July 03, 2009
Easy Fourth of July decor
Tomorrow’s the biggest picnic day of the year—and you have nothing patriotic to jazz up your Fourth of July table. Not to worry. Chris Nease...
Clothesline debate rages on
In a society struggling with economic turmoil, wars and swine flu, who could have predicted a debate would erupt about . . . clotheslines. In last Friday’s...
Richard Nunnally’s gardening column
Over the years I’ve planted lots of daffodils but only about 1 in 10 bloom. Most of the ones that don’t bloom are in the shade. I’ve...
Properly displaying the American flag
Planning to display your American flag for the Fourth? Do it right. Basic respect is the key, according to Mike Darlington, commander of American Legion...
On the Homefront
World of gardening Daniel J. Hinkley isn’t content to fill his garden with common plants. That’s why he’s traveled the world in search...
What’s It Worth?
Q:I inherited a large covered urn with handles. I was never told exactly what it is, its age, origin or value. It stands about 18 inches high. It has raised...
Benny L. Kass Mailbag
Mortgage lenders know what you can afford Q:I want to buy a second house. How much money do I need? Any pointers would be very much appreciated.—Julie...
July 02, 2009
Area farmers markets
Area farmers markets For produce and other products fresh from the farm, visit these area markets: Ashland Farmers’ Market, 101 Thompson St.,...
July 01, 2009
Area farmers markets
Ashland Farmers Market, 101 Thompson St., Ashland, 798-9219. 9 a.m.-noon Saturdays through November. Byrd House Market, behind William Byrd Community...
June 28, 2009
The difference between good bugs and bad ones
It’s inevitable. Plant a vegetable garden, and insects will come. So how should environmentally conscious gardeners respond? They should begin by...
June 26, 2009
Clotheslines blow through culture again
The simple, nostalgic act of hanging clothes outside to dry, regaining popularity as an eco-friendly act, has become a full-blown political flap. On one...
Memories of a clothesline
My grandmother’s clotheslines bisected a postage-stamp size backyard behind her 1920s bungalow in the shadow of Roanoke’s Mill Mountain. I’m...
Richard Nunnally’s gardening column
Q:Could you suggest something I can use as mulch for my vegetable garden that would allow me to consider my produce organic? What about layers of newspaper...
On the Homefront
Church Hill lauded This Old House magazine has named Church Hill among the best old-house neighborhoods. The July/August issue credits the Richmond neighborhood...
The pros and cons of clotheslines
Which side of the clothesline are you on? Is outdoor drying a blight or a delight? Here are arguments for and against the lowly clothesline: PROS Line...
What’s It Worth?
Q:My mother always referred to this vase simply as “the old thing.“ However, she never got rid of it. It is made of bronze and marble. The...
Benny L. Kass Mailbag
Foreclosure may leave other assets at risk Q:I am retired. About 18 months ago (before the economic crash), I bought a fixer-upper and renovated it, but...
Bulletin Board
Calendar of events relating to homes and gardens Daylily Displays: Several area display gardens are open to view during the daylily season: Perennial Pickle,...
Area farmers markets
Ashland Farmers Market, 101 Thompson St., Ashland, 798-9219. 9 a.m.-noon Saturdays through November. Byrd House Market, behind William Byrd Community...
Orchid care
Cattleya, dendrobium, oncidium, paphiopedilum and phalaenopsis orchids are all extremely easy to care for while they are blooming. Watering thoroughly...
June 19, 2009
Down with the deck, up with the patio
A silver anniversary is not a happy occasion for a wood deck. Twenty-five years of exposure to sun, rain, snow, temperature fluctuations, foot traffic...
Richard Nunnally’s gardening column
Q:Please let me know how I can get rid of poa annua in my lawn. Mine dies down in the spring but comes back strong the following year. Answer: Poa annua...
Drab species are worth seeing, too
During the spring, when songbirds surge northward along the Atlantic flyway and descend into our backyards and neighborhood parks, we usually watch for...
What’s It Worth?
Q:I would like information about my chair that is purported to have been used aboard a cruise ship. It is made of dark, inlaid wood [with casters]. I searched...
Area farmers’ markets
Ashland Farmers’ Market, 101 Thompson St., Ashland, 798-9219. 9 a.m.-noon Saturdays through November. Byrd House Market, behind William Byrd...
Fireflies shine light on insect conservation
The fireflies on Denise Wade’s property in Montgomery, Texas, are so magical that they remind her of a very different time of year. “I can...
On the Homefront
Help in the garden Growing herbs and planting a portable salad table are just a few of the ideas in Sean Conway’s “Cultivating Life: 125 Projects...
Benny L. Kass Mailbag
When home equity line of credit not wanted Q:My husband and I refinanced our condo in December 2007 with the existing mortgage company. In addition to...
June 12, 2009
What’s new in the paint aisle?
Do-it-yourselfers should get rolling—new products are taking the pain out of painting. A marketing study released this week by the institute...
What’s It Worth?
Q:I bought an antique chest in Austria about 20 years ago. It is painted in bright colors. I believe that it is at least 300 years old. It is about 4 feet...
