Home & Garden

Fighting Mosquitoes in Austin

With all of the pleasing outdoor activities that Austin has to offer, there’s still a tiny but mighty, and often dangerous, nuisance lurking just beyond the door. Mosquitoes are most active when ...

Living with Plants

Plants can brighten up the interior of any home, but those who lack experience often avoid them. We’re here to say that the houseplant shouldn’t be feared! With some basic knowledge about light, ...

Summer windowsill herb gardens offer easy access to fresh, delicious herbs without melting in our brutal heat, but just like any garden, getting started takes a little preparation. If you want to be ...

The Gift of Gather

There’s a big heart formation in the trunk of an old mulberry tree on the corner of Heartwood and Thistlewood Drives in South Austin. Under the shade of that tree, neighbors gather this sunny ...

Free Rain

When it rains in Central Texas, it pours…and then it stops raining, sometimes for months. But rainwater collection systems help gardeners capture those downpours for use during dry seasons. Plus, ...

Making Shade

The outdoor space around a home can be the source of many simple pleasures—from reading a book on the patio and watching the kids play in the grass, to grilling burgers and dining al fresco. ...

Earning Your Garden Wings

A butterfly garden is a jewel in any landscape artist’s hat. Installing one at a home or business will create a beautiful space, as well as a teaching garden and a wildlife refuge packed with ...

Plant Me Now for Winter!

Cucurbits, the family of plants that includes cucumbers, squashes, gourds, pumpkins and watermelons, offers an amazing variety of fruits, flavors and uses, but they need deeply fertilized soil and a ...

Not Your Grandma's Tea

When you think of tea, you’re probably not thinking about it having anything to do with compost. But while compost tea may not sound like a very appetizing drink, plants sure do love ...

An Unexpected Oasis

Tucked among far South Austin’s well-manicured lawns, an oasis of fruit trees, vegetables, herbs and ornamentals flourishes in a 40- by 60-foot backyard that serves as both an outdoor laboratory ...