When I submitted a request for funds for my landscaping project to Prosper, one lender had a very interesting question. I considered it carefully, and then discovered my ultimate answer was far too long for Prosper’s format. I shortened my answer, but the lender who asked decided not to fund the loan request. I can’t help but think the problem was that I could not fully answer, given Prosper’s constraints. My loan request: Read the rest of Let’s fix up this desperate … [Read more...]

If you’re serious about cutting your home energy costs, you might want to take a second look at your home landscaping. You may not be aware of it, but energy-efficient home landscaping can reduce your household’s energy consumption for heating and cooling by as much as 25 percent. Proper placement of trees, shrubs, vines, grasses, and hedges lets you modify the micro-climate around your home to maximize shade during the summer and reduce wind chill during the winter. Energy-efficient home … [Read more...]

What is butterfly gardening? Simply put butterfly gardening is the art of growing flowers and plants that will attract these colorful and magnificent creatures to our own gardens. A properly planned butterfly garden offers great joy to visitors of the garden by attracting these lovely flitting creatures for our amusement and delight. It also ensures a safe habitat for the butterflies. Deciding upon how to design your butterfly garden is just a matter of personal preference on your part. In … [Read more...]