January and February, when outer space grim, is the perfect month to bring them home. I have a couple who live throughout the season, but I never hesitate to add others that will last only a few months. In fact, many of the plants that I maintain is now going to say goodbye to them before I start summer vacation. Someone else will dress out of space before the compost in the fall.

growing plants is easier than ever before, especially if you use a moisture meter to help determine when plants need water. Too much water, or not enough, almost always is the reason indoor plants that fail to develop.

Residents and builders renovating or planning a new home now has a new incentive to go green.

The Program, created by the Commission on the improvement of the community, will honor the builders that build to a standard that is recognized as EnergyStar dishwasher home, EarthCraft, LEED and the passive house Institute us, all of which are “significantly reduce the cost of monthly house operations,” said Commission member Susan Stillman. Homeowners who choose to retrofit or renovating their home should also be recognized, Stillman said.

Some makers in the city already follow standard EarthCraft and EnergyStar dishwasher already, and the homeowner re-insulating the attic they placed the geothermal system, and perform other retrofits to make their homes more energy efficient. The Commission expects the program raises awareness of these options, and how accessible to residents if they start from scratch or work with the House that they owned.