Home and Garden
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Eight pitchers that are perfect for summer entertaining
May 28, 2025 4:51 pm - Summer is pitcher season — for ice tea at lunch, for margaritas at sunset, for sangria at dinner and, of course, for ice water always. Need to bring instant charm to a meal eaten outdoors? Don’t bother with a tablecloth — bring out a pitcher instead.
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Chelsea Chop is the catchy new name for a classic gardening technique
May 28, 2025 4:41 pm - What’s the deal with the Chelsea Chop? The pruning method, named for the Royal Horticultural Society’s Chelsea Flower Show, held every May in the U.K., is a common one. But things with catchy names tend to take on a life of their own, as the Chelsea Chop has on social media. And that’s a good thing because it popularizes a useful technique.
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Find the trunk flare when planting new treesMay 28, 2025 4:23 pm - Did you know that the top of the root ball is not an accurate guide for determining the planting depth for your new tree? Instead you must find, sometimes buried in the root ball, the flare of the trunk to plant at ground level so the flare is exposed.
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When are home inspectors liableMay 28, 2025 4:10 pm - A common saying in the home inspection business holds that there are two kinds of home inspectors: those who have been sued and those who will be. The fact is, most home inspectors will be sued at some time during their careers. There are, however, specific circumstances that determine whether a home inspector is truly liable.
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Tiny outdoor space? Turn it into an inviting retreatMay 28, 2025 3:52 pm - Whether it’s a modest balcony, a pocket-size patio or a tiny backyard, small outdoor spaces have big potential. With a few smart design choices and some creative flair, even the most limited square footage can become a welcoming and rejuvenating retreat.
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Home & garden calendar, June 1-7May 28, 2025 3:42 pm - Plant sales, garden walks and more.
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Get your garden ready with plant sales around the suburbsMay 28, 2025 3:38 pm - Gardeners can get the growing season off to a good start with upcoming plant sales featuring perennials, vegetables, native and organic plants. It is also a good way to support local nonprofit organizations.
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DuPage County setting up land bank as part of affordable housing pushMay 27, 2025 6:29 pm - DuPage officials are taking more steps to help expand affordable housing in the county.
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Association boards should perform legal audit annuallyMay 22, 2025 7:35 pm - Each year, a condominium or homeowner association board should conduct a legal audit of its corporate procedures and activities. It’s a process that the board can do on its own for the most, or with minimal assistance of third parties, and it can be very revealing.
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Struggling to declutter? Try the No. 2 rule
May 21, 2025 11:02 pm - Move over, Marie Kondo, there’s a new approach to decluttering that’s taking over social media. It’s a little juvenile, and more than a little gross, but it’s sparking joy for people who are overwhelmed by their stuff.