As a second generation native of dry Los Angeles, the plants that stand out in my memory are those that have survived our periodic droughts. Many of these were remnants of earlier eras — first the beloved species of the pueblo’s Victorian gardener, then the bungalow era. These homes define my half-century-old memories, those hulking dark wood homes that featured the beautiful craftsmanship and the naturalistic imagery of the art nouveau years.
Q: During a recent dinner date at my house, I thought about how romantic it would be if I could dim the lights. My light switch doesn’t have this feature and I would like to replace it with one that does.
I recently asked my Facebook friends to tell me what they’d like me to blog about, and one decorating dilemma that came up over and again was: “Where do I start when I’m designing a room?” Some were moving into brand-new houses and had a big (and intimidating) blank slate.
Dear Gail: I have no idea what to do on my fireplace mantel. I seem to love collecting candlesticks on the mantel, but I just can’t seem to make it look right. Any ideas are appreciated. — Renee
Q: I found fuzzy things on my oak leaves. What are they and should I be concerned?
