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If you’ve ever been accused of lacking a green thumb, you no doubt know the struggles presented by trying to grow a successful garden. An indoor garden can be a tricky endeavor to navigate; mother nature won’t be there to fill in the gaps when you forget to water your plants.
Therefore, it’s important to work smarter, not harder, to turn your weakness into a gardening success. Growing a low maintenance indoor garden doesn’t have to be challenging, and by incorporating a few easy-to-implement steps, you can cultivate a garden for even the worst – or laziest – gardeners among us.
1. Choose the right plants
When it comes down to it, some plants are just hard to grow. You might think that native plants would be ideal for indoor gardening, when in fact that’s why they’re low maintenance to begin with because they are susceptible to the climate zone. Native plants, however, don’t do too well indoors as they require your climate zones humidity and other factors. Try to avoid these when you are selecting your plants, and only choose those that are designed for being grown indoors in containers. Your plants won’t grow well if you can’t provide an environment that is compatible with their needs.
If you’re considering growing an edible garden, some good choices include lettuce, spinach, carrots, and herbs. Oftentimes, low maintenance native plants in your area can flourish as well indoor, depending on sunlight and humidity requirements. The best flowers include marigolds, begonia, succulents, and lilies.These plants all germinate rapidly, and besides watering here and there, require no other maintenance.
Before you buy your seeds and prepare to plant, you need to first decide on the best kind of garden to grow. Hydroponic gardens are great for producing large amounts of vegetables in small amounts of space, but these are advanced and require a bit more start-up energy than traditional container gardens. Container gardens are a great option for beginners as they can easily be moved if necessary.
2. Pick the most convenient spot
This will require some give and take though because you must consider your plants’ needs as well. Most plants need at least six hours of sunlight a day, but this doesn’t always mean they need direct sun. Be sure to read the labels of your plants carefully so that you are aware of the best spot.
That being said, don’t stress too much. If your chosen location- which could very well be the only available spot in your home- only receives five hours of sunlight a day, it’s not worth rearranging your entire home. Instead, work with the space you have. Consider hanging or raising plants to help make up for what your chosen location might lack. Installing grow lights can also help you make up for a scarcity of sunlight while also taking the guesswork out of whether your plants are receiving the right amount sunlight.
When all is said and done, put your plants in the most attractive and convenient spot possible. Consider placing them on a stand that is central to the rest of your home – that is, somewhere you will be forced to walk by your plants every day. This will take forgetfulness entirely out of the equation.
3.Use the right size pots
Remember that you don’t need to rush to the nursery to purchase store-bought containers, either. To make your life easier, repot your plants in containers like produce boxes, window boxes, mason jars, or wooden crates. As long as your container has plenty of drainage and room for your plants’ roots to spread, your bases are covered.
If your container is lacking drainage, simply use a knife to poke a few holes in the bottom. Another item to consider is the material of your planters. Resin or fiberglass help hold moisture longer, an advantage if you are forgetful about when to water.
4. Water intelligently
A mistake many gardeners make – that often leads to the unfortunate demise of their plants – is thinking they need to water their plants every day. Because your indoor plants are not exposed to the drying wind and scorching sun of the outdoors, they need far less water than you might think. Even moisture-loving plants are frequently drowned by overzealous indoor gardeners.
Instead, only water twice a week. When you water, instead of providing a light spritz of liquid, douse them thoroughly. The water should penetrate all the way to the bottom of the container, and not just rest on the surface of the soil. If you frequently forget to water, consider installing a drip system or a watering mat.
5. Put your plants on top of saucers to prevent a muddy mess
If part of your gardening struggles consist of the need to clean up the countertop after every time you water, fret no more. Simply place a plastic lid, saucer, or tote top underneath your plants. When you water, it will pool there instead. You can simply slide the saucer out and pour the excess water into the sink.
6. Invest in the proper tools
A little bit of work at the store now can save you a lot of work later on. Buy a good hand fork to allow you to break up the soil before planting, and an indoor watering can to make hydrating your plants a little bit easier.
You can even purchase nifty gadgets like self-watering pots, which give potted plants as much water as they need without over- or under- watering them. Moisture sensor meters are another great way to keep on top of your plants’ watering needs, as are advanced WiFi gardening sensors that tell you whether your plants are receiving enough sunlight.
Emma Bishop is a lifestyle and design writer, and mother of two beautiful girls. She is a social butterfly and loves to entertain guests at home with beautifully decorated spaces for any occasion.
Hillsboro, Ore. – October 2018 – Lennar Portland celebrated a highly successful Grand Opening event for The Cascade Collection from their Butternut Creek community in Hillsboro. Interested homeshoppers came out and experienced firsthand the exceptional mixed-use neighborhood and toured the beautiful model homes showcasing thoughtful designs like the Next Gen® multigenerational floorplan and incredible Everything’s Included® features now boasting home automation technology. The Cascade Collection at Butternut Creek is now open and prospective homeshoppers are encouraged to stop by the Welcome Home Center and discover their new home in an amenity-rich setting.
“We could not be more excited with the turnout for the Grand Opening event and all the feedback we received for this new collection of single-family homes where homeshoppers loved our innovative designs and the high level of Everything’s Included® features that come with the home at no additional cost,” said Sia Howe, Marketing Manager for Lennar Portland. “Butternut Creek is set within a fantastic location in picturesque Hillsboro near countless outdoor recreational opportunities, stunning natural surroundings and close proximity to Portland.”
With a wide variety of floorplans and sizes to choose from, there’s a home for every type of family—from a growing family to empty nesters. Starting from the low $500,000s, The Cascade Collection offers seven distinct floorplans, six two-story and one single-level. Homes range from approximately 1,891 to 3,430 square feet of living space including three to five bedrooms and two to three bathrooms. Designs reflect today’s lifestyles and boast open layouts that make entertaining easy, upscale kitchens with plenty of cabinet space and a large center island, convenient first-floor bedrooms, sophisticated master suites with lavish bathrooms, spacious secondary bedrooms plus flexible study and bonus rooms per plan.
With your new home at Butternut Creek, Everything’s Included® and every room’s connected, Lennar’s signature program includes an array of the market’s most popular features and upgrades in your home at no additional cost, from stainless steel appliances, exquisite countertops, energy-efficient appliances and so much more. The program now includes Lennar’s new Wi-Fi CERTIFIED® home designs which feature built-in wireless access points that provide strong internet coverage in every single room. With no dead spots, you can make the most of the home automation features included for a truly connected living experience.
Lennar’s popular Next Gen® – The Home Within a Home® design is available with the Bainbridge floorplan for homeshoppers looking for a home that not only meets their families, but also their parents. The unique design provides a separate living suite attached to the main home complete with its own separate entrance, bedroom, bathroom, kitchenette and living area. With the Next Gen® design, no party has to sacrifice their privacy or comfort.
Your new home puts you in the center of it all with nearby trails, wetlands, nature reserves, parks, and more, it’s easy to get out and enjoy the beauty Oregon offers. And, with downtown Portland and its vast shopping, dining, and entertainment opportunities located just 14 miles away, you really can enjoy the best of both worlds.
Homebuyers can now tour the model homes from The Cascade Collection at Butternut Creek located at 5085 S.E. 82nd Ave. in Hillsboro. For more information, please visit www.lennar.com.
About Lennar
Lennar Corporation, founded in 1954, is one of the nation’s leading builders of quality homes for all generations. Lennar builds affordable, move-up and active adult homes primarily under the Lennar brand name. Lennar’s Financial Services segment provides mortgage financing, title insurance and closing services for both buyers of Lennar’s homes and others. Lennar’s Rialto segment is a vertically integrated asset management platform focused on investing throughout the commercial real estate capital structure. Lennar’s Multifamily segment is a nationwide developer of high-quality multifamily rental properties. Previous press releases and further information about Lennar may be obtained at the “Investor Relations” section of Lennar’s website, www.lennar.com.
Ridgefield, Wash. – October 2018 – Lennar Vancouver celebrated a highly successful Grand Opening event for their new community in Ridgefield, Kennedy Farm. Interested homeshoppers came out to attend the event and enjoyed complimentary bites and a lively atmosphere as they toured the stunning new model homes. Kennedy Farm showcases two stunning collections of new home designs including open layouts, Everything’s Included® features plus Lennar’s innovative Next Gen® design for multigenerational living. With models now open, there’s no better time than now to visit this remarkable neighborhood and discover your dream home at Kennedy Farm.
“We could not be happier with the turnout and reception we received from homeshoppers at the Grand Opening of Kennedy Farm in Ridgefield,” said Sia Howe, Marketing Manager for Lennar Portland and SW Washington. “From the prime location in Ridgefield offering close proximity to Portland, high level of Everything’s Included® features and our Next Gen® design that lets multiple generations live together comfortably, buyers were impressed with the offerings available at Kennedy Farm!”
Interested homeshoppers can choose between two collections of new homes at Kennedy Farm. The Sierra Collection offers five distinct single- and two-story floorplans ranging in size from approximately 1,574 to 2,322 square feet of living space including three to four bedrooms, two to two and one-half bathrooms and two- to three-bay car garages. The Cascade Collection offers five larger single- and two-story floorplans ranging in size from approximately 1,946 to 3,180 square feet of living space including four to five bedrooms, two to three bathrooms, and two-bay garages.
New homes start from the mid $300,000s and are designed to reflect today’s lifestyles with open living areas designed for entertaining, sophisticated master suites with spa-inspired bathrooms, large patios for outdoor living, flexible spaces and so much more. The Bainbridge model within The Cascade Collection showcases Lennar’s popular Next Gen® – The Home Within A Home® floorplan, an innovative design that accommodates dual or multigenerational households by providing a private suite within the home with its own separate entrance, living area, kitchenette, bedroom and bathroom.
For added value, style and comfort, Lennar’s signature Everything’s Included® program outfits each new home with today’s most desired features and upgrades—all at no additional cost. The program now features Lennar’s new Wi-Fi CERTIFIED™ Home Designs and home automation technology that, through built-in wireless access points, homeowners will be able to experience strong internet coverage throughout their home for a more connected way of living.
Residents will love Kennedy Farm’s close proximity to downtown Ridgefield, home to several annual community celebrations and events like weekly Farmer’s Markets, First Saturdays, an old-fashioned 4th of July blowout, Summertime Tuesdays in the Park, Big Paddle Scavenger Hunt, Sunlight Supply Amphitheater, and BirdFest and Bluegrass. Exploring the great outdoors is easy with popular attractions nearby including the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge that is a staple to the city with over 5,300 acres of preserved open space with trails, rivers, and parks.
Prospective homeshoppers are encouraged to visit the Welcome Home Center at Kennedy Farm and tour the model homes located at 4132 S. Kennedy Dr. in Ridgefield. For more information, please visit www.lennar.com.
About Lennar
Lennar Corporation, founded in 1954, is one of the nation’s leading builders of quality homes for all generations. Lennar builds affordable, move-up, and active adult homes primarily under the Lennar brand name. Lennar’s Financial Services segment provides mortgage financing, title insurance, and closing services for both buyers of Lennar’s homes and others. Lennar’s Rialto segment is a vertically integrated asset management platform focused on investing throughout the commercial real estate capital structure. Lennar’s Multifamily segment is a nationwide developer of high-quality multifamily rental properties. Previous press releases and further information about Lennar may be obtained at the “Investor Relations” section of Lennar’s website, www.lennar.com.
Vista, Calif. – October 2018 – Lennar is excited to Grand Open Avila, a new community of upscale townhomes in Vista on Saturday, October 6. Prospective home shoppers are invited to bring the whole family to enjoy fun festivities from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. including complimentary food from the Super Q Food Truck, desserts from the Sweet Treats Truck, a bounce house, balloon artist and face painting for the little ones. The event will be the first opportunity to tour the professionally-decorated model homes which will stay open from10 a.m. until 5:30 p.m.
“We are thrilled to unveil these model homes and introduce this new community, which offers an incredible opportunity for first-time buyers, empty nesters or families looking to buy new in Vista,” said Laurie Massas, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Lennar San Diego. “Avila presents a collection of modern, attached townhomes for sale in a family-focused setting, each of which comes complete with added value and style at no additional cost thanks to our signature Everything’s Included® program.”
Avila offers four distinctive floorplans of tri-level homes for home shoppers to choose from, including a wheel chair accessible plan. These thoughtfully-designed homes range in size from approximately 1,743 to 1,977 square feet of living space with three to four bedrooms, including a first-floor bedroom, and two and one-half to three and one-half bathrooms. These homes are priced from the mid $500,000s.
These contemporary residences showcase modern layouts designed for the way busy families live today. Showcasing open-concept floorplans with great rooms, dining areas and well-appointed kitchens that seamlessly connect, every new home at Avila also comes outfitted with Everything’s Included® features.
Lennar’s signature Everything’s Included® program allows homebuyers to get popular upgrades and features in their brand-new home without having to pay extra! Stainless steel appliances, quartz countertops, solar, home automation and so much more all come included in every new home at no additional cost. Additionally, each residence is one of Lennar’s revolutionary Wi-Fi CERTIFIED™ Home Designs featuring built-in wireless access points throughout the home to provide strong internet coverage in every room.
Avila residents will also enjoy access to great amenities including a recreation center with pool, spa, picnic area, barbecues and lawn area. The community is also situated in a prime location close to schools, shopping, dining options and entertainment.
The Grand Opening event will take place at the Avila Welcome Home Center located at 1574 Fortaleza Way in Vista. The festivities will take place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and the model homes will be open for tours from 10 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. For more information or complete directions visit www.lennar.com/sandiego or call 760-936-4168.
About Lennar
Lennar Corporation, founded in 1954, is one of the nation’s leading builders of quality homes for all generations. Lennar builds affordable, move-up and active adult homes primarily under the Lennar brand name. Lennar’s Financial Services segment provides mortgage financing, title insurance and closing services for both buyers of Lennar’s homes and others. Lennar’s Rialto segment is a vertically integrated asset management platform focused on investing throughout the commercial real estate capital structure. Lennar’s Multifamily segment is a nationwide developer of high-quality multifamily rental properties. Previous press releases and further information about Lennar may be obtained at the “Investor Relations” section of Lennar’s website, www.lennar.com.
Bakersfield, Calif. – September 2018 – Lennar is excited to announce that the Chateau Series of home designs is coming soon to Ashe Meadows! Situated in Bakersfield, this will be the third collection of home designs offered at the Ashe Meadows masterplan where the California and Skye Series are now selling.
“The Chateau Series showcases some of our most popular home designs, which is why we are thrilled to bring it to the primely-located community of Ashe Meadows,” said Susan Wilke, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Lennar Central Valley. “We are bringing two models as well in the Countess and Chevalier plans, which will showcase beautiful and spacious layouts and all of the Everything’s Included® features that come in our new homes.”
The Chateau Series at Ashe Meadows will offer five distinctive floorplans for home shoppers to choose from, that range in size from approximately 1,787 to 3,167 square feet. These modern residences provide three to four bedrooms and two to three and one-half bathrooms.
Every new home comes outfitted with today’s most popular features and upgrades at no additional cost thanks to Lennar’s signature Everything’s Included® program. At Ashe Meadows, homebuyers will enjoy items such as quartz countertops, designer-selected cabinetry, stainless steel appliances and the latest in home automation products and technology.
Lennar is the first homebuilder to offer Wi-Fi CERTIFIED™ Home Designs, which incorporate built-in wireless access points throughout the home to provide strong consistent coverage. That means that every homebuyer at Ashe Meadows can enjoy no dead spots in the home with strong connectivity in every room.
The Chateau Series is coming soon to Ashe Meadows in Bakersfield. Join the interest list today and visit www.lennar.com/bakersfield for more information.
About Lennar
Lennar Corporation, founded in 1954, is one of the nation’s leading builders of quality homes for all generations. Lennar builds affordable, move-up and active adult homes primarily under the Lennar brand name. Lennar’s Financial Services segment provides mortgage financing, title insurance and closing services for both buyers of Lennar’s homes and others. Lennar’s Rialto segment is a vertically integrated asset management platform focused on investing throughout the commercial real estate capital structure. Lennar’s Multifamily segment is a nationwide developer of high-quality multifamily rental properties. Previous press releases and further information about Lennar may be obtained at the “Investor Relations” section of Lennar’s website, www.lennar.com.
Lincoln, Calif. – October 2018 – Mira Vista is a new home community that is down to its final few homes with a handful of estate-style luxury homes and highly-upgraded model homes that are now selling. Eager home shoppers should act quickly and can save up to $40,000 on select homes that sell by 10/31/18 and close by 11/30/18.
“The homes at Mira Vista exude luxury with refined architectural detailing and spacious floorplans,” said Michelle Velky, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Lennar Sacramento. “Now that we are down to the final homes, it’s a great time to buy with several homes that are offering great savings during our Buy Now Save Big sales event.”
Of the remaining homes, about five distinctive floorplans are available with sizes that range from approximately 3,100 to 3,853 square feet. These elevated residences provide up to four bedrooms, three and one-half to four bathrooms and three-bay garages along with sophisticated floorplan details such as formal dining rooms, super-stylish California rooms for outdoor living, gourmet kitchens, lofts, dens and more per plan. The quick move-in homes are priced starting from the mid $700,000s.
Two model homes are also now selling, each of which showcases a myriad of designer-selected upgrades and custom features throughout. These are the largest homes offered at Mira Vista and include professionally-landscaped front and backyards, built-in cabinetry, designer-selected flooring, wall treatments, custom lighting and so much more. The models are priced starting from the low $1 millions.
Homeowners will also enjoy living inside Verdera, an exclusive and gated masterplanned community. Within the masterplan are several neighborhoods, beautiful walking trails, a golf course and stunning panoramic views. Nearby are several parks, shopping centers, restaurants and entertainment.
Home shoppers are encouraged to act quickly as these homes, and the Buy Now Save Big savings, will not last long. Mira Vista is located at 106 Corte Del Valle in Lincoln. For more information or to schedule your tour visit www.lennar.com/sacramento.
About Lennar
Lennar Corporation, founded in 1954, is one of the nation’s leading builders of quality homes for all generations. Lennar builds affordable, move-up and active adult homes primarily under the Lennar brand name. Lennar’s Financial Services segment provides mortgage financing, title insurance and closing services for both buyers of Lennar’s homes and others. Lennar’s Rialto segment is a vertically integrated asset management platform focused on investing throughout the commercial real estate capital structure. Lennar’s Multifamily segment is a nationwide developer of high-quality multifamily rental properties. Previous press releases and further information about Lennar may be obtained at the “Investor Relations” section of Lennar’s website, www.lennar.com.
Tucked in coveted Princeton and just a few miles from sparkling Lake Lavon, one of the largest, most popular recreational destinations in north Texas, Arcadia Farms celebrates the opening of two spectacular new model homes.
In the Lennar community with such resort-style amenities as a swimming pool, covered picnic areas, a playground and walking and bicycling trails, Arcadia Farms offers a serene setting with a wide variety of elegant new homes, including the Liberty and Harmony models.
Both new homes provide rich, contemporary features. Everything’s Included® appurtenances include granite or quartz countertops and stainless steel GE® appliances in the island kitchen, cultured marble vanities in the master bath and ceramic tile flooring in the foyer, kitchen, baths, nook and utility.
The Liberty, one of 11 designs in Arcadia Farms’ Brookstones collection, stands out with an inspiring, two-story arched entrance showcasing the home’s elegant stone exterior.
The innovative floorplan is almost like having two homes in one, with a private suite on the first floor of the four-bedroom, 3.5-bath home. Ideal for multigenerational living, the private suite includes a fully appointed kitchenette, full bath and bedroom. The creative floor plan also includes an optional game room or media room.
Stretching across a generous 3,252 square feet, the Liberty is priced from $354,999. New homes in the Brookstones collection are priced from $232,999 to $354,999 and offer three to five bedrooms and two to three baths in square footages from 1,600 to 3,404.
The Harmony, one of Arcadia Farms’ eight Classics designs, provides square footages from 1,442 to 2,786 square feet with three to five bedrooms and two to four baths. Classics are priced from $209,999 to $286,999.
Arcadia Farms new homes also share one of Lennar’s futuristic features: the World’s First Wi-Fi CERTIFIED™ Home Designs, with robust internet connectivity throughout and interactivity with Amazon’s Alexa.
So many stunning designs and features complement the highly desirable setting in Princeton. Situated just off US 280 and US 75, Arcadia Farms is superbly located just 40 miles north of dazzling downtown Dallas and virtually around the corner from highly desirable McKinney.
Princeton’s small-town center sits just over a mile away. McKinney, with its historic and charming downtown less than 10 miles from Arcadia Farms, is filled with unique shops and a wide-ranging buffet of eateries.
Golf courses, nature preserves, a winery, equestrian center and community parks envelop Arcadia Farms. Just four miles away, Lake Levon sparkles with 16 parks, 244 picnic sites, 19 four-lane boat ramps and a nine-mile equestrian and hiking trail around its nearly 40,000 acres of water.
Ideal for families, Arcadia Farms is within two miles of top-ranked Princeton Independent School District schools, namely Lacy Elementary, Clark Middle and Princeton High schools.
To tour the new models and find out more about Arcadia Farms, visit:
Welcome Home Center
809 Blackhawk Drive
Princeton, TX 75407
(469) 378-5002
So, summer may be over but that doesn’t mean you can’t reminisce about those warm days at the beach or spending time with your friends and family. Why not place those awesome and fun memories in a place where you can enjoy them any day of the year? Shadow frames are a fun and creative way to display any photo you love and are easy to put together. We created a video to show you step by step how we crafted our shadow frame to display our favorite summer pastime. See the How To U Video below!
Do you have a great home tip to share? Simply tag it with #HowToU on Twitter or Instagram and your tip could turn into a future video!
Managing to save money can be a challenge, specially when life keeps coming at you with unexpected expenses. If you are saving towards a down payment for a new Lennar home or a home project that you have been putting off, here are creative ways you can save money. This RealEstate.com article by Stefanie O’Connell will allow you to reach your savings goals with these 10 great tips.
You know you should be saving money, but that’s easier said than done.
When it comes to actually setting that savings aside, life has a tendency to get in the way — the unexpected dental bill, the urgent car repair, the surprise baby shower your colleagues ask you to chip in for at work.
You might feel like you can’t possibly afford to set another penny aside.
But with these ten strategies, you might just be able to trick your way into saving more money anyway.
When you’re just starting out, getting into the habit of setting money aside is more important than the actual amount you save.
Start with these simple strategies to prove to yourself that you can actually afford to save — and eventually, you can increase your savings contributions as you’re more able.
This classic strategy of saving all your spare change in a jar is a valuable reminder of just how much small savings can add up over time.
Your own change jar can help you start making regular micro-savings contributions while serving as a daily reminder that you can almost always afford to set something aside.
Depending on how often you use cash, the coin jar savings strategy might not be as effective as it used to be. Enter Qapital, a popular savings app that allows you to round up your purchases to the nearest dollar, saving your change virtually.
According to Qapital, the average user automatically saves $44 each month. Again, this is a great way to boost your savings painlessly and challenge the notion that you can’t afford to save more money.
The next time you use a coupon to get five dollars off your groceries or 20 percent off your delivery order, make sure the money you saved on your purchase actually winds up in your savings account by using an app like Tip Yourself, which links directly to your bank account and lets you pay yourself any amount you want.
So the next time you see something to the effect of “You saved $44.78” on the bottom of your receipt, use Tip Yourself, or schedule an immediate transfer from your checking account to your savings account, for the amount saved.
Once you’ve proven to yourself that you can afford to save (or save more) with our starter savings steps, up your savings game with these next-level steps.
Whatever your savings rate is right now, that is, however much of your salary you’re currently setting aside, challenge yourself to increase that amount by 1 percent.
You’ve already proven to yourself that you can save more, so why not make it official and up your regular savings rate?
By increasing your savings by small increments like 1 percent, you’re unlikely to feel much of a difference in your day-to-day spending abilities, but you will see the growth in your savings.
Continue Reading the Full Article Here.
