Sunset

Home & Garden Decorating & Design Beachy, breezy, and oh-so-beautiful. Design by Christine Markatos Lowe; Photo by Manolo Langis Share this story Life might be a beach, but decorating your home to look like one can is no easy feat. While fish, shells, and lots of kelp run rampant along the shore, these classic motifs tend to look tacky inside.

Home & Garden Garden Basics Late August is the garden’s great in-between. Here’s how to use a weekend or two to reset what’s tired, make room for what’s next, and set your garden up for a beautiful fall. Thomas J. Story Share this story There’s something about late summer that makes you notice your garden differently. The exuberance of June and July has started to settle, containers are looking a little tired, and the soil has been working overtime. But this isn’t the moment for a garden overhaul.

Travel Camping It’s the perfect gear to stay in the moment. Getty Images Multi-racial group of friends, male and female hikers camping together in nature. Their friend is taking a picture of them. Share this story I probably shouldn’t be saying this as someone who writes on the internet, but I’ve reached peak technology fatigue. I’m completely sick of my phone. Social media just doesn’t seem exciting anymore.

Food & Drink Recipes What to make this month. Annabelle Breakey Share this story September is the sweet spot between summer’s grand finale and fall’s cozy comfort. As temperatures cool and farmers’ markets start overflowing with fresh harvest bounty, it’s the perfect time to reimagine your kitchen routine. This month celebrates the transition beautifully—ripe tomatoes and zucchini meet the season’s first apples and pears.

Home & Garden Flowers & Plants Ditch the thirsty turf. Welcome a meadow-minded landscape instead. Thomas J. Story Share this story There’s a reason so many Western gardeners are breaking up with the traditional lawn. It’s thirsty, high-maintenance, and for all the work it requires, it gives very little back—especially in a climate where every drop of water and every square foot of habitat matters.

Home & Garden Decorating & Design It was redesigned for family living. Zeke Ruelas Share this story This 1926 Tudor house in San Marino, California, had only a few owners in its lifetime, so it still had many of its charming original details. Andrea McEwen, who shares the home with her husband and two children, was really drawn to those untouched details: a laundry chute, an exterior pocket door with a pocket screen door, two balconies, and a mail slot that goes into a small closet with shelves.

Home & Garden Garden Basics A technique that conserves water by applying small quantities of it near the ground. Share this story The term “drip irrigation” describes the application of water not only by drip emitters but also by microsprays. Both of these have two traits in common: they operate at low pressure, and they deliver a low volume of water compared to standard sprinklers.

Home & Garden Garden Basics Get tips on one of the best ways to maintain soil moisture and minimize the need to weed Rob D. Brodman Mulch: more than a pretty face Share this story No matter what condition your garden is in, adding a layer of mulch will give it a clean, freshly planted look. But the benefits of mulch are not just cosmetic.

Home & Garden Garden Basics Mulching is one of the best ways to maintain soil moisture and minimize the need to weed Rob D. Brodman Mulch: more than a pretty face Share this story No matter what condition your garden is in, adding a layer of mulch will give it a clean, freshly planted look. But the benefits of mulch are not just cosmetic.

Home & Garden Garden Basics Make your yard a buzzing, blooming hotspot. Thomas J. Story Share this story Want to turn your yard into an oasis where pollinators frolic and feed? Julia Michaels, Ph.D., Restoration Ecologist at Hedgerow Farms, has hints and tips on what to plant to help sustain birds, bees, and butterflies. Layer the Blooms Lupine Thomas J. Story Mix flower heights—groundcovers, mid-height forbs, and tall blooms.