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Viridiflora Hybrid Tulip Care Like all tulip bulbs, Viridiflora hybrid tulips, require well-drained soil and at least 6 hours of bright sunlight per day. Tulips do best in soil that is stays relatively dry in summer and well-drained in winter. (Wet, boggy soil in winter quickly leads to bulb rot.) The best time to plant tulips bulbs is midfall or when the nighttime temperatures consistently hover around 40°F. Prepare the planting bed by breaking up any clods as you dig a 6- to 8-inch-deep trench....

¾ cup softened butter ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder 2 cup powdered sugar ½ cup milk 2 teaspoon vanilla 6 cup powdered sugar Milk Creamy White Frosting 1 cup shortening 1 ½ teaspoon vanilla ½ teaspoon almond extract 4 cup powdered sugar 3 tablespoon milk Pumpkin Cupcakes 1 2-layer-size package yellow cake mix ¾ cup water ⅓ cup oil 1 cup canned pumpkin ½ cup sour cream 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

Whether you choose real or artificial flowers, they’re sure to make a splash on your tree this year. Check out our favorite DIY floral Christmas tree designs. Paper Petals This insanely pretty tree from Rifle Paper Co. is what Christmas dreams are made of. We’re seriously crushing on the gorgeous blooms—all made out of paper and inspired by gorgeous floral gift wrap ($11, Rifle Paper. Co.). We love how the paper blooms pop on the otherwise bare tree....

2 pound small red-skinned potatoes, sliced 2 tablespoon olive oil 1 tablespoon snipped fresh rosemary ¼ salt ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper

Weeping Willow Care Weeping willow grows well in full sun or part shade and a variety of soil conditions. The trees acclimate to many soil conditions: wet and boggy, well-drained, or even a little dry. It grows especially well near ponds and streams where the soil is often too moist for other tree species. Weeping willow grows fast—as much as 24 inches a year—so take its mature size into consideration. Plant a weeping willow transplant or bare-root plant in spring and water it regularly during the first growing season to encourage a strong root system....

What Is Ube? Pronounced ooh-beh, ube is is a starchy purple tuber (formally known as Dioscorea alata). Ube is native to Southeast Asia, with the Philippines being the country really known for cooking and baking with it. Nutrition-wise, ube is similar to a plain sweet potato, logging in at 120 calories, 27 g carbs, 4 g fiber, and 1 g protein. What Does Ube Taste Like? If you were to blind taste-tested a regular sweet potato or yam with ube, it might be hard to determine which you’re eating....

What is Vermicomposting? Vermi is Latin for worm, so vermicomposting is simply the decomposition of plant materials by worms. Worms consume the kitchen scraps that you feed them, and release castings (worm droppings), also called vermicompost. This is recycling at its best, transforming waste into a valuable resource for your garden. Vermicompost not only feeds plants, but it improves your soil’s texture, and may provide some protection against certain pests. It’s superior to traditional compost in several ways....

What is an annual? All plants have a life cycle, spanning from when a seed sprouts to when the plant dies. When a plant is described as an annual, that means that it grows from seed, flowers, makes more seeds, and dies all within a single year. You can save seeds to replant later. The baby plants may not look exactly like the parent plant, but that’s part of the fun....

At least when it comes to lumber prices, it seems the answer is not entirely promising. A variety of experts, including those whose businesses have ties to the lumber industry or rely on lumber supplies to operate, predict that high prices will remain for the foreseeable future. “Lumber prices are expected to rise in the next year and if this fluctuation of high prices continues the price will have tripled by 2025,” says Richard Fung, a custom home builder with Forever Homes....

Alternately, a catch—which secures the window when closed—can also fail. You may be able to bend a small part to make it work, but often the best solution is to replace the catch. Finding replacement parts can be difficult, so if you can find the make and model of the unit, you may be able to contact the manufacturer or an online parts supply source to obtain what you need....

1 tablespoon shredded lime peel 1 cup lime juice 3 tablespoon canola oil 2 teaspoon ground cumin ¼ teaspoon salt

2 ⅔ cup warm water (105°F) 2 tablespoon granulated sugar 4 ½ teaspoon active dry yeast 7 ½ cup all-purpose flour 1 tablespoon kosher salt 6 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil Salt and pepper Mini Pizza “Tacos” 1 15 ounce carton whole-milk ricotta cheese 3 pound zucchini Ranchero Sauce (see recipe) 1 pound fresh mozzarella cheese, sliced 1 cup shaved red onion 30 squash blossoms (optional) 1 bunch fresh chives, cut in 2-inch lengths Crushed red pepper...

What Is a Bird of Paradise Plant? Bird of paradise is a common name that’s attributed to several plants in the Strelitzia genus. Of the 5 recognized species (S. reginae, S. juncea, S. nicolai, S. caudata, and S. alba), the first two are the most “easily grown as houseplants,” says Dan Pogust, co-founder of the Portland Botanical Gardens. All bird of paradise plants are native to tropical and subtropical areas of southeastern Africa....