April 2011

We're giving spring cleaning a new mission

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Fresh Ideas For Gardens

BHG Garden editor Eric Liskey's top tomato picks

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Things to Do This Month

Hello, birdie! Throw a welcome party for migrating flocks returning home. Rinse and refresh your birdbath, stock a feeder with new seeds, and whistle along with the season's first songbirds.

Home, sweet home

Buzz worthy

A real-life love story

Peep show

Surprise a friend with a unique 3-D pop-up flower card--it's the perfect size to stick to a front door...

Cut loose

Water management

The wired workout

Some gadgets are true go-getters. These gym-ready workhorses can keep up the pace-- no matter how fast or far you go.

Take It Outside

Celebrate spring with table accents that put an elegant spin on tradition.

Labor of Love

A couple's shared interest in gardening blossoms into a romantic landscape brimming with flower-filled borders.

What's New For Spring

We sift through plants, tools, and more to bring you the top picks for the new season.

Heaven Scent

Romantic lilacs bring both beauty and fragrance to spring gardens.

Salad Days

It's crunch time! Leave those supermarket bags-o'-salad for the off-season. A cinch to grow from seed, lettuce loves spring's cool, wet weather. In just a few weeks, you'll be snipping sweet homegrown greens.

This Month in the Garden

BHG Test Garden

BHG e-Tablet Edition

3 Little Groundcovers That Thrive Under Trees

Garden Candy

A Rosy New View

A garden lover gets a fresh outlook by reshaping her cottage into an indoor-outdoor haven.

Spring Blooms

Nature nails tricky colors in the most gorgeous way. Case in point: the peachy pinks of these early bloomers. Borrow their fresh hues for your home.

Growing Interest

Elaine to the Rescue!

"This really was one of the five blandest colors known to mankind," says designer Elaine Griffin of the brownish wall color in this living room. But the "dark and drab" didn't end there. "The brown sofa dominated," says Elaine. "It was like having a giant grizzly bear lying in the middle of the floor." And while the homeowners love to entertain, there was little seating for crowds. Elaine's mission? Lighten and loosen up.

Roses Made Easy

Warm Welcome

Rich wood tones, no-worry surfaces, and a layout with room for everyone: Here's a kitchen where cooking and connecting are equal pleasures.

Take a Seat

Outdoors or in, the right set of folding chairs can be a welcome addition to any table. "If you entertain frequently and you have the storage space, it's a good investment," says interior designer Elaine Griffin. She's a fan of bamboo folding chairs for their "super chic" looks, strength, and ability to blend in.

Making Recycling Easier

Good-bye, Clutter

Ease the Load of Moving Furniture

Whether you're rearranging a room or changing addresses, avoid frustration and extra work with these advance moves.

Can vinyl siding be painted?

WISDOM

In This Corner

No room for a home office? Carve out a tidy workstation from just a few square feet of space.

Apple-Crisp

Move over, balsamic, sherry, and red wine vinegar. Lately, it's cool to be cider. From the classic pantry varieties to specialty ones made with heirloom apples, cider vinegar is enjoying a comeback among chefs and curious cooks alike for its sharp, fruity flavor.

New Ways with Yogurt

Quick Crumbs

Hard-Cooked Eggs

How can I tell if an egg is fresh?

Pimiento Cheese

Green makers

For Motherboard moms, eco is a family value-- and family fun, from recycling to gardening.

Get smart

Make your peace with technology and put your smartphone to work-- for you and your family.

Get smart about education credits

Scam alert!

Save on tax prep

Cash back for kids

Late-making news

I Did It!