Gardening news from around the web

How to upgrade your outdoor entertaining spaces for spring and summer

(BPT) - Spring and summer aren't just for outdoor sports, picnics and hikes. The warmer seasons are also a great time to entertain friends and family in your outdoor living spaces.Whether you already …

A Breakthrough Making Grass Seed Smarter and Lawns Greener

(Family Features) In neighborhoods across the country, homeowners are getting extra help in their quest for the elusive, perfect lawn.

Windy days can mean more pollen and more sneezing.

Worsening allergies aren’t your imagination − windy days create the perfect pollen storm

From sending more pollen airborne to breaking up pollen grains, which lets them penetrate deeper into your lungs, the wind is not the allergy sufferer’s friend.

Paint your garden with color: Stunning plants offer effortless beauty

(BPT) - Spring is here, making it the perfect time to dream up your vibrant garden. This year, think of your garden as a personal masterpiece, where colors blend and nature takes center stage. Just …

Window-box gardening has been a Philly tradition since the 1800s. Sonja Dümpelmann, CC BY-SA

The hidden history of Philadelphia’s window-box gardens and their role in urban reform

A landscape historian explains how a Victorian tradition became a tool for social change in 19th- and 20th-century Philadelphia.

Elevate outdoor entertaining with petunias and pansies

(BPT) - Love to entertain? Wave® Petunias and Pansies offer an easy and impactful way to create a welcoming, lively atmosphere for any outdoor gathering. From setting a colorful backdrop to …

5 top trends for transforming your outdoor space

(BPT) - Homeowners today are reimagining their outdoor spaces, moving beyond a basic patio and grill to create thoughtfully designed areas that blend style, comfort, and functionality. According to …

Prep your yard for spring: How to refresh your outdoor spaces and create your own oasis

(BPT) - Spring is right around the corner, making it the perfect time to start prepping your outdoor spaces for entertaining. From clearing away built-up winter grime on siding to freshening up …

Planning for spring's garden? Bees like variety and don't care about your neighbors' yards

The Conversation shares new research from University of Tennessee assistant professor Laura Russo showing that bees zero in on the flowers they like and ignore the surrounding landscape.

Transitional gardening: How to choose plants that can thrive moving from cold to warm weather

(BPT) - Keep your garden vibrant all season long with these cold weather-resistant plants.As winter continues to keep temps fluctuating, many gardeners assume their work is done until spring. …

Lifestyle news

After years apart, they found their loved ones experiencing homelessness

CalMatters reveals what happened when two people were able to reconnect with their relatives experiencing homelessness after reading a CalMatters article.

There’s a lot to learn about crime. Trump’s orders are making it harder to get answers.

The Marshall Project reports that so far the Trump administration has cut funds for tracking bad cops, shootings and violent extremism, canceled crime prevention grants, and more.

Trump is targeting sanctuary cities. But what is a sanctuary city, anyway?

Next City explains that sanctuary cities, which aim to limit collaboration with federal immigration enforcement, are legal—but they have long been a fixation of the Trump administration.

Hawaiian taro takes root in Oregon

Economic Hardship Reporting Project and Civil Eats report that while more Native Hawaiians live in the continental U.S. than they do in Hawaii, many in the diaspora long for stronger ties to their home and cultural identity.

Why Trump wants to ban barcodes on ballots, and what it means for voters and election officials

Votebeat reveals that President Donald Trump's executive order targeting a technology which helps speed up vote counting could be costly if eliminated.