Home and Garden

Your dog has escaped from your backyard. You need to borrow a ladder. You're worried about a suspicious character who keeps showing up on your cul-de-sac.

There's nothing like the discovery of a new plant to get gardeners giggly with anticipation.

Gardening can be an intoxicating hobby, especially if the botany is booze-related.

You can't avoid having to dust – two of the biggest components are skin cells and fabric bits – but you can reduce the amount you have to do. Donna Smallin, author of "The One-Minute Cleaner Plain & Simple: 500 Tips for Cleaning Smarter, Not Harder" offers some suggestions:

The Sacramento Bee hosts a network of high-quality news providers and bloggers in the Sacramento region. Here is a sampling of the best of the current Home & Garden blogs. Check out the full postings: sacramentoconnect.com.

Special events continuing through May 19 - The Folsom History Museum presents an exhibit on textile- making from the 18th century to present

DEAR HELOISE: My windshield has been streaky for a while, and I assumed I just needed to wash my car. My father told me I needed to replace my windshield-wiper blades. He was right! Still learning from Dad.

Sacramento Bee readers share their gardening adventures.

Many of the most beautiful and rarest roses are in bloom in this renowned garden. See and smell them on this guided tour.

Daffodils first came to Ironstone Vineyards by chance; they were a bargain that winemaker John Kautz couldn't pass up.

Drought drives up water prices – and thousands of Sacramento homeowners only recently converted to metered water. With that in mind, many gardeners are making the switch to more unthirsty plants.

While visiting France, restaurateur Thomas Keller nibbled a crunchy blue-leafed spinach that he'd never seen before. It tasted faintly like oysters – and Keller immediately texted his staff.

The Sacramento Bee hosts a network of high-quality news providers and bloggers in the Sacramento region. Here is a sampling of the best of the current Home & Garden blogs.

DEAR READERS: Guess what I found lurking in my pantry? A bottle of natural rice vinegar with algaelike growth floating in it.

Looking for water-efficient plants? Start with the UC Davis Arboretum All-Stars, 100 easy-care, low-water plants recommended for use in the Sacramento Valley. In addition, the arboretum's 75 Community Favorites are just that – great easy-care plants recommended by area volunteers. Low water use is a priority among these Favorites, too.

• The Quilt, Craft and Sewing Festival will feature a wide variety of sewing, quilting, needle-art and craft-supply exhibits. • Arbor Day plant sale hosted by the Gibson Gardeners of the Yolo County Historical Museum.

Support the dozens of clubs that call the Shepard center home. This huge sale features plants, pottery, books, gardening and craft supplies, original art and much more.

They taste better and often are better for you. Gardeners and cooks agree: There's nothing like homegrown vegetables.

Gardening brings us together both physically and virtually. Like cooking, it's a universal topic and easy to get started. But no matter how much you know, there's more to learn.

Special events - Help Sunburst Projects send a child affected by HIV/AIDS to summer camp at this perennials sale

Several recent books offer a wealth of information for both beginners and more experienced food gardeners

Marjorie Witt, a longtime Carmichael resident, has seen a variety of creatures visit her garden. But in late February, she had a huge surprise – a fox on her fence.

MASTER GARDENER WORKSHOP - Citrus, building good soil, vermicomposting and worm bins will be in the spotlight during this workshop with dozens of master gardeners. They'll help solve other garden dilemmas, too.

The Sacramento Bee hosts a network of high-quality news providers and bloggers in the Sacramento region. Here is a sampling of the best of the current Home & Garden blogs.

DEAR HELOISE: My favorite patent leather shoes got some scuffs and nicks from my 5-year-old daughter stomping around in them.

DEAR HELOISE: I recently purchased a new electric dryer. Before the deliveryman installed it, I vacuumed out the exhaust hose and was surprised to get a lot of lint. I noticed that the dryer did not completely dry the clothes on the setting I chose, so I tried another setting, with success.

The arboretum opens its nursery to members only. Not a member? Join at the door, get a discount on plants. First public sale is April 6.

This is one part in a weekly series featuring the UC Davis Community Favorites, 75 can't-fail, easy-care plants well-adapted to our region and recommended by local gardeners.

HOME CHECKLIST-Where did the time go? You'll lose an hour tonight. How? Turn that clock forward!

When it comes to feeding their dogs, not everyone is opening up a can of wet food or reaching for a scoop of kibble and plunking it into a bowl.