Where to Grow Venus Flytrap Instead of originating one planet away from Earth, Venus flytraps are perennials native to boggy areas of coastal North and South Carolina. They grow in moist, acidic soils in full sun but only survive winter outdoors in Zones 8-10. Gardeners in colder winter climates should grow Venus flytraps in a moist environment, such as a terrarium that can go indoors during winter. Venus Flytrap Care Tips Light Venus flytraps do best in bright but indirect light....

When to Plant Onions About 2-3 weeks before the average last frost date for your area is the best time to plant onions outdoors. Exactly when to plant them depends on how soon you can work the ground in spring. Onions, which are a cool-season vegetable, can survive light frost but it’s best to wait until your low temperatures stay above 28°F. In warmer regions, onions can be planted in the fall, at least a month before cool weather arrives so they have time to grow some roots....

This thick-bed installation relies on a troweled mortar mix, which when properly mixed is like a sandy clay. Floating a thick bed takes two steps: floating the sloped sub-base for the membrane and floating a reinforced top floor that follows the slope of the sub-base. Because of its considerable weight, you should install it only on a slab or properly supported wood subfloor. You’ll need to devote two to three days to frame the enclosure, float the floor, and tile and grout the interior....

Placing a New Window Start by deciding the style and location of the window. A new window can enhance the appearance of a home’s exterior as long as it complements the other windows. Sizing and properly placing windows calls for making aesthetic and design decisions as well as some structural determinations. This placement depends on the room, the architecture of your home, and which direction your exterior walls face. We’ll offer pointers for placing your new window, plus we’ll explain the optimal heights for hanging windows....

You don’t have to be a regular at Santa’s workshop to master this bow. Our technique is easy enough for beginners and works for all kinds of ribbons. If this is your first time making an intricate bow, we recommend starting with a wire-edged ribbon, such as this plaid wired ribbon ($9, Walmart) we used. The wiring will allow you to style the bow’s loops, easily hiding any imperfections....

Although the arrangement looks free-form, Tanya carefully planned each cubby’s size and position. She built each kitchen cabinet cubby a different size for variety but kept them to either 12 or 16 inches deep to best fit the pieces in her collection. “If one cubby was slightly too big or too small, it would throw off everything,” she says. The entire project took about four days, and Tanya kept costs to $250 by using materials she had....

How to Make Crab Cakes We’re going to reference our classic crab cake recipe for this process, but you can easily use these steps to create your own crab cakes. Step 1: Prep Crab Cake Ingredients There are two basic categories of ingredients you need for a crab cake recipe: Binders such as eggs, mayo, bread crumbs, and cornmeal to help the crab cake hold together.Flavor enhancers include mustard, fresh or dried herbs, onions, peppers, and seasonings to complement the crabmeat....

Ultrafrilly This was the mom antidote to your grunge phase. STUFF. We need more stuff. Finding Fido in this room is like searching a Where’s Waldo? book. Can you spot the dog in this picture? Wicker Furniture Demand for wicker furniture went wild. And we’re pretty sure these rooms had something to do with it. Pattern x 1,000,000 PATTERNS! Oh, and did we mention PATTERNS? (Also, those window treatments. DYING!) We think designers secretly challenged each other to see how many stripes they could fit into one room....

Over and under bathroom sink storage cabinets provide the majority of potential extra room, but these might not cut it if you have a lot of stuff to store or if your bathroom is particularly small. The trick is knowing which updates can help solve those organizing issues. Here are some smart ideas for bathroom sink cabinets to help you maximize style and organization within a limited space. 1. Consider an alternative to traditional bathroom sink cabinets....

Buy It: PowerXL Vortex 7 qt. AirFryer ($150, Bed Bath & Beyond) Buy It: Instant Pot DUO60 7-in-1 Programmable Pressure Cooker 6-Qt. ($100, Macy’s)

1. Kitchen Handles Need a hand during dinner prep? You’re likely using one to open the refrigerator door—even if you just finished handling raw meat. If left untreated, refrigerator, freezer, and oven handles become a breeding ground for germs and bacteria. Scrub kitchen cabinet and appliance handles down once a week (or immediately after touching them with messy hands) with a cloth and a disinfectant spray or a mix of one part hot water and one part vinegar....

Buy It: Oven to Table Rectangular Baker, ($35, Williams Sonoma)

Buy It: Gobel Mini Tart Pans ($25, Williams Sonoma)

Typical sample-pot sizes range from about eight to 32 ounces, and most cost about $10 or less. Before you begin a paint project, measure the surface area you plan to cover and calculate whether you have enough paint to complete the job, factoring in the possibility you’ll need multiple coats. When you’re ready to start painting, consider one of these clever uses to turn leftover materials into show-stopping decor....

Buy It: Threshold 3-Quart Rectangular Baking Dish ($20, Target) Buy It: Our Table Dutch Oven ($55, Bed Bath & Beyond)

If you’re struggling to set New Year’s resolutions for 2021, not to worry—I’ve rounded up some of our editors’ best ideas to help you have the best year possible, even amid so much uncertainty about what the year may hold. As with all resolutions, keep in mind that you don’t have to start on January 1. I’m a firm believer that you should start the day you make the resolution, whether that’s in December, February, or at any point in the year....

Botanical Name: Acer palmatum Growing Conditions: Full sun to part shade Size: 2-30 feet tall (depending on variety) Zones: 5–8 Botanical Name: Acer palmatum ‘Sangokaku’ Growing Conditions: Full sun to part shade Size: 15–20 feet tall, 12 feet wide Zones: 5–8 Botanical Name: Acer griseum Growing Conditions: Full sun Size: 20–30 feet tall, 12 feet wide Zones: 5–7 Botanical Name: Acer saccharum Growing Conditions: Full sun Size: 50–75 feet tall, 30–45 feet wide Zones: 4–8 Botanical Name: Acer saccharinum Growing Conditions: Full sun Size: 60–80 feet tall, 40–60 feet wide Zones: 3–9 Botanical Name: Acer rubrum Growing Conditions: Full sun to part shade Size: 40–60 feet tall, 30–40 feet wide Zones: 3–9 Botanical Name: Acer campestre Growing Conditions: Full sun to part shade Size: 20–35 feet tall, 20–30 feet wide Zones: 5–8 Botanical Name: Acer platanoides ‘Crimson King’ Growing Conditions: Full sun Size: 35–45 feet tall, 25–30 feet wide Zones: 3–7 Botanical Name: Acer pectinatum ssp....

1. Buy Energy-Efficient Appliances Major appliances are your home’s third-biggest energy hog, behind heating, cooling, and water heating. Replace outdated appliances with efficient new models. In the long run, replacing old appliances will help your bills and the environment. Energy Star-qualified models have a range of efficiencies, so compare models and go with the most efficient. 2. Use Occupancy Sensors Turn off the lights when you leave a room. If that’s difficult for you or your kids to remember, buy lights with occupancy sensors that automatically turn off when there hasn’t been any movement for a period of time....