with a master suite, separate children's bedrooms, a study, and a first-floor laundry.

TRUE COLORS

Catch the new decorating wave! It's washing away the dusty tones of the' 80s and splashing our homes with clear, luminous hues. Environmental and global issues are bringing their fresh colors to our doorsteps. We're moving beyond the pale of grayed pastels to live with relaxing yet lively violet-blues. Some of us feel right with furnishings awash in classic black, gold, and ivory overtones.

DECORATING CONTEST

AMERICA'S BEST AFFORDABLE NEW HOUSES

Searching for a new house that suits your fancy and your pocketbook? Take heart; affordable, eye-pleasing homes are still being built in all parts of the country. To help make your search easier, Better Homes and Gardens met with the National Association of Home Builders and Professional Builder and Remodeler magazine to judge a recent design competition for home builders.

LANDSCAPING PROBLEMS SOLVED

Even the worst landscaping problems can have fairy-tale endings. In desperate need of a face-lift, this California bungalow (above) was the ugly duckling on the block before a landscape designer transformed it into the neighborhood swan.

FOR THE BIRDS Three collectible birdhouses

If your birdhouses are going outside to shelter the little chirpers, be sure to use exterior-grade paints, glues, and woods wherever possible. For indoor houses designed to decorate your own home, interior-grade materials will work just fine.

RECYCLING REPORT: NEWS YOU CAN REUSE

Recycling programs are springing up across America, but all the regulations, labels, and materials can be confusing. To help you sort through the new rules we put together this guide.

NUTRITION INFORMATION HOW TO MAKE IT WORK FOR YOU

With each recipe, we give important nutrition information. The calorie count of each serving and the amount, in grams, of fat, cholesterol, protein, carbohydrate, fiber, and sodium help you keep tabs on what you eat. We also include the percent of calories coming from fat.

Adventure Vacations Just FOR kids

A room of their own, club membership, and milk and cookies at bedtime are a few of the child-pleasing perks some hotels offer to attract families.

HELP Us HELP More Moms Like These

TIPS TO CONQUER HOT SPOTS ON DOGS

When you see your dog suffering from a summer itch, the culprit may not be fleas, but "hot spots."

Shopping editor's choice

Discover the ease and pleasure of shopping by mail. Order from the convenience of your own home with complete confidence.

SHOPPING HOW TO ORDER

THE MAN NEXT DOOR

Banker Helen Newsome says that bankruptcy is something like a hangover-- it's hard to remember that the party was that much fun.