| Monthly Quote |
“Long stormy spring-time, wet contentious April, winter chilling the lap of very May; but at length the season of summer does come.”
-Thomas Carlyle, Scottish essayist, satirist and historian, (1795 – 1881) |
| Tip of the Month |
Many home builders are joining the fray when it comes to being green. There are plenty of tips out there for making your existing home more environmentally friendly, but what about when you are building a home? USA Weekend has the following suggestions for making the most of green construction:
- When looking for a builder, find one who recycles. Professional house planner Jack Thomasson uses separate Dumpsters for metal, wood, plastic and miscellaneous materials. If you’re especially handy, you could keep some of the scrap wood for future projects, like shelves in the garage.
- Get great insulation. Make sure your new home is insulated well. Thomasson recommends spray foam insulation because it fills every crack, cranny and crevice where heat or cool air can escape. You can also ask your builder to use eco-friendly products, such as insulation made from old denim.
- Plan direct plumbing. Meandering pipes waste energy, whereas pipes that go directly from the source to the fixture increases your overall water efficiency.
- Look for longevity. Using long-lasting materials means that you won’t need to replace them as often, meaning you will use less energy and fewer resources.
Source: USA Weekend |
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Seasonal
Suggestion
Summer is a great time for flowers! If you feel jealous when you look at the gorgeous gardens or flowers in your neighborhood but suspect that your thumb may be more black than green, perhaps container gardening is for you. Flowers displayed in containers are a great way to jazz up your patio, porch or entrance. The following bulbs are ideal for summer containers:
- Cannas: Suitable for large containers, such as the whiskey-barrel containers. These are more exciting than geraniums and work well with trailing plants, such as variegated vinca vine. These are moisture-loving and large, so be sure to water them a great deal.
- Caladiums: This lush plant does well in shady spots where they grow in the ground or perfect for a container in a shady spot on your patio or balcony. They’ll add a touch of the tropics to your life!
- Dahlias: As long as you choose the low-growing type, dahlias are perfect for containers. Some are even petite enough for window boxes.
- Lilies: These bulbs are a great size for container gardening. Look for the early summer-flowering mid-century hybrids. New, really dwarf lilies are ideal for your container garden!
Source: Gardening All-in-One for Dummies by The Editors at The National Gardening Association, Wiley Publishing, Inc., 2003
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