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Home & Garden Stories
Bosch unveils ‘net zero’ center at Serenbe
The finishing touches have been put on the Bosch Experience Center at Serenbe, which showcases energy-efficient, water-saving and other products the company says can help people live a “net zero” lifestyle. The center - touted as the first of its kind in the U.S. - is open to the public ...
Dad wanted doctors, schools nearby
Charles Wesley had lived in Chamblee for several years. So, when it came time to buy a house again, the divorced dad sought a single-family home near his kids’ pediatrician and dentist and area businesses, such as Costco. “I had gotten used to that proximity,” said Wesley, an engineer. Wesley, ...
Barns given a new purpose
From a historic residence in Marietta to one of Atlanta’s most prestigious country clubs, old barns are being used in new ways in the metro area. Builders, architects and homeowners are keeping the character of the structures while turning them into personal spaces to play, work and sleep. Reusing the ...
Cattle Trough Makes an Interesting Planter
Q: I have a large galvanized cattle water trough that I want to use as a planter. What kind of drainage holes I should drill in the bottom? Steve Conway, Decatur A: Tony Johnson is manager of the UGA Research and Education Garden in Griffin. He turned a cattle trough ...
Move from Mississippi ‘easy’
The relocation assistance provided by Ed and Janet Fore’s employer reduced some of the stress of moving from their native state of Mississippi. The company connected them with a real estate agent and paid for closing costs in their Cumming home purchase, said Ed, a quote and bind sales representative ...
Couple left Florida, moved toward family
It turned out to be a small world after all for Donna Foster, who works for Walt Disney World. She was able to move with her family to Atlanta and still telecommute for the company. Foster, who grew up in Florida, looked forward to living in her husband David’s hometown, ...
New to town, but knowledge about communities, crime is available
Kimberly Shupe found so many of the houses she wanted for herself snatched up by other buyers that she came up with an unconventional strategy after moving from Florida. She told her real estate agent, Lisa Harris with RE/MAX Center, to start the offer process if Harris saw a house ...
Perfect time to prune forsythia
Q: I have a large, happy forsythia. It is probably ten feet across but I would like to prune it. Any recommendation on when and how? Steve Smith, West Cobb A: Now is the perfect time. The plant will have plenty of time to grow new branches and flower buds ...
City living with an ‘oasis’ feel
Bridgette Aaron took a cautious approach to buying her first place, researching financing programs, areas of town and features to determine exactly the type of property she wanted to buy. A townhome in south Buckhead had the intown location she wanted, but only one bedroom. When Aaron discovered she could ...
Finding a ‘commuter pad’ in the city
Howard Baker’s commute from Cumming became taxing when his job required him to travel to locations in different directions — Kennesaw and McDonough. His time in the car could reach 2 ½ hours, or even longer. Howard, who works in the medical device industry, started staying in Atlanta hotels to ...
Staging leads to quick sell
Name: Bob and Keri Allen. Bob founded NewSouth, which provided marketing strategies and marketing communication materials for the commercial real estate industry beginning in 1962. The home: A six-bedroom, four full and one-half bath home built in 1998. Where: Atlanta Why they sold: The couple, who raised their four grandchildren, ...
Grow Geranium in Pots or Beds
Q: Geraniums seem to always be grown in pots. Can you plant them in the ground in Atlanta, or will they do better in pots? Mary Dill, email A: Geraniums grow fine in flower beds. I think they look best when placed to get morning sun and afternoon shade. Remove ...
‘Skinny dipping’ with an outdoor shower
Even if you don’t own a beach or lake house, an outdoor shower in the city or suburbs can evoke a vacationlike setting at home throughout the year. Some homeowners use an outdoor shower to rinse off after swimming in the pool or after running, cycling or other workouts. Others ...
Fairy-tale garden in Marietta
Only two plants existed in the backyard when Bob and Katie Sanstead bought their Marietta cottage four years ago. The rest of the yard basically served as a dog pen. The transplants from Tampa, Fla., have transformed the property, which only had a lacecap hydrangea and a variegated hosta, into ...
Lighting up the outdoors
After Linda Gooding updated the landscaping at her North Decatur home, her landscaper suggested another project: add outdoor lighting. On a referral, Gooding called Dave Parks at Lightscapes of Atlanta, a landscape lighting firm in Marietta. After a visit, Parks came up with an outdoor lighting plan for Gooding’s L-shaped ...
Wheelchair-accessible features stand out
Name: Dennis and Leana Conway The home: A three-bedroom, two-bath house, plus a two-bedroom, one-bath pool house, built in 2000. Where: Canton’s Bridge Mill community Why they sold: The Conways were interested in selling when they learned about plans for Windsong Properties to create Garden Street in Woodstock. The couple ...
Water view attracts Florida buyers
A lake view setting in a Mableton neighborhood reminded Elaina Labossiere of her home in Florida, which was a welcome sign as she and her family relocated to Atlanta for work. It wasn’t an easy process, though. Over the three-month search period, she frequently found that many of the homes ...
Rose rosette disease difficult to control
Q: I just read about rose rosette disease. Can we spray our Knockout roses with Volck oil spray in trying to keep the mites that spread this disease at bay? Elaine Sharp, email A: Rose rosette affects all roses. The most common symptoms are distinct short red stems at the ...
Home tours reflect diverse architecture, design in Atlanta’s neighborhoods
Thousands of folks in metro Atlanta will stroll through private residences during May and June home tours, oohing and aahing over architectural features, interesting interiors and gardens painstakingly cared for by homeowners. Home tours, which serve as fundraisers for many area organizations, range from a new Buckhead chateau to quaint ...
Tell-tale signs of termites: Protective steps for homeowners
Spring is the season when termites swarm in the Southeast and houses often provide perfect landing spots to lure the destructive critters in. “All termites require four things to survive — food, moisture, shelter and optimal temperature,” said Matt Peterson, the Southeast division technical manager for Atlanta-based Orkin. “Wood building ...
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