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Garden getaway

Noelridge Greenhouse offers warm respite in Cedar Rapids for 40 years

By Cindy Hadish/The Gazette CEDAR RAPIDS — A fuchsia bougainvillea blooms near banana trees ripe with fruit, while the fragrant scent of gardenias perfume the air. The tropical ambience isn’t set in the south, but inside the Noelridge Greenhouse, which today celebrates 40 years of providing a colorful, warm respite in northeast Cedar Rapids. “The [...]

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(AP Photo/Phil Coale)

The do’s and don’ts of cooking when your house is on the market

Candy Sagon/The Washington Post Home decorator Jennifer Schweikert, of Just My Style By JMS in Burke, Va., has worked with real estate agents and clients to stage or prepare homes for sale. “People don’t realize that they become accustomed to their home’s odor,” she says. “It smells differently, though, to potential buyers entering the house [...]

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Mark Anderson of Coralville cuts away an old sidewalk as he prepares to build a screened in porch Tuesday, March 20, 2012 at a home on Rundell St in Iowa City. While much of the construction market remains stagnant, remodeling has shown definite improvement since the housing bubble burst.  (Brian Ray/ The Gazette-KCRG)

Remodeling demand coming back faster than new construction

There's no place like home
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Aerial of Cedar Rapids, Ia., 9/99.

Time magazine cites Cedar Rapids among growth cities in April issue

Article says job growth in Cedar Rapids has topped national levels by 7 percent 12

  Cedar Rapids is featured as a bright spot on the nation’s economic landscape in the April 2 edition of Time magazine. The magazine highlights Cedar Rapids and 10 other cities in a infographic labeled, ‘Boomtown USA: A look at growing cities and what’s fueling their growth.” The graphic was a counterpoint to the magazine’s [...]

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Redbud trees bloom at Hughes Nursery & Landscaping on Friday, March 23, 2012, in southwest Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The unusually warm temperatures have caused trees to bloom and leaf out prematurely. Workers at the business are working earlier than normal to harvest trees and the nursery and prepare them to transplanting. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette-KCRG)

Record-setting spring leaves some cold with worry

This March will be the warmest in 134 years; may cause problems for specialty crops 3

CEDAR RAPIDS — While record March warmth has put a spring in the step of most Iowans, precocious plant development has caused problems for specialty crop growers. At Hughes Nursery and Landscaping in southwest Cedar Rapids, the early budding and leafing of shrubs and trees has quickly closed the annual window of opportunity for digging [...]

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A chicken digs in Rebecca Mumaw's enclosed garden in Cedar Rapids on Tuesday, April 12, 2011. In addition to laying eggs, chickens eat garden pests, aerate the soil and provide fertilizer. (Liz Martin/SourceMedia Group News)

Iowa City advocates open discussion on backyard hens

"I-CLUCK" hopes a grassroots effort and online petition will persuade council members

  IOWA CITY  – Urban chicken advocates have hatched a discussion about legalizing hens in city limits. “We’re just trying to get the idea out there,” said Shannon Gassman, 25, a web and graphic designer who moved to Iowa City two years ago. Iowa City Citizens for the Legalization of Urban Chicken Keeping, or I-CLUCK, [...]

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A fiber optics lighting kit showcases this water feature, while hidden uplights accent surrounding flowers and plants. Photo by IlliminFx Lighting Systems

The Light Fantastic

A little outdoor lighting goes a long way

Daytime isn’t the only time your home and landscaping can have a wonderful curb appeal. It can pack a “wow” factor at night, too, with well-placed outdoor lighting.  “It doesn’t take a ton of lights to make a statement,” says Adam Boysen of King’s Material in Cedar Rapids. “A few can give enough of a [...]

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Outdoor deck

Outdoor Living

Plan now for that special outdoor space

Thinking about creating an outdoor oasis where you can enjoy the spring and summer days and evenings? Now’s the time to get started – especially if your dream space includes a new deck.  Create a distinctive design Start thinking about the style, shape and color scheme of your outdoor space. Are your tastes country cottage [...]

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Bring the feeling of spring indoors

Easy seasonal changes can refresh your home

Spring’s new growth and warm sunshine provide inspiration for renewal in our lives. That can apply to the home, too. Pack away the heavy textures and colors of winter in favor of breezy fabrics and fun decor that inspire a fresh feeling in your house. Here are some ideas on how to capture the optimistic [...]

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It's time to get your gardening supplies ready. (Liz Martin/The Gazette)

Time to get gardening seeds, supplies ready to go

By Denise Ellsworth/Akron Beacon Journal Gather your seeds and supplies: It’s nearly prime time to start seeds for this year’s garden. Most seeds are best planted somewhere around six to eight weeks before the last spring frost, which is usually somewhere around Mother’s Day in mid-May. Nothing is more disappointing than beginning the garden season [...]

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