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Welcome Warmly Even when it leans laidback, Southern hospitality is always in fashion. It starts before you even enter a home, with what’s known as curb appeal—an inviting exterior look that says “Oh, hey, come on in”. In Southern Casual style this could translate into cheerful flowering planters flanking the front steps or a brightly-painted front door (see more on color below). A porch is a perfect spot for passing the time, with somewhere to sit and sip a cool drink or a fun seating option like a swing....

Creeping thyme between pavers adds a wonderful scent when its leaves are stepped on. Irregularly spaced and sized flagstones boost the garden’s carefree nature. A large urn offers visual relief from the densely planted yard. A California lilac (Ceanothus) beside the path adds a lovely fragrance and color. Gray river rock provides interest as filler between the irregularly placed flagstone pavers on the path from the front door around the side of the house....

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Best Wisteria to Grow The name to look for on plant tags is Wisteria frutescens, commonly called American wisteria. This species is native to the southeastern U.S., and it’s hardy in Zones 5-9, meaning it’ll grow in most areas of the country. American wisteria vines can reach dazzling heights of up to 30 feet. They act like a combination of a shrub and a vine, growing thick, woody stems over time that can wind around fences and, if given a trellis, scramble up the sides of a house....

So now that you know how to spot a dragon fruit, let’s dive into dragon fruit benefits in terms of flavor and nutrition, how to cut a dragon fruit, and the most important part: how to eat dragon fruit. Ahead, is our complete guide to what is dragon fruit good for. You’ll learn something new whether you’ve eaten dozens or zero before. What is Dragon Fruit, Exactly? Also known as pitaya or strawberry pear, dragon fruit is an oval-shaped, vibrantly-colored tropical fruit that grows on a family of cacti called Hylocereus....

When Hostas Bloom Hostas bloom for about three weeks, usually somewhere between May and September, depending on the variety. Each plant sends up several long stalks, called scapes, with flower buds along its length. Each flower only lasts a day when it opens. When to Cut Hosta Flowers If you want to enjoy the hosta flowers in a bouquet, cut each scape when only two flowers on it are open; the rest will gradually emerge over two weeks inside your home....

So how do you measure sugar correctly? Follow along as we show you how to measure sugar of every type, including granulated sugar, powdered sugar (aka confectioners’ sugar), and brown sugar. Yes, there are some differences between these, and our Test Kitchen tips are here to guide you. We’ll also cover which cups and tools you should use for all sugar measurements. How to Measure Sugar Before learning how to measure sugar, you need the right measuring tools....

You can easily find photos of the giant red ornaments around the building’s exterior, lit-up trees brightening the street outside, and the glowing tree at the marquee, but there’s a lot more that goes into Christmas at Radio City. Read on to find out how the Radio City Music Hall gets decked out, with insider details from a Rockette. The annual tradition of the Radio City Christmas Spectacular started in 1933 and has been one of New York’s favorite holiday activities since its opening....

How to Carve a Turkey: Step-by-Step Carving a turkey is an important part of any holiday feast, but it can be a daunting task for first-timers and pro slicers alike. Luckily, we have step-by-step tips for carving a turkey. We’ll walk you through the best way to carve a turkey so you’ll be ready come Thanksgiving dinner. The first step to carve a turkey is really not a step at all....

Although it’s often overlooked, the garbage disposal is an essential item on your kitchen cleaning checklist. Make the process easier by utilizing the natural cleaning materials you already use to clean countertops and kitchen appliances. The best way to clean and get smells out of a garbage disposal is a combination of the methods outlined below. These tips for how to clean a garbage disposal will remove odor and grime while helping to keep the appliance running smoothly....

When it comes to wood furniture maintenance, there are a number of terms that get tossed around, such as dusting, cleaning, waxing, and polishing. To keep wood furniture looking its best, you’ll likely have to tackle all four of these cleaning tasks every now and then. While experts have varying opinions on wood furniture care, the technique you use will depend on the finish of the piece. You should always seek out specific care and cleaning guidelines when purchasing new or old furnishings....

Step 1: Outline Garden Bed Once you’ve decided where to build a new garden bed, mark the plot’s perimeter with spray paint or a sprinkling of flour. Removing the top layer of sod speeds up the process so you could be planting a little sooner, but it’s not necessary. You can just start adding your layers right on top of the grass. Step 2: Build Your Layers Spread a layer of newspaper six sheets thick so that the entire outlined space is covered....

Because it’s fast, healthy, and easy, grilling is one of our go-to methods for cooking meat when the weather cooperates. When the weather prohibits outdoor cooking, you can use the same cooking times for expert results indoors on a grill pan. There’s no stopping your grilling endeavors—no matter the season or weather. Direct-Heat Grilling Guide Before we go any further, be sure you know how to control grill temperature for direct heat grilling....

Christmas Cactus Care Tips With a little TLC, you can easily get a Christmas cactus to thrive and bloom year after year indoors. Light and Temperature Bright but indirect light is best for a Christmas cactus. It can tolerate a little direct light, but avoid direct light during the summer, when the sun’s rays are stronger and can burn the fleshy leaves. “If the stems begin to turn a reddish-purple color, this is an indication that it is receiving too much sun,” says Alfred Palomares, Resident Plant Dad for 1-800-Flowers....

Plant Lavender in Well-Drained Alkaline Soil Most herbs grow best in well-drained soil that easily allows water to pass through it. Lavender might be the most particular in its need for good drainage! Lavender roots need many spaces between soil particles to breathe and grow, so it is well suited to sandy or rocky soil. If your garden has heavy clay soil that retains moisture, lavender roots simply rot and die....

Although there are rabbit-resistant plants, you don’t have to exclusively fill your garden with plants they’ll ignore. Read on to learn how to protect plants from rabbits and send your long-eared visitors (whether jackrabbits or cottontails) looking elsewhere for lunch. Fencing The most reliable way to protect your vegetable garden from rabbits is with fencing. Putting up a fence takes some time and effort, but once it’s done, you’ll have a permanent barrier....

How to Make a Papier-Mâché Pendant Supplies Needed Thin cardboard cereal box Scissors Hot glue gun and hot-glue Bamboo skewers Masking tape Thick cardboard Pendant socket and cord set (we used this one from Color Cord Company) Crafts knife Paintbrush White primer Chalk paint Leafing adhesive Sponge paintbrush Copper leaf Step-by-Step Directions Copper leaf dresses up the inside of these pendant shades. Use a LED bulb for safety. Step 1: Make the Papier-Mâché Paste Heat 2 cups of water and 1 Tbsp....

Fortunately, removing salt stains from shoes is an easy task that doesn’t require specialty cleaning products. It is, however, best not to delay the job of removing road salt from shoes, as long-term exposure can lead to permanent damage to the shoes. Ahead, you’ll find instructions for removing salt stains from leather, suede, and rubber shoes. How to Remove Salt Stains from Leather Shoes Removing salt stains from leather shoes is a simple task, and one that shouldn’t be put off....

Can You Substitute Brown Sugar for White Sugar? The answer is not exactly a simple yes or no (apologies!), but more of a “yes, but”… In most baking recipes, you can substitute brown sugar for white sugar in a one-to-one ratio. So if your recipe calls for one cup white sugar, swap one cup brown sugar. The sweetness level will be exactly the same, but the brown sugar may change the texture of your baked goods....