As the hub of most homes, the kitchen of today has undergone a makeover, emerging as a fashionable and functional place for the family. The most common changes to the kitchen the past 10 years have...

We bought a piece of property that has acreage with lots of different types of trees. My husband and I disagree on whether to prune some of the trees or not. Question: Is pruning old, established trees...

Why am I still getting ants in the house in the winter? Ann M. Rocklin Ants may suddenly enter buildings to seek food, water, warmth and shelter. Environmental influences that can force an entire colony...

Cold wet weather doesn't mean the landscape has to be drab: There is a surprising variety of plants, trees and shrubs that flourish in cool temperatures while adding interesting form, texture and color...

My oak tree has very small branches covered with foliage down the length of the trunk. I find this unsightly, but don't want to damage the tree. Is it OK to cut them off? Those suckers are called epicormic...

Question: My lawn is about 5 years old. Should I aerate my lawn? Bob N. Roseville If you think your lawn isn't absorbing water well, it may be due to thatch buildup. Thatch is a build up of undecomposed...

Please don't get me wrong. I love the magnificent sycamore, Platanus occidentalis, with its huge spreading canopy, leaves the size of dinner plates and trunk growing to 100 feet tall and up to 15 feet...

If collecting is a form of addiction, Sanoma Johnson has it bad for Santa. A collector of many things - including Waterford crystal and miniatures - Johnson became passionate about Santa Claus figurines...

Christa Jellison's home is a work in progress - artwork, that is. The artist's Colfax residence is covered with painted scenes she's completed over the past half a dozen years. Her latest wall paintings...

Question: I would like a lawn, but am concerned about the environmental effects. Is it possible to have a beautiful green lawn without using chemical fertilizers and pesticides? Answer: Taking a low-...

Wake up gardeners. Just because it is winter doesn't mean you have to hang it up. Imagine winter as the perfect time to enjoy the culinary kick a fresh-cut herb can give to cold-weather staples like...

Christmas is just days away, but there's still time to create last-minute holiday gift projects that come straight from the heart. Ellen Vigna, manager of Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft store in Roseville,...

Question: I'd love to grow garlic in my garden. What's the best time to plant the bulbs and when do you harvest garlic? Dave K. Penryn Garlic, Allium sativum, is an easy to grow perennial vegetable....

When they moved into their 1980s-era home in rural Placer County, Rod and Donna Lee pledged to make remodeling the master bath a top priority. Four years later, they made good on that oath, with the...

I received an amaryllis bulb for Christmas. What is the best way to grow this plant and allow it to flower? Shelly C., Loomis What a wonderful gift. It's one that I always enjoy giving and receiving....