April 1993

MOTHER'S DAY GIFTS THAT MAKE A DIFFERENCE

The lovely Edna Hibel box you see in the photo above is one of the gifts we are offering for sale this year for Mother's Day, with the proceeds going to The Better Homes™ Foundation to help homeless families. We're also offering the beautiful sterling silver Better Homes Pins created exclusively for the benefit of our foundation by the Marshalls stores.

BUILD THIS BOW-TOP BARN BIRDHOUSE

GOOD NEWS FOR ELM LOVERS

America's most threatened tree is out of the woods. Thanks to hardier new hybrids, the stately American elm-- ravaged by Dutch elm disease for nearly six decades-- is making a comeback.

A Walk Through THE GARDEN

Landscaping doesn't have to be elaborate to be effective. Often an inviting garden path and some colorful plants are all you need.

HARVESTING GARLIC CHIVES

SMALL MIRACLE ROSE

A MUM FOR TWO SEASONS

NO-MOW LAWN

FENCE-LINE FLOWERS

PINK PANDA STRAWBERRY

GETTING THE BUGS OUT

HELPING HOMELESS FAMILIES

These two Mother's Day gift offers were created just for Better Homes and Gardens® readers. Order now to mark that special day for your mother and other loved ones and to help us help homeless families through The Better Homes™ Foundation.

NIGHT TERRORS

All children endure an occasional nightmare. Yet many kids suffer from something stranger: night terrors-- frightening episodes of hysteria that may include screaming, sweating, heavy breathing, and more. Unnerving to parents and children, night terrors sometimes happen on and off for years.

GENDER BIAS

Most girls who enter grade school possess healthy self-esteem, relish their math and science lessons, and take pride in their academic achievements. Yet recent reports show that by the time they enter high school, many girls feel unworthy and insecure, and they have abandoned their dreams of working in a scientific field.

3 PRIZE-WINNING new HOMES

Get a fix on that dream home you're after by checking out the champions. The three houses on these pages won top honors recently in the Best In American Living Awards, a design competition sponsored by the National Association of Home Builders, Professional Builder and Remodeler, and Better Homes and Gardens.

GREEN CLEANING: DO HOUSEHOLD CHEMICALS POLLUTE OUR PLANET?

Most homes contain dozens of chemical specialty products. But of all these products, the ones used for cleaning (with a few exceptions) pose little, if any, threat to the environment.

GRAND ILLUSIONS FOR A LITTLE ROOM

Your decorating style is formal but your room size says cozy cottage? Go for grand style without the grand scale. You can do it with a few design tricks, such as these that interior designer Mary Dale Watson pulls off in her narrow living room:

Duplicate stitch

it's as easy as A, B, C or 1, 2, 3. Duplicate stitching does what it says-- it duplicates the stitch of an ordinary knit sweater. That one little stitch, done right on top of the knit stitch that's already there, adds pattern and color to a plain-Jane garment.

1993 decorating contest

If you've recently completed a decorating project (or if you're planning one), you could win prizes and merchandise in our 1993 Decorating Contest. Whether your project is large-scale or small, elaborate or simple, we want to see what you can do. We'll even feature some of the winners in upcoming issues of Better Homes and Gardens magazine.

Real-life decorating

It was a heartwarming job, sorting through thousands of entries in our Better Homes and Garden/Home Furnishings Council Decorating Contest. We saw great style and heard great stories. Best of all, we learned that dreams DO come true. This is how some of our winners did it, and how you can do it too.

SHOPPING FOR TODAY'S TRENDY INGREDIENTS

The "American Classics" story, beginning on page 151, features some of today's most popular ingredients. Read on to find out more about these products and where to find them--

NUTRITION INFORMATION

With each recipe, we give nutrition information. The calorie count of each serving and the amount, in grams, of fat, cholesterol, protein, carbohydrate, sodium, and fiber will help you keep tabs on what you eat.

HAM CHOICES

Having trouble deciding on a ham for Sunday's family dinner? It's no wonder-- a variety of terms describe this pork product.

IDEAS TO ENLIVEN YOUR DECK

HOW TO PROTECT YOUR EYES

CRAFTS FOR THE DOOR

SAFETY FEATURES

Automotive safety features fall into two general categories: active features, which help your car avoid an accident in the first place, and passive features, which help you and your family survive an accident. Both are crucial. Here's what to look for when you shop for a car.

A PET'S BEST FRIENDS

How do you know if your dog or cat gets proper treatment from its veterinarian or at the kennel? After all, Sasha can't bark out a critique, and Felix's meows don't tell you much.

Bargain vacationing in our NATIONAL FORESTS

For great outdoor vacations at rock-bottom cost, come to our national forests. Rarely crowded, national forests boast glorious settings that often rival those of national parks. Here's what national forests let you do:

Shopping editor's choice

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

THE MAN NEXT DOOR

Lee Bayless confides that he usually goes to church to confess his transgressions, but during the April income-tax season he just goes straight to his accountant.