10 cup water 2 pound pork hocks 2 carrots, cut into thirds 3 stalks celery, cut up 1 medium onion, cut in half ¼ cup fresh thyme sprigs, loosely packed 3 bay leaves 3 cloves garlic, minced

Highlights Past contributing editor to Country Gardens, Better Homes & Gardens, Garden Design and Florists’ Review magazinesPast garden features writer for Seattle Post-Intelligencer and the Los Angeles TimesPast president of GardenComm, the international association of garden communicatorsFrequently quoted expert on flower farming, sustainable floral design, lifestyle trends and outdoor living. She has been quoted in the New York Times, WSJ, Washington Post, and many major shelter publications She is also the editorial director and co-founder with Robin Avni of BLOOM Imprint, a boutique publisher that identifies and develops creative book ideas by and about members of the Slow Flowers Movement....

Red Wallpapered Bathroom If you’re looking to start small, wallpaper in a small-scale pattern with a white background, like seen above, is a subtle choice. Red accents in an otherwise neutral bathroom feel pretty and glamorous. The red remains approachable, accented with marble countertops and silver accents. Add blue for a more nautical feel, or try pink if you want to skew feminine. Retro Red Eclectic Kitchen Decorating with red walls in this kitchen evokes a retro feel....

Deutzia Care It’s hard to believe that deutzia didn’t catch on sooner. They’re extremely low-maintenance. Plant them in well-drained soils and provide consistent moisture until they’re established. Once established, they can handle drought well, with few, if any, negative side effects. Plant deutzia in full sun to maximize the flower buds and fall color (a few varieties turn deep burgundy red for a show of color in fall). While full sun is ideal for flower production, some varieties, like ‘Chardonnay Pearls,’ do better in part sun, as their blooms can burn in intense sun....

A mixer A mixing bowlA spatulaA wooden spoonA cookie sheetA cooling rack While anyone who cooks most likely has the first five items on the list, some cooks find themselves without that last item: a wire rack to cool cookies. How important is this cookie cooling rack? What can you substitute if you don’t have one? Good questions. Here are some straightforward answers. Do I Need a Cooling Rack to Cool Cookies?...

1 cup shortening 1 ½ teaspoon vanilla ½ teaspoon almond extract 4 cup powdered sugar 3 tablespoon milk

Fresh Tomato and Olive Topping: In a small bowl, stir together 1 cup seeded and finely chopped tomato (2 medium): 1 cup coarsely chopped assorted pitted ripe olives (such as kalamata, Greek, or Mission); 1/3 cup finely chopped red onion; 2 tablespoons snipped fresh cilantro or parsley; 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar or red wine vinegar; and 2 cloves garlic, minced. Shrimp Topping: In a medium bowl stir together 8 ounces peeled and deveined cooked shrimp, chopped; 1 tablespoon olive oil; 2 teaspoons white wine vinegar, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper....

Colorful Combinations While the 2- to 3-inch-diameter blossoms of this plant are not as large as those of a real sunflower, they are borne in large enough quantities to make up for it. In most specimens, each flower comprises a single row of golden petals around a darker yellow center eye. (That’s why this plant is commonly called ox eye.) Some varieties bear double flowers that include an extra set of petals for a fuller look....

Lime and Pistachio Churro Glaze: In a medium microwave-safe bowl combine 1/4 cup lime juice, 1/4 cup finely chopped pistachios, 1 tablespoon butter, and 1 tablespoon agave nectar or light corn syrup. Microwave on 100 percent power (high) for 1 minute. Whisk in 2 cups powdered sugar, whisking until glaze is smooth. If desired, whisk in enough green food coloring, one drop at a time, to make the desired color. Sprinkle glazed churros with additional finely chopped pistachios....

The four-leaf clover (officially known as Oxalis deppei) is a small plant with four distinct leaves. It’s a rare variation of the common three-leaf clover, and because your chances of finding one with four leaves is about 1 in 10,000, they’re considered lucky. Four-leaf clovers have been around for ages, and their supposed lucky powers are talked about in centuries-old legends. In the early days of Ireland, Celtic priests known as Druids carried three-leaf clovers, or shamrocks, in the belief that with their help, they could see evil spirits approaching and be able to escape....