Home/Garden Decorator Spring 2021

home garden

FREE

SPRING 2021

D E C O R AT O R 04

ECO-FRIENDLY AIR DUCT CLEANING

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BACKYARD CAMPING FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY

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THERE'S A TIP FOR THAT SPRING TULIP CAKE

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CREATE A BRIGHTER BEDROOM

r e w o Fl

Boxes

TIPS TO SAVE MONEY THIS SPRING 1

Spring 2021

Contents

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JUMPSTART SPRING WITH ECO-FRIENDLY AIR DUCT CLEANING

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BACKYARD CAMPING FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY

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SPRING TULIP CAKE

FLOWER AND WINDOW BOXES

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CREATE A BRIGHTER BEDROOM

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BROCCOLI SOUP BREAD BOWL

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ITALIAN CHICKEN WITH GARLIC ASPARAGUS

CONSID ER THIS 2

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WHEN CHOOSING A SHADE TREE 14

home garden SPRING 2021

D E C O R AT O R

LETTER from the Editor Don't you just love spring? The brown of winter is starting to sprout little signs of green and warm days ahead. The once frozen hydrangeas are peeking green leaves out of their stems and there's pollen in the air. The bees are buzzing around creating new growth. This time of the year makes me want to grab a paint brush and do some home improvement and dig in the warm dirt. It seems like window boxes are back in style and just in time for beautiful blooms. I hope this issue of Home and Garden Decorator leaves your home and yard a little brighter.

Happy Planting,

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Executive Publishers Greg and Suzanne Fox Jumpstart Publishing, LLC Managing Editor Suzanne Polk Fox Copy Editor Christian Dischler

“Protecting Your Home & Family Since 1959”

Eric Melass

Contributing Writers Ann Franklin Beth Frost Mary Talbot Joy Newcomb Nellie Palmer Design and Production Suzanne Fox Claire Thomas

A publication of

AND

Home Garden Decorator is a quarterly magazine that is a resource for readers in our community for home decor inspiration, creative DIY projects, gardening tips, home selling tips, product reviews and much more. From gardening to real estate, this magazine has something for everyone!

“Your Source For News & Advertising” For Advertising Information Contact: Hazel Perez advertising@alvinsun.net 570 Dula St. • Alvin, TX 77511 281-331-4421 www.alvinsun.net

JUMPSTART SPRING WITH

ECO-FRIENDLY AIR DUCT CLEANING

BY ANN FRANKIN

NOW THAT WINTER IS RUNNING OUT OF STEAM AND SPRING IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER, IT'S TIME YOU SHOULD THINK ABOUT HAVING YOUR AIR DUCTS CLEANED. ECO-FRIENDLY AIR DUCT CLEANING GETS RID OF DIRT, ACCUMULATED DUST, IRRITANTS, AND ALLERGENS. YOUR HOME'S AIR QUALITY IS IMPROVED FOR A SAFER AND HEALTHIER ENVIRONMENT. While your home is shuttered up tight against the harsh winter elements, pollutants and contaminants build up inside your home. These particles are pulled into the heating system and recirculated throughout the house on average 5 to 7 times a day.

Allergens like smoke, dust, cooking oil particles, pet dander, and plant pollen are forced back into the air. With time, re-circulation causes a build-up of harmful impurities in the ductwork. The dirt

collected in the vents might trigger a blockage in the system, resulting in poor heating performance, higher energy costs, and unhealthy interior air quality.

YOUR HEALTH Regardless of how well you clean, dust is present in every home.

House dust and dirt particles are the main culprits for indoor allergies. Unbelievable as it may sound, the average home can collect 20-40 pounds of airborne particulates each year. According to research studies on pollutants, indoor air can be 2 to 5 times more contaminated than outdoor air.

People who suffer from asthma, hay fever, bronchitis, and allergies can get an allergic sensitivity to foreign invaders in the home. These invaders can trigger an immune response from the allergens that result in an adverse reaction to the linings of the eyes, nose, or airway.

There can also be some mystifying

Eco-friendly air duct cleaning will keep the HVAC system working more efficiently, so air quality and flow are improved and your home is a healthier environment for the whole family 4

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symptoms that your household may experience, like headaches, aches, and pains.

WHY CLEAN YOUR AIR DUCTS? Duct cleaning removes unwanted contaminants in the house by cleaning the HVAC components of forced air systems. Think about your system as your home's lungs, as it continuously breathes air in and out of whatever gets drawn into the unit.

A dirty heating and cooling system makes your unit less efficient and shortens the system's lifespan.

This inefficiency can result in potential breakdowns and higher energy costs. When your HVAC system doesn't have to work so hard, your system runs at peak performance for a better-quality environment.

COST OF DUCT CLEANING Air duct cleaning can vary in cost according to the size of the HVAC system.

Other factors that determine the price include the system's accessibility for the technicians to clean the HVAC and ducts thoroughly, the climate in the region, and the system's contamination level. The service can range in cost from $450-$900.

ECO-FRIENDLY PROCESS With so much concern about harmful chemicals polluting the environment, green technology companies are the best alternative to traditional air duct cleaning methods. These companies use professional equipment to remove contaminants in your home with biodegradable products safely.

The cleaning process involves professional technicians using the latest tools to agitate and dislodge the dirt and debris that's inside your ducts. Eco-friendly cleaning is performed without the use of harsh chemicals during the procedure.

Instead of using corrosive and even toxic chemicals inserted into the vents, these companies use environmentally friendly supplies like detergent-free and hypo-allergenic products. These chemical-free products are derived from various plants, including citrus, oils and baking soda.

The eco-friendly practice does not emit any hazardous fumes escaping back into your home, so you get a deep clean and a safer interior environment. By avoiding using these dangerous compounds that dirty the environment, the house's wellness is improved.

MAKE YOUR HOME A HEALTHIER ENVIRONMENT Air filters help capture a fair amount of the dust particles that flow through the system, but they don't do the whole job. Having your air ducts cleaned will remove all of the other substances that get stuck on the sides along the way.

Eco-friendly air duct cleaning will keep the HVAC system working more efficiently, so air quality and flow are improved, and your home is a healthier environment for your whole family.

Air filters help capture a fair amount of the dust particles that flow through the system, but they don't do the whole job.

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Boxes TIPS THAT WILL SAVE YOU MONEY THIS SPRING

BY JOY NEWCOMB

W

hether you live in a studio apartment or are lucky enough to have a real garden, flower boxes are an essential part of getting your home ready for Spring. Beautiful, well-kept flower boxes can brighten up your room, and your view, like nothing else.

A flower box is a type of container in the form of a planter or box that is usually placed outdoors and used for displaying live plants and flowers, but it may also be used for growing herbs or other edible plants.

The only downside? Flowers can become a little pricey. So if you're looking to beautify your home without breaking the bank, here are a few ways to save money on creating your cheerful flower box.

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Get Advice About Water Just the Best Types of Enough Over-watering your flower box can Plants to Grow see you heading out to buy more flowThe key to creating long-lasting, lowcost flower boxes is choosing the best types of plants and flowers. If you're unsure about which plants are best for the climate in your area, the staff at your local garden center will happily advise you. Each species of plant and flower will have optimum growing conditions. Getting advice is free and switching the types of plants you grow can save you a fortune in the long-run. Petunias, geraniums, zinnias, nasturtiums, and begonias are good choices for main-theme flowers.

Fill in with things like spiderwort, ivy, euonymus, heather, or vinca, which will cascade over the edge of the box.

Impatiens do well in shady locations.

Recycle Flower Cuttings When you cut or trim your flowers and plants, the cuttings are a cheap way to improve the nutrient content of the soil in your flower box. Simply leave the cuttings on the soil of your box and the nutrients will gradually nourish the earth. This saves you money compared with buying expensive flower food or fertilizer from a store.

Make Your Own Compost The 'natural' fertilizer you buy from stores can cost you a fortune, yet homemade compost has most of the nutrients that the soil in your flower box needs to give your flowers sustenance. If you are already composting your organic kitchen waste, good for you! If not, we suggest you buy a special indoors composting bin to convert waste into valuable compost without causing a stench. You can save a lot of money while keeping your flower box in top condition.

ers sooner than you'd believe. Watering too much or too frequently means that fresh air will not be able to move into the soil and nourish the roots of your plants. The key to saving money on flowers and plants is to water just enough. Remember the terms 'deep' and 'infrequent' whenever you water your flower boxes. You need to water to at least one inch and then wait as many days as possible before watering it again. An easy method to check how deeply you are watering is to cut the tops off drinking bottles and then mark one-inch from the base. Put several of these in your flower box to help you check the water levels.

Aerate The Soil Aeration simply means poking holes into the soil of your flower box to get more oxygen to the roots of your plants and flowers. This promotes growth and is a no-cost way to get your flower box ready for Spring.

Aerating the soil in your flower box will preserve the lifespan of your flowers and plants and help them look their best.

Get the most out of your plants and flowers and keep them looking fresh and lush for as long as possible.

A flower bo be any t x can ype of contain er.

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TELL STORIES

g n i p m a C Backyard FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY

BY BETH FROST

If it's been a while since you've had the opportunity to spend a few hours outside, camping style, why not consider camping in the backyard? You don't have to go to a crowded camp ground to have fun camping.

Here are a few tips to make your backyard camping adventure fun for the whole family.

MAKE YOUR TENT COMFY AND INVITING Be sure to pitch your tent in a spot that's as level as possible. Nobody will be happy sleeping on bumps and lumps. Bring lots of blankets, pillows, and sleeping mats or air mattresses for extra comfort.

You'll want to make your camping sleeping quarters as comfy as possible, so that everybody doesn't go scurrying back into the house.

EXPLORE NATURE You'd be surprised how many interesting things you can find in the nature

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of your backyard. Arrange a scavenging hunt for the kids, to find as many cool bugs, rocks, or plants as they can, then have a show and tell of what they've found. Remember to always put any captive bugs back where you found them when the hunt is done.

PLAY GAMES Game time is fun for everyone. Set up outdoor games on your lawn, like ring toss, bowling, or hop scotch. If your family prefers board or card games, set them up inside your tent and get cozy. Backyard camping will add a whole new twist to family game night!

HAVE A SINGALONG What would camping be without a sing-along? Even if you're not the greatest singer, you're kids are not likely to care. Singing some of their favorites together can be a whole lot of fun, and maybe you can teach them a few songs from your childhood too.

D E C O R AT O R

Telling scary stories and tall tales is a camping tradition.

It keeps kids entertained, fueling their imagination. Read a favorite children's book from their collection, or have each family member make up their own imaginative story.

Cook Up Some Tasty Treats

Open for Spring/Summer!

We have the “Cool” Flavors You Enjoy! from

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SPRING TULIP CAKE

INGREDIENTS

• 1 box Pillsbury™ Super Moist® White Premium Cake Mix • 1 Tablespoon Madagascar Vanilla • Wilton® Leaf Green Gel Food Coloring • Wilton® Purple Gel Food Coloring • 2 containers Pillsbury™ White Icing • 1 1/2 cup pistachios, ground • Lime, sliced for garnish • Light Karo® syrup DIRECTIONS • Follow boxed cake instructions, and add the vanilla.

• S pray cake pans with non-stick cooking spray.

• Pour batter into three 8-inch round cake pans.

• B ake as directed, then cool.

• Divide icing into three portions.

•U sing small amounts, add green and purple gel to two of the icings until you reach the desired colors.

• Spread white icing on cooled cake.

• L et cake sit for 25 minutes to develop a light crust. After a crust develops, pipe green leaves up the sides of the cake using tip #123 or #104 • Pipe the tulips on the top of the cake. Complete instructions with picture diagrams are on www.wilton.com

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Slip in a few sprinkles of sparkle with a wall mirror and silver-toned furniture.

CREATE A Brighter BEDROOM

Lots of natural Light

D

BY BETH FROST

ark and dreary bedrooms don't evoke a feel-good, soothing ambiance. Give your bleak bedroom an uplifting makeover with the five bright bedroom ideas listed below.

From touches of white to sprinkles of sparkle, create a cheerful, relaxing vibe in your bedroom today.

Touches of White

Touches of White

Incorporate a few touches of white to instill a bright atmosphere in your lackluster bedroom. Because white radiates a feeling of cleanliness, new beginnings, clarity, hope and simplicity, it's a perfect choice for a brighter bedroom. For example, outfit your bed with a plush white

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comforter, add white-painted furniture pieces, or lay a white shag area rug on top of your hard-surface floor.

Lots of Light

Fill your bedroom space with lots of natural and artificial light to instantly brighten the look and feel. Replace dark-colored, heavy drapes with lightweight sheers or panels. Install chic fabric shades or wooden blinds, alone or behind your new curtains, for a modern layered appearance. Add stylish table and floor lamps for targeted light where you need it. Wall lamp sconces on both sides of your bed provide task lighting for small bedroom areas.

Sprinkles of Sparkle

Slip in a few sprinkles of sparkle to inject bits of brightness throughout your bedroom. Wall mirrors and silver-toned furniture pieces, such as nightstands and dressers, offer dazzling reflections from around the room or outdoors. Replace an ordinary ceiling light with a brilliant chandelier to add a touch of regally romantic glitter.

Accessories, like silver candlesticks, glossy picture frames, shiny vases and polished bookends, help to distribute the sparkly effect throughout your bedroom.

Oodles of Neutrals

Neutral colors, such as barely beige, smooth ivory, misty gray and creamy white, create a bright, upbeat vibe.

Introduce lots of neutral tones in your bedroom through paint, furniture pieces, and decorative items. For example, paint your bedroom walls in a light neutral tone to establish a bright atmosphere. Furnish the space with neutral-hued items, such as a woven area rug, upholstered chairs, a fabric headboard and a tufted bench.

Pops of Color

Pops of vibrant color, such as lime green, sunshine yellow, Caribbean blue, and lipstick red, can instantly promote a bright, cheery atmosphere. However, use the vibrant colors sparingly or they can quickly overpower the room. Incorporate pops of color in decorative toss pillows, cozy furniture throws, an oversized canvas print, or a vase of fresh flowers. You can also sneak a few vibrant hues into your bedroom palette with fabric window shades, colored lampstands, or a painted furniture piece.

A bright bedroom atmosphere is created through a variety of textures and colors. As the article suggested, include dashes of white, tons of light, smidgens of sparkle, bits of color and lots of light-toned neutrals.

Pops of vibrant colors, such as lime green, sunshine yellow, Caribbean blue and lipstick red can instantly promote a bright, cheery atmosphere.

Oodles of Neutrals

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A SPRINGTIME FAVORITE

BROCCOLI SOUP BOWL

BY NELLIE PALMER Broccoli is a favorite for springtime soups and dishes.

The beautiful, fresh green makes you think of new beginnings after a long winter.

INGREDIENTS • 1/4 cup butter • 1/2 chopped onion • 1/4 cup water • 2 garlic cloves, minced • 4 cups fresh broccoli (florets) • 1 cup thin sliced white mushrooms • 3 cups chicken stock • 2 cups heavy cream • Fresh basil leaves, chopped and whole • 1/2 teaspoon salt • 1 teaspoon white pepper • Round bread loaves for bowls • Cornstarch

DIRECTIONS 1. In a stock pot, heat butter, saute onion and garlic until tender.

2. Stir in broccoli, stock, cream, mushrooms and seasonings. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer, uncovered until vegetables are tender.

3. Place in a blender and blend until smooth - or if desired, a little chunky.

4. Place back in stock pot and simmer. If you require a thicker soup, mix 2 tablespoons of corn starch with milk until dissolved and ad to your soup.

5. Remove tops from bread bowls and dig out the inside, being careful not to puncture the bread.

6. Garnish with whole basil and mushroom slices.

ADDITIONAL TOPPINGS: cheese crumbled cooked bacon red pepper flakes shallots

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ITALIAN CHICKEN

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WITH GARLIC ASPARAGUS INGREDIENTS  4 Chicken breasts  2 cups Italian dressing, divided  2 lemons, sliced thin  1/4 cup orange juice  1/4 cup basalmic vinegar  3 tablespoons olive oil  3 thinly sliced garlic clove Simple to prepare, you can cook the chicken ahead of time, prep the asparagus and cook at the last minute. This will serve four people.

Start by placing four chicken breasts in a zippered plastic bag with one cup of Italian dressing. Refrigerate overnight. Wash and trim 2 pounds asparagus, Wrap them in paper towels and place in a zippered plastic bag. Slice one lemon and place in a zippered plastic bag. Refrigerate until ready to cook the chicken.

Brown the marinated breasts and lemon slices in a skillet

with fresh Italian dressing and then transfer them to the oven. Roast them at 350 degrees for 15 minutes.

Cool and refrigerate them until your party. Pop them back into the oven at 350 degrees for 20 minutes to finish cooking them. Make a citrus sauce of orange juice, basalmic vinegar and Italian dressing.

Heat 3 tablespoons olive oil in a skillet. Add one thinly sliced garlic clove and cook it until it begins to brown slightly. Add the asparagus and cook until it is crisp and tender.

While your chicken breasts are baking, gather your serve ware and prepare your table for easy set-up before your guests arrive.

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S I H T R E D I C O NS

WHEN CHOOSING A SHADE TREE

BY BETH FROST

Whether you're looking for one perfect type of shade tree or have several different spots in your yard for different types of trees, knowing what to look for is critical when you're shopping for the best tree variety. Here are three considerations that should be at the forefront of your mind when researching shade tree types.

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Safety for your sewer line, foundation, and asphalt or concrete This factor is partly related to where you put the tree (and whether you install tree root barriers as needed), but the type of tree you choose also has a lot to do with it.You don't want to leave your foundation, pipes, septic system and driveway open to damage by tree roots.

If you have a septic system, don't choose a tree such as a willow tree, which loves growing in wet spots and is excellent at hunting down water sources. Instead grow a tree that has a tidier, less wandering root system.You'll still need to keep it away from your septic system, too.

ter you can mus of k in th ou y If one try going for oak the patience, n bys such as a the old stand a long lived tree. nt when you wa

Deciding between fast-growing versus long-lived varieties

Differences in tree maintenance requirements

Waiting for years and years before your trees get big enough to start earning their keep can be frustrating. But that doesn't mean you should choose a tree just because it's marketed as growing to a certain height within just a couple of years.

Fast-growing trees may reach their mature height so quickly because they have shorter lifespans overall, meaning you'd also need to replace them more often. And there could be a trade-off in stability as well. Faster-growing trees sometimes tend to grow with flaws in their wood and drop branches often.

So if you think you can muster the patience, try going for one of the old standbys (such as an oak) when you want a long-lived tree, rather than choosing faster-growing varieties such as a Bradford Pear.

Evergreens, such as live oak trees, drop leaves year-round. Trees with weak wood or shorter-lived types may require more pruning or more cleanup after storms. Ginkgo trees can leave smelly piles of yellow fruit in your yard.

If you want a tree that's less work to maintain, a deciduous tree with tidy habits may be just what you need.

Check carefully into the specifics of the maintenance requirements of each tree you're considering. Look for low-maintenance or carefree varieties, especially if the tree is going to be near a walkway or patio and you don't want the area constantly covered in debris or stained by dropped fruit or walnut hulls.

These three considerations will help you make an informed and judicious decision in your quest to furnish your yard with shade trees or fruit and nut trees.

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