Home and Garden

Necessity brought change to the landscaping of UC Davis. It also meant opportunity for the UC Davis Arboretum.

This is one part in a weekly series featuring the UC Davis Arboretum Durable Delights, 30 can't-fail, easy-care plants well-adapted to our region.

Special events - The Folsom History Museum presents an exhibit on textile construction, 18th century to present. Displays show the history of yarn production, weaving and knitting.

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 home is an older home, and anything that had been in any closet has an "old" smell. I want to put boxes of baking soda in each closet to help control odors. Should I place the soda boxes on the top shelf or on the floor?

Resetting the alarm clock is easy; body clocks take a little longer.

Sacramento Bee readers share their gardening adventures.

This colorful event features hundreds of African violets, including many rare and unusual varieties. Self-watering pots for sale, too.

Last summer, I noticed the telltale signs of mites on my eggplant and squash. Can mites be eradicated using non-pesticidal means? If not, what are the best anti-mite products available?

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.

Last summer, I had them in large pots, watered once a day, sometimes every other day. They had no pests on them and I used fertilizer for tomatoes.

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.

Springtime means spring cleaning – and allergies.

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.

It's officially spring – and time to freshen up the house. Welcome the new season by making rooms feel lighter and brighter, said Sally Morse, Hunter Douglas creative services director.

Help! I have two beautiful crape myrtle trees planted between my two driveways. They offer great shade for our cars, but all summer long they drop a dewy mess all over the cars.

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.