One of the best investments a homeowner can make is to plant a tree. Not only will the tree provide shade that cools the house in the summer heat, but it will also add value to the property if planted in the right place.

Before choosing or planting any tree, consider the mature height of the tree or shrub in relation to the scale of your yard. Give them plenty of room to grow by spacing them a good distance from the house, sidewalks, or other trees. If they are large-growing trees, do not plant them under utility lines. Before digging, locate all underground utility lines.

Trees or shrubs ready for planting will be sold in one of three ways. Bare-root trees are more economical to buy but are more difficult to get started in your landscape and should only be planted in the spring. [Read more…]

Spring is one of the most exciting times in my backyard and in the birding world in general. Migration begins in March, when the birds who have wintered south of the border begin the trip back to their summer breeding and nesting grounds in North America.

It isn’t uncommon during the latter part of March and well into April for me to see many different species of warbler, vireo, and other birds either passing through or returning to my neighborhood to stake out their territory.

During spring migration, the birds take the shortest route in order to arrive on the breeding grounds in a timely fashion. Once they start across the Gulf of Mexico, other than offshore oil rigs, there aren’t many opportunities to stop and rest. In good weather, the trip is a major undertaking. If the birds encounter a strong north wind, it makes the journey much harder, resulting in exhaustion by the time they reach the Gulf coast states of the U.S. [Read more…]

Your home is your most important investment, but it’s also a source of pride. If you’re attempting to sell it, prospective buyers should feel that same pride when they imagine owning it.

While there are a lot of ways to determine how much return you can expect to see from different kinds of improvements inside your home, the curb appeal will get more buyers looking, and create emotional attachments that lead to more offers. The good news is, a few small changes can make significant improvements without breaking the bank. [Read more…]

Living (and loving) Life

Antique items can come from a variety of different sources. You may have found your treasures in an antique store, or you may have inherited them. You may also have purchased items many years ago that qualify as antiques today. Regardless of how you obtained your antique items, chances are you would like to know their value.

Knowing the value of your antiques allows you to provide your insurance company with the correct appraisal amount. Having this information may also help in settling your estate, or it may help you sell the item for a reasonable price. In addition, some people like to know the value of their antique items just for peace of mind. Whatever your reason for obtaining this information, finding out more about your treasures is easy. [Read more…]

Electric lawn mowers are increasing in popularity these days. Many people, looking for a “green” alternative to gas powered mowers are finding that electric mowers do an excellent job without smogging up the environment.

A nice benefit to electric mowers is that they are considerably quieter than their gas guzzling kin due to the way they are constructed. Rather than utilizing a gasoline engine block, an electric engine is connected directly to the grass cutting blade, resulting in quieter, cleaner performance and a much more light weight machine.

Manufacturing companies have risen to meet the demand for electric lawn mowers, and there is now quite a variety of mowers on the market. [Read more…]