HOME & GARDEN
How Farmhouses Went Modern
Design trends for rural homes April 2025 by Jim Winnerman, Contributing Writer You might be familiar with interior decorating styles known as mid-century modern, contemporary or, simply, modern. Less familiar to you may be a design approach known as modern farmhouse....
Why Be Evergreen?
Advantages and disadvantages of trees losing leaves in winter January-February 2025 by Steve Carroll, Contributing Columnist As I write this column, most of our trees have dropped their leaves and will remain leaf-free until spring. Most trees, though not all. Obvious...
Eastern Hophornbeam
A tree for all seasons October 2024 by Steve Carroll, Contributing Columnist Despite having four-season interest, Eastern hophornbeam (Ostrya virginiana)...
Flowering Dogwood
Virginia’s state flower and tree April 2024 by Steve Carroll, Contributing Columnist Flowering dogwood is a small tree that makes a dramatic and much-admired statement in early spring. The Virginia Native Plant Society named it their 2018 Flower of the Year, and in...
In My Backyard?
Busting myths about geothermal heat pumps April 2024 by Will Lange, Contributing Columnist MYTH #1: YOU NEED A BUNCH OF LAND As someone once put it, “If you have a lawn mower, then you can put in a geo unit.” With numerous options for the geothermal underground loop...
Geothermal Energy
A hot topic that’s also a cool conversation March 2024 by Will Lange, Contributing Columnist In a world of traditional, fossil fuel-based heating and cooling systems, solar panels on roofs and vast wind farms, you may never have given much thought to another...
Seeing the Forest for the Trees
Virginia pine deserves a second look January-February 2024 by Steve Carroll, Contributing Columnist If you live in the mid-Atlantic, you’ve surely seen Virginia pine, though you may have given it just a passing...
Keeping Your Home Cozy
As you make home upgrades this fall, be sure to use materials designed to withstand extreme weather events.
Bald Cypress
Bald cypress is a truly unusual tree. It’s a conifer — therefore related to pines and spruces — but it drops all its leaves each fall.