old-fashioned favorites: hellebores
Right on schedule, my hellebores — also called Lenten roses — are blooming. It’s taken three years for them to establish themselves, but I’m finally being rewarded with dinner-plate sized clumps of semi-evergreen leaves and flowers ranging from a deep plum to a chartreuse. The blooms will last for well over a month if not trampled by kids or dog. They’re ideal for shady spots and are pretty tolerant of poor soil. If you have a little patience, now’s the perfect planting time. If you live in Zone 4 or lower, check the hardiness of individual varieties. — Sarah L.
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outdoor organizing: decluttering the yard stash
After reading reviews for RubberMaid storage sheds for the kids’ bikes, I’m on the hunt for something that doesn’t leak. Enter the YardStash. At 78†long, 32†deep and 62†high, it should be able to fit two bikes and scooters easily. And at $99 (plus $19.95 shipping), it’s less than half the price of the hardware store option. While I certainly have bad memories of leaking tents from camping trips, in theory, it seems like this could work. My husband, however, is convinced it’ll end up in Kansas. Anyone tried it? Got a better idea? — Sarah L.
not for the weak minded: death star cookie jar
There’s a whole world of pop culture that my kids are just now nearing the age to take in. Key word: nearing. (The oldest came home from book character day saying that one friend had dressed as another friend’s dad. It was like pulling taffy to figure out one boy came as Luke and the other as Darth Vader, at which point, it made perfect sense.) So while the Death Star cookie jar is still a little bit beyond them, there’s still something pleasing about the gray goodness of the thing. 12 x12†and $49.99 from the geniuses at thinkgeek. — Sarah L.
when a clogged drain comes along, you must zip-it
Now Zip-it! Zip-it good! Sorry — as a big DEVO fan, I had to. But seriously, can we talk about how brilliant the Zip-it is? As someone who seems to shed her abundant long hair as much as our long-haired cat does, our drains slow down often, even with mesh traps and lots of careful cleaning. I’d even taken to unfurling a wire hanger and using it to fish out the nasty stuff that gets down in our shower drain. It took a while, and it seemed to only KINDA make it better. So when I spotted the Zip-it at my local Home Depot for about $3, I figured I’d give it a test run on our sluggish shower drain. Lo and behold, one rip of the Zip-it, and the scariest, grossest tangle of hair goo came up with it, and my drains have been clear ever since. Heck of a lot better than caustic chemicals! And if you don’t believe me, take a look at the many photo testimonials on the site (for those blessed with a strong stomach). Find them at your local hardware store, or online, at Amazon. — Megan B.
making a home emergency kit
If there can be any silver lining at all found in the horrific disasters that recently hit New Zealand and Japan, perhaps it’s that many more of us will be better prepared should a similar event occur closer to home. I felt a little like a crazy survivalist when I told my husband I thought we should have an emergency stash of food and water in case “the big one†hits the Pacific Northwest, as seismologists have warned, but Jamie Lee Curtis is making me feel a lot less dorky. As spokesperson for the American Red Cross campaign, Do More Than Cross Your Fingers, she touts her preparedness stance and offers tips for what to put in your emergency kit. I bought a few IKEA SAMLA storage bins for supplies and am starting to fill empty 2-liter plastic bottles with tap water. Originally I was only thinking of storing food and water, but FEMA and the Red Cross suggested much more. So now I will also be packing a First Aid kit, blanket, fleece jackets, some old boots, a Leatherman multi-tool, can opener, flashlight and extra cash. Since an earthquake would likely force us outside our home, I’ll be putting our kit in our detached garage. Depending on the types of catastrophes that could hit your area, an evacuation backpack in your entryway closet or a kit in your basement could make more sense. Have you, too, been inspired by recent events to start an emergency kit, or have you been prepared for a while? What’s in yours? — Ginny F.
