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HELLO
No dirt under my nails, please! Throwing pillows into the mix at Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams adds a pop of color just where you need it.
Yes, spring has finally arrived! The past month, we've been teased with 60 and 70 degree weather only to be kicked backward by chilling winds and dustings of snow. At times, it felt like the first signs of spring, the blooming crocus and daffodils, would never show their colors. But they did like clockwork, pushing their way through the thawing, wet ground to bloom in the warm sunshine. Exploding colors of yellow, purple, pink and white burst open on flowering trees and bushes just in time to save us from the winter doldrums. And in heartbeat, our once-bare trees are soon overflowing with the magic of Mother Nature welcoming the cycle of the new season. The easiest way to bring those spring colors into our homes is to go crazy cutting the beautiful blooming tree limbs and placing them in containers throughout our home. The first time I actually cut small tree limbs I wondered, why in the heck hadn't I been doing this all along? I know as I am cutting that I'm also pruning the trees and shrubs so they'll retain a nice shape and not become overgrown, which can happen quickly. Much to my chagrin, I've been known to cut every hyacinth, daffodil and tulip in my yard. Sometimes, but not often, I can hold myself back, but I love bringing them all inside and enjoying their beauty and fragrance. Is there anything more beautiful than a bouquet of yellow tulips to welcome the family home every night? Another easy color fix for our homes are live green plants. They can do wonders for any room as a pop of green in a simple terra cotta pot. If you’re purchasing several green babies, make your life less stressful and purchase the same color pots for color continuity, giving you more freedom to relocate them. Success with tropical plants lies with correct watering and light requirements. Finding the perfect location for your new "green baby" is a matter of life and death. Self-watering containers for indoor and outdoor plants can be lifesavers and a perfect watering solution while away on vacation. We hope to see you at our annual Green Thumb Tour on Saturday, April 21. Learn from the experts how to make your outdoor spaces more beautiful and find solutions to one or more of your gardening challenges. Spring is definitely my favorite time of year giving me an excuse to get my hands dirty, or maybe I should say, get my gardening gloves dirty! ENJOY, Suzie
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APRIL 2018 STLOUISHOMESMAG.COM
Suzie Osterloh Publisher/Owner