An americano is a simple beverage to make, requiring only espresso shots and water. To make a 12-ounce Americano, simply pull two shots of espresso into the mug, and add 10 ounces of hot water. This drink can be made hot or iced, and resembles brewed coffee.  A cappuccino is a very traditional espresso beverages, composed of a big pillow of foam, and a double shot of espresso. To make a traditional cappuccino, pull two shots of espresso into a small mug, and steam enough milk to create 4...

  -by Connie- Hоuѕерlаntѕ and gоrgеоuѕ gаrdеnѕ аrе thе рrіdе оf mаnу hоmеоwnеrѕ. We ѕреnd hоurѕ аnd lоtѕ оf mоnеу selecting thе реrfесt рlаnt, tilling thе soil аnd hеlріng thеm tо flourish. Plаntѕ іnѕіdе thе home have been ѕhоwn to reduce іndооr pollutants and freshen the air. Cut flоwеrѕ frоm thе flоrіѕt саn show someone thаt you care аnd саn brіghtеn uр the rооm. But all of thіѕ bеаutу саn be dеаdlу... іf you hаvе a саt or dog. Many houseplants are tоxіс tо both саtѕ аnd dogs. Some саn...

 By Gabe McNab- Growing beautiful flowers in the garden is a job with obvious rewards. With all the hard work that goes into creating a garden filled with beautiful flowers, it is sometimes hard to leave it all behind to go back indoors. Many garden flowers make great choices for vases and arrangements, but it is important to understand how to remove them from the plant correctly. Stems that are not properly cut can cause damage to the plant, and to the stem that you have removed. If you are not...

-By Lynsey Grosfield- A perennial plant is a gift that keeps on giving in a variety of ways: firstly, it graces the garden with blossoms and foliage year after year, and secondly, it grows beyond the margins in which it was originally planted, often making copies of itself and forming a clonal patch. While the lateral spread is often a welcome attribute in a garden where there is still bare soil to colonize, some gardeners prefer to keep perennials growing in a circumscribed area, either for aesthetic reasons, or to...

  -By Gabe McNab- Pruning trees and shrubs in your yard are for your benefit as much as it is for the plants. Pruning is essential to maintain the shape and health of a plant, and it is also a good way to encourage new growth and help to reduce the chances of breakage and disease. Both newly planted trees and shrubs, and more mature ones need to be maintained in order to continue to encourage new growth and development. Trees or shrubs that are not properly maintained can become leggy,...

-By Gabe McNab- When working in the garden, gardening gloves can either be a help or a hindrance. Gloves that are too thick can cause hand fatigue and make it difficult to complete tasks that require full dexterity. While providing protection, thick gloves can be difficult to work in and cause your hands to sweat. There are many options for garden gloves on the market, made from many materials and fabrics. If you are looking for a gardening glove that provides dexterity with protection, along with a breathable fabric, nylon...

  -by Lynsey Grosfield- In Voltaire’s Candide, the source of true happiness is famously found in the sentence “il faut cultiver notre jardin” (“we must cultivate our gardens”). In many ways, Voltaire was a man ahead of his time: now, there is ample evidence to suggest his more figurative meaning should be taken literally.  Gardening or horticultural therapy is a recognized form of intervention for several conditions: from mental health challenges like depression, to degenerative conditions like dementia, to developmental conditions like autism. Further, it can be used as a...

-By Lynsey Grosfield- When it comes to noticing the beauty of native wildflowers, it’s a case of the maxim, “the slower you go, the bigger your world gets.” Cultivating a sense of appreciation for the form of local plants can come a bit more naturally once their function is understood. Biomes--local environmental systems--are unbelievably interconnected. The plants, insects, animals, and fungi of an area have all evolved together, and often have mutualistic relationships. This is partly how invasive species can be so disruptive to an ecosystem: the local life web...