Cut above the rest

Flower farm exhibits mastery of bouquet crafting

There is something breathtaking about the rows and rows of flowers at cut 
flower farms. To a gardener like myself, it’s an impossibly gorgeous and enviable display — a flower garden writ large. To flower farmers like Marianne Bergmann and . . .

Posted: 2022-08-13

Wonky staircase a condo conundrum

Repairs would typically be a collective issue, but check documents to be sure

Question — I live in a five-year-old townhouse condo, which has wooden stairs and a deck entering my front door. The first year I moved into my condo, my stairs were not level. Over the course of five years, . . .

Posted: 2022-08-13

Impressive and inexpensive

Kensington Homes property a viable, affordable option in age of steep prices

With prices of single-family homes seeming to increase daily, consumers looking for a new home are desperately searching for one that doesn’t cost $600, 000 or more. Kensington Homes has come up with a very viable — and more affordable . . .

Posted: 2022-08-13

Nothing to do but move in

Long list of updates and upgrades throughout Island Lakes two-storey

While it’s exciting for families to purchase a move-up home, it’s also an experience that can be laden with an undercurrent of stress. That’s because many move-up homes come with something that needs to be updated or fixed, whether it’s . . .

Posted: 2022-08-13

A heart-wrenching reality for pet owners

There’s a tragedy happening in many homes these days, but thankfully it’s something we have the power and resources to do something about. According to multiple news reports, the number of people turning in their pets to Animal Services, the . . .

Posted: 2022-08-06

Inexpensive household cleaner you can make at home

Question — Do you have a recipe for an all-purpose cleaner I can make at home? Tim Answer — Into a spray bottle combine one and a half cups water, and one and a half cups rubbing alcohol. Add two . . .

Posted: 2022-08-06

Hardier hydrangeas

Internationally recognized American plant breeding expert doing promising work on reliable, cold-tolerant magnificent mopheads

Michael A. Dirr is an internationally recognized plantsman who has bred and researched hydrangeas for more than 40 years. Dirr is the author of several books, most recently, The Hydrangea Book: The Authoritative Guide (Stipes Publishing, 2021). His University . . .

Posted: 2022-08-06

A backyard shed that blends utility and beauty

A need for storage is met with a structure whose design ties it to the recently built deck, sunroom and pergolas

When a homeowner is hell-bent on a yard shed that will meet the exact specifications required for the desired placement, as well as match the existing elements of the backyard oasis, it quickly becomes a custom build on site. As . . .

Posted: 2022-08-06

Efficiency, details, style take turns in Bonavista highlight

Over the past two-plus years, the cost of building a new home has increased exponentially. Bearing that in mind, homebuilders responded by utilizing smaller lots to bring down land cost. While that was all well and good, building on a smaller . . .

Posted: 2022-08-06

OK, construction has begun, when can we move in?

An important question that most new homebuyers ask when looking at building a new home is how long will it take for my new home to be built? Just how long does the whole construction process usually take and what . . .

Posted: 2022-08-06