Better Homes and Gardens Australia MARCH 2016

WATCH Better Homes and Gardens. on Channel 7, stream it on demand on Plus7 or view segments on bhg.com.au…

So how beautiful are the bulbs in this issue? Aren’t they just the gift that keeps on giving from splendid Mother Nature when spring arrives? And if you’ve not enjoyed the breathless delight of a drift, a clump or even a pot’s worth of stunning blooms around your garden before now, rush to our special bulb offer on page 106 – do yourself a blooming flavour and choose a selection to thrill you. You’ll absolutely adore the results. That’s not the reason for my letter this month, though flowers are. Some years back I may have told the following story about my mother in this very letter. Forgive me if I have, but gorgeous plants always remind me. She was unassuming, was Doreen. She let my father be the star…

Preparation time: 15 mins plus 30 mins cooling and 4 hours chilling Cooking time: 30 mins Serves 12 Cooking oil spray, to grease 1½ cups plain Greek-style yoghurt 1 cup caster sugar ¹⁄³ cup desiccated coconut 2 free-range eggs Finely grated zest of 1 lemon ¼ cup light extra virgin olive oil 1 cup self-raising flour 2 x 250g blocks cream cheese, chopped, softened ¹⁄³ cup icing sugar mixture, plus extra, to dust 1 tsp coconut essence 125g strawberries, hulled, finely diced 2 Tbsp raspberry jam Strawberries and raspberries, to decorate Toasted coconut chips, to decorate Edible flowers, to decorate (optional) 1 Preheat oven to 180°C. Grease two 20cm round cake tins. Line base and sides with baking paper. Put yoghurt, sugar, desiccated coconut, eggs, zest and oil in a…

BETTER INSPIRATION THIS MONTH INDOOR WINDOW FURNISHINGS The right window blind can offer privacy, light control and insulation, while complementing your home’s decor. With so many colours, designs and materials to choose from, there’s a blind to suit every room and style of home. For beautiful blinds that tick all the boxes, visit your local Bunnings Warehouse. With a great range available instore or via special order, you’ll find the perfect blind for any and every room of your home. HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT BLIND: #1 CONSIDER STYLE AND FUNCTION Venetian blinds provide an on-trend look and work well in general living areas. Fabric blockout blinds might work better in bedrooms where less light and more privacy is needed. #2 BEAT THE HEAT Think about the kind of environment…

1 By the bay Think comfort, comfort, comfort. When it comes to soft furnishings, a relaxed style is the go – it’s the complete antithesis of fussy and formal. While plain linen slipcovers meet the brief, splash out with a fabulous – and of the moment – chevron print. Then, seek out a complementary shade in a playful sea creature design for a statement cushion. The final word: bright white walls will make each and every vibrant colour pop. Be bold with colour – decorate white rooms with lime green, g turquoise and tangelo 2 Get the blues Host a seaside gathering. Let striped linens with a cool palette of maritime-inspired blue and white be the foundation of your setting. Varying their scale will add interest, as will decorative shells.…

OUR BIG VALUE BULB OFFER see page 106 The magic starts to happen the moment you plant them in cool, moist soil. First come the roots, then as autumn glides into winter the cooling soil triggers changes inside the bulb. The leaves start to expand and push through the soil toward the sun. A few weeks later, the first flower buds begin to rise. You watch them grow bigger and fatter, then – one fine, cool morning – you’re greeted by your first flower. It’s what you’ve been waiting for since autumn and it’s just the start of a weeks-long display, as one type of bulb after another bursts into bloom. How do I grow them? In a word, easily! Bulbs are primed to flower when you plant them. A…