April 2015

A season for growing

Create your perfect lawn

Blog we love

EXCLUSIVE: A PINK LILAC THAT REBLOOMS!

Spring it on

Garden variety We're digging 66 Square Feet, Marie Viljoen's horti-blog, seeded liberally with earthy recipes and cheeky observations. Novice or vicarious gardeners will enjoy her beginner tips (spring pot crop: greens). Experts will appreciate her brainy IDs-- like Eriocephalus afticanus (wild rosemary).

Debut novels

Solar power

WHO KNEW?

Desert Dancer

Rain booties

EGGS OH-SO EASY

ON LOCATION c-town

TAPPED IN Brewnuts' Shelley Fasulko and John Pippin baked up a new way to ride the artisanal doughnut wave-- by stirring in Ohio-made craft brews. There's a lager-glazed goodie for the purists, a rich stout cake doughnut for chocoholics, and just for fun, a champagne beer beauty studded with sugar "bubbles," left, that's almost too pretty to eat.

Spring thaw

There might still be a chill in the air, but hothouse colors, beautiful blooms, and lots of candlelight give deck and patio party season a warm welcome.

10 THINGS TO LOVE ABOUT a live-in kitchen

Life happens in the kitchen. So this couple made the most of their space, treating it like a great-room where dining, lounging, and cooking all happily coexist.

Look alive!

Nothing signals a fresh start quite like the tender greens of emerging shoots and buds. Sow a few of these shades to reenergize your rooms.

21 easy ideas for your best garden ever

WE WANT YOUR YARD TO LOOK LIVELIER, LIVE BETTER, AND DRAW YOU OUTSIDE MORE OFTEN.

Itty-bitty getaway

Welcome to the new way to hang-- a backyard playhouse that's not just for kids. The proud owners? Empty nesters who find this nest is far from empty.

Ready, set, clean!

Don't dread those once-a-year jobs. Divide and conquer them. Our spring cleaning game plan-- organized by room and the smartest working order-- will help you tackle the tasks over several days or weeks. You'll have a clean, refreshed house, on your schedule.

In good supply

Kit out a closet with every little (and big) thing you need to keep your house shipshape.

Household helpers

This year, more than 70,000 consumers voted in our Best New Products Awards, bringing you the latest and greatest in five categories: household, food, beauty, health, and kids. Here's a look at some of our favorites in household care.

Making CONNECTIONS

Outside to inside, past to present, parent to child-- a thoughtful remodel helps a young family bridge all these gaps.

BIG Blooms

Gigantic flowers are the divas of the garden: When they bloom, they're guaranteed to steal the spotlight. Here are some of the grandest (and easiest to grow).

MASTER STROKES

The contrast of colors, textures, and shapes turns these garden borders into works of art.

Is it better to have frozen pizza or get takeout?

Healing with horses

Fresh eyes

April showers bring... wet fur!

Habit formation

All tied up

Happy trails

DO ONE THING BETTER load the dishwasher

To rinse or not to rinse? In most cases, the answer is "to rinse" because wayward food particles can clog the spray, Kuper says. The exception: if you're using one of the latest models with food disposals.

Cupcake nests

10 Best All-ages trips

The whole crew can connect, build memories, and have a grand old time at these multigeneration destinations.

Bring the birds, bees & butterflies!

THE GOOD KID PROJECT facing mistakes

My child wants to stay home from school because he's not ready for his test-- and it's half his grade. What should I do?

What's making you SNEEZE?

Four surprising reasons allergies could be hitting you this year-- and how to feel better fast.

I did it!