Author's articles

Composting Toilets and the California Water Shortage

By Ellen Bell · 14 years ago

For those who aren't already aware, the state of California is in a water crisis. More than two thirds of the state's water supply comes from the Sacramento Delta, an area poised for catastrophe when ...

Pergola Designs - So Many Choices! But Which Is Best?

By Ellen Bell · 14 years ago

A pergola is a wonderful architectural element to add to any garden or landscape design. Pergolas are great for casting shade, providing support for climbing plants, and marking the transition point from one area to ...

Christmas Tree Care Basics

By Ellen Bell · 14 years ago

When properly maintained, it's possible to display a live Christmas tree from late November through New Year's Day. To do this, however, requires vigilant attention and care by you, the homeowner. The following are some ...

5 Tips for Selecting the Perfect Live Christmas Tree

By Ellen Bell · 14 years ago

Millions of Americans display live Christmas trees in their homes, and for many of those families, selecting the tree is a holiday ritual that they enjoy taking part in year after year. Selecting a tree ...

Choosing the Right Christmas Tree Stand

By Ellen Bell · 14 years ago

If you've ever experienced a decorated Christmas tree tipping over, you know just how messy, expensive, and damaging this situation can be. Moreover, an unsteady Christmas tree poses a real safety threat in your home, ...

How to Rescreen a Sliding Screen Door

By Ellen Bell · 14 years ago

If you have a sliding patio door in your home, you know that the screened portion of the door will become worn and damaged over time. With years of use, metal screens will get dents ...

Fall Yard Cleanup

By Ellen Bell · 14 years ago

With fall fast approaching, it's that time of year when we begin cleaning up our yards and preparing for the upcoming winter. To make fall cleanup work as fast and easy as possible, it can ...

Choosing the Right Address Plaque for Your Home

By Ellen Bell · 15 years ago

An important element of every home's front entrance is a well-marked address plaque. Having your house number clearly and prominently displayed on your home's exterior not only helps friends and visitors locate you, but it ...

Composting Toilets - A Buyer's Guide

By Ellen Bell · 15 years ago

Composting toilets can be a complex product to shop for, because there are so many different styles and types to choose from. If you don't know much about composting toilet systems or how they work, ...

Building a Sandbox

By Ellen Bell · 15 years ago

Almost every child enjoys playing in a sandbox. If you have children at home, but don't have a sandbox in your yard, consider putting one in. They are inexpensive and easy to build, and your ...

Decorating an Outdoor Wedding

By Ellen Bell · 15 years ago

Outdoor weddings are enormously popular in the summertime. Few of us can escape the months of June, July, and August without receiving at least one invitation to an outdoor nuptial ceremony. For those planning and ...

Growing Your Own Herbs

By Ellen Bell · 15 years ago

If you enjoy cooking or gardening, or perhaps both, you should consider growing your own herbs at home. There are literally hundreds of herbs that you can grow yourself. Not only do fresh herbs make ...

Growing Your Best Watermelons

By Ellen Bell · 15 years ago

In the long, hot days of July and August, there is nothing quite as refreshing as a cool slice of watermelon. It is a summertime treat enjoyed by young and old alike. Watermelons are an ...

Garden Arbor & Pergola Designs

By Ellen Bell · 15 years ago

When planning a landscape design, garden structures such as arbors and pergolas are wonderful elements to incorporate. These structures not only provide a strong focal point in the landscape, but they can also be utilitarian ...

Growing Your Best Tomatoes

By Ellen Bell · 15 years ago

Tomatoes are arguably the most popular homegrown crop in the United States. What makes them so popular? Most tomato lovers would agree that the best-tasting tomatoes in the world are those that are homegrown in ...

Garden Soil: From Bad To Good

By Ellen Bell · 15 years ago

The first step in good gardening is having good garden soil. Unfortunately, the vast majority of us aren't blessed with the perfect soil that is rich and fertile, well draining, full of nutrients, and free ...

Annual Climbing Vines: The Top 10 List

By Ellen Bell · 15 years ago

Annual climbing vines are a great way to add a splash of color to your garden. Most annual climbers grow quickly, feature colorful, showy flowers, and then die off and can be easily removed in ...

Using Arbors and Pergolas in Landscape Design

By Ellen Bell · 15 years ago

Arbors and pergolas are two types of garden structures that can greatly contribute to the overall design of your landscape. Arbors and pergolas add an element of interest to a yard or garden by drawing ...

Climbing Plants: A Gardening Solution

By Ellen Bell · 15 years ago

One glance through a gardening magazine, and we are showered with images of pristine gardens, beautifully appointed with hundreds of varieties of plants, trees, and shrubs. While many of us aspire to have yards as ...

Christmas Tree Decorating Themes

By Ellen Bell · 15 years ago

Millions of people display Christmas trees in their homes each year, and many of those trees feature the same decorations, year after year: round glass ornaments, traditional lights, some tinsel, and a star or angel ...