Innholdsfortegnelse for August 2021 i Better Homes and Gardens Australia

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A frican violets are plush and lush, with velvety leaves and jewel-like blooms that add a touch of elegance to any room in your home. While the abundance of huge leaves will soften any hard edges, the colours of the flowers range from wondrous to wow! Position one on a corner table now and soon you won’t be able to resist building a collection. 1 TWO’S GREAT COMPANY To improve the humidity surrounding your African violet, pair it with another one. Their leaves release moisture via respiration and the plants thrive on it. Plus, the arrangement is more dynamic! GET MINGLING RELEGATE THESE TO A QUIET CORNER AND YOU’LL SOON BE HAVING A PARTY! 2 CHECK OUT THE FANTASTIC FOLIAGE If you want, you can choose your African violet for…

STEP 1 Cut off a leaf at a 45° angle, leaving about 25mm of stem. STEP 2 Fill a 55mm seedling pot with growing medium (see left) and plant your leaf. Water mix gently and drain. STEP 3 Put pot in a resealable plastic bag. STEP 4 After 4-6 weeks, a single or several small plants should emerge and you can remove the plastic. Gently separate the new plant/s from the leaf, then repot.…

Orange, lemon and lime are all bright and cheery colours, but they’re also delicious fruits, making citrus trees both sunny and savour-worthy – especially in winter as their bounty matures. Yet the annual big freeze can be death for your favourite fruit trees. So grow them in a pot and bring them indoors. Imagine picking fruit without having to leave your armchair! TAKE YOUR POTTED TREES OUTSIDE IN SPRING WHEN THE FLOWERS BLOOM SO THEY CAN BE POLLINATED CARE FOR YOUR CITRUS TREE Growing medium Use a quality citrus potting mix to ensure good drainage. Replace growing medium every 2-3 years. WATERING Water until it starts to run into the saucer, then suck up the water in the saucer with a turkey baster so it doesn’t spill on the floor.…

SEASON SPECIALS With fewer flowers about, find colour in your foliage. MULTIPLE HUES Heuchera is a superstar – think lime, purple, red, even patterned. HOT BLOODED Iresine definitely has the wow factor and turns the temperature up on cool days. PRETTY HARDY As tough as old boots, purple heart makes a striking groundcover. PLANT NOW In each issue we give ideas, tips and planting advice for cooler, warmer, wetter and drier areas in each zone, so ask at your local nursery which zone best matches your conditions. FLOWERS ALL ZONES African marigold (top left), arctotis, aster, gazania, honesty and tuberous begonia. ZONES 1-3 Ageratum, bedding begonia, Californian poppy (bottom left), celosia, chrysanthemum, cosmos, dahlia, portulaca, salvia and sunflower. ZONES 4-6 Delphinium, petunia and statice. VEGETABLES ALL ZONES Beetroot, broccoli, cabbage,…

You must plant all ABOVE-ground crops during the moon’s WAXING cycle. You must plant all BELOW-ground crops during the moon’s WANING cycle. Times are in Australian Eastern Standard Time, AEST. This applies to NSW, the ACT, Qld, Vic and Tas. For SA and NT, deduct half an hour. For WA, deduct two hours. During Daylight Saving Time, add hour. How to use the calendar Best days Second-best days On these days, thin out seed boxes, sow all types of seeds and plant seedlings that produce their crop above the ground. These include all varieties of peas, beans, corn, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, Brussels sprout, eggplant, lettuce, celery, silverbeet, spinach, endive, Chinese cabbage, tomato, cucumber, asparagus crowns, artichoke, marrow, pumpkin, capsicum, melon, zucchini, chicory, sprouts, rhubarb, all herbs (except garlic) and all…

THAI SEAFOOD CURRY WITH TAMARIND AND BABY CORN Move over tomato broth – these mussels are served in a yummy curry that is extra tasty because the paste is made from scratch. With prawns and white fish, it’s a spicy, soupy, seafood spectacular. Recipe on page 86 SPICED PORK WITH PICKLED APPLE AND WOMBOK SALAD Homemade five spice powder – it doesn’t take long to dry-fry and blitz – plus a quick-pickle technique set this luscious pork dish apart! Recipe on page 86 THAI SEAFOOD CURRY WITH TAMARIND AND BABY CORN Preparation time 30 mins plus 20 mins soaking Cooking time 20 mins Serves 6 1kg mussels, scrubbed clean250ml tamarind paste80g palm sugar2 cups good-quality chicken stock8 kaffir lime leaves1 Tbsp fish sauce, to taste1 yellow celery heart, sliced into6…

WOK BURNER The 5kW PowerWok Plus™ burner provides both rapid, intense and even heat over a large area and can also produce a very low heat with the dual flame technology. Perfect for preparing your favourite stir fry or gently simmering your favourite pasta sauce. PROFLEX SPLITTERTM For space and flexibility when you need it, you can easily transform the tall oven in the 900mm three-oven Richmond Deluxe Range Cooker into a four-oven marvel with the handy Proflex Splitter™. Using this ground-breaking feature, the right-hand oven effortlessly becomes two separate Equiflow fan ovens, allowing you to control and prepare separate dishes. GAS-THROUGH-GLASS Cook with confidence and wipe clean with ease thanks to the smooth, ceramic glass surface of Gas-Through-Glass. Its elegant look makes a stylish statement in any kitchen, while…

Rustic banquet1 1 A LITTLE BIT COUNTRY A timber table gives off bucolic vibes, so play them up with bench seats, a log stack and teak servingware – it’s a lovely golden-brown wood with a wavy grain. 2 SELF SERVE Let your guests grab a plate and cutlery – go for brass and timber flatware – to help themselves from a generous spread of bread, cheese and fruit for a posh ploughman’s lunch! 3 BOWLS O’ PLENTY For your country-style feast, pile the goodies up high using serving boards, bowls and platters. A leafy centrepiece is all you need as a table deco to team with the natural theme. GET THE LOOK Glam bounty 1 IT’S A SET-UP Sit-down dining means place settings – make yours special by lovely layering. Stack…

a bedroom update doesn’t have to cost a bomb or take ages. In only a few days, using materials sourced from the hardware store, you can transform your sleep space into a relaxing sanctuary. Use black and deep inky blue to create depth, and add glamour with a bedhead featuring a sophisticated botanical design. Then use the colours for your decorating palette, including linen and accessories. And don’t forget live greenery! EASY STEPS TO YOUR BEDHEAD Gather your supplies • 2440 x 1220 x 18mm MDF (2)• 42 x 42mm x 5.4m primed pine (1)• 89 x 19mm x 2.4m dressed pine (2)• 66 x 11mm x 5.4m primed pine (2)• Superfresco Easy Adilah Dark wallpaper (1 roll)• Dulux low sheen paint in Antarctic Deep You’ll also need Circular saw;…

If you have a forgotten playhouse in the backyard, now is the time to give it a revamp. First, make sure it is sound, so repair loose or rotting boards and any other damage. Then the fun starts. With a little bit of effort, you can give the smallest house on your block a design makeover that will see your kids become the envy of your neighbourhood! This cubby had a nautical revamp, but you can pick any theme you like. 1 IN THE NAVY! Give your kids’ cubby a jaunty nautical air so they can captain their ship from the foredeck on the green seas of the back lawn. Creating this ‘boathouse’ is easy – it’s just a paint job and sailing-themed accessories. CUBBY REVAMP Transforming your children’s cubbyhouse…

NOTES The note itself serves as a reminder, but pausing long enough to write it also catalogues the info in your brain. You might not even need to pull up the note later! PHOTOS Need to remember the address of your doctor’s office or the perfect gift for your husband you spied in a store? Snap a pic. REMINDERS The sound of an alarm jolts you into remembering what you need to do at that exact moment, however, silent reminders that show up on your screen also get the job done.…

The art of decorating fabric with a needle and thread – or yarn – embroidery isn’t just for intricate designs done on a hoop. You can quickly stitch your way to pretty projects for you and your home. With just stranded embroidery cotton in your fave colours you can use simple running stitch to transform plain fabrics. Add in easy applique and quilting techniques and you can make cute-as-a-button bespoke beauties. CREATION STATION Spruce up your work space – whether it’s a whole room or a crafty corner – with touches of embroidery. Stitch a word through the holes of a pegboard, add a big-stitch border to the fabric covering of a pinboard and embellish a tote bag with fabric shapes and outline stitches. Instructions from page 172 “GET CRAFTY…

DO THE TORCH TEST Wait until night and walk around your home with a torch to see what’s glowing. It could be the light on a powerboard, computers, your microwave… all eating up electricity. So pull the plug when not in use. USE YOUR FREE LIBRARY CARD Do you like to watch documentaries? Or listen to audiobooks? Courtesy of your local library, you may be able to enjoy them minus the usual fees. With a library card, you can often access streaming TV shows, films and audiobooks from the comfort of your own home. Contact your nearest library to see what’s available. LOWER THE THERMOSTAT A toasty room is comfy, but you can save up to 10% on your heating bill for each degree you lower your thermostat or heater…

Are cat allergies getting in the way of spending time with your fave feline? Allergies to specific substances cats produce – saliva, urine and skin flakes (dander) – collect on bedding, furniture and carpets and can lead to symptoms ranging from sneezing and mild respiratory problems to anaphylaxis! However, living with feline allergies is possible if you take the right precautions. 1 Choosing a kitty? Short-haired breeds generally shed less than long-haired, or go for a hairless cat, such as a sphynx. Other ‘anti-cat-allergy’ breeds include Cornish rex, Balinese, Devon rex and Siberian. 2 Vacuum and damp-cloth clean, including your walls and floors! 3 Frequently wash your cat’s bedding and blankets. 4 Take down your curtains – they are a magnet for fur! 5 Consider washable covers for furniture or…

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“Everything fans of old-school sci-fi love”GEORGE R.R. MARTIN Project Hail Mary Andy Weir (Penguin, $32.99) Ryland Grace is the sole survivor on a desperate, last-chance mission – if he fails, humanity and the earth itself will perish. Except that right now, he doesn’t know that. He can’t even remember his own name, let alone the nature of his assignment or how to complete it. All he knows is he’s been asleep for a very, very long time. And he’s just been awakened to find himself millions of miles from home – and with nothing but two corpses for company. Alone on a tiny, broken down ship, it’s up to him to conquer an extinction-level threat to our species. And, courtesy of an unexpected ally, he might just have a chance…

You see, while summer can be all about the thrill of an outdoor grill, things slow down at this time of year, as we embrace casseroles, stews and succulent roasts – like the juicy Greek lamb on our cover. Melt-in-the-mouth and marinated to perfection, it’s oh-so easy to cook — just prep and pop in the oven. It’s the perfect intro to our slow-cooking recipes (page 64) – and yes, they include dessert! As for our table setting ideas (page 98), you’ll be inspired to serve your meals with contemporary flair — be it a formal or more casual affair. Of course, cool weather is also a prime time to turn up the heat in your garden, with proteas and pincushions in fiery shades of red and yellow (page 14), variegated…

Most African violet flowers come in pinks, purples, blues and red, as single, double or semi-double petal arrangements. Standards are 20-45cm wide, but you can also get miniatures that grow about 15cm wide. New varieties available include: ‘HEINZ’S LITTLE NUGGET’ Semi-mini with semi-double, purple-blue petals and a white eye. ‘RED DELICIOUS’ Standard with semi-double, dark-red petals and a white centre. ‘RHAPSODIE GISELA’ Standard with single, white ruffled petals and dark pink centres. ‘FLUTTERBY’ Standard with single, frilly pink petals, white margins and variegated leaves. ‘RDS KAREN’ Standard with single, deep-blue petals with white margins. ‘SERENITY’ Standard with double, white petals with pale-blue tinges. ‘IRISH CASTLES’ Standard with double, white-frilled petals fringed with green. ‘SNOW ROSE’ Standard with double, burgundy-red/white-edged petals. These suggestions are from The African Violet Association of Australia.…

Pink is the new gree n with indoor plants, and these unusual leaf variegations are a hot item as the weather outside gets colder. Go even bolder by putting your pink plants on display in a hanging garden, and mixing them with plants that have white and green leaf variegations. It’s all so very versatile! THINK PINK GREEN SCENE COLOUR CARE When leaves lose their green colour, it means the chlorophyll that absorbs sunlight and helps them photosynthesise is reduced or removed. This means they grow more slowly than all-green-leafed plants. To compensate for this, give them more sunlight than your other plants, but not so much that the leaves get scorched. Most indoor plants are understorey plants and appreciate filtered light in their natural state.…

Stage an old-fashioned garden ‘love in’ this summer and rediscover your inner flower child by planting gloriously gaudy hippeastrums. Putting in bulbs from now until October means the blooms will add to your Christmas festivities and help trumpet in a fresh year. New breeds from nurseries such as Victoria’s Red Earth Bulbs mean you can grow hippies from Darwin to Hobart, so the whole nation can mellow out as these beauties blow your mind. Groovy baby! 1 BOLD PERSONALITY Your hippies, such as this Hippeastrum ‘Juniper’, will grow up big and flamboyant, but for such a showy thing you’ll find it’s not at all demanding. Just watch out for snails after it’s been raining. 2 HIGH AND MIGHTY Hippies’ stems shoot up before the leaves, so your spring garden will…

The beauty of a garden is that it’s alive. The downside is it keeps growing – and needs a haircut once in a while. But one tool doesn’t cut all – there are different cutters for different jobs. Here’s how to choose the best one for your patch! HEDGE SHEARS The long, straight blades are designed to cut a much larger area with each stroke than any other pruning tool. You can also get them with a wavy edge to make it easier to grip stems as you cut, but these edges are harder to sharpen. PRUNING SAW Pruning saws look like carpentry saws, except that they’re designed for cutting through living timber. To make a clean cut and not damage your tree, first make a cut underneath the limb…

GREEK ROAST LAMB WITH SKORDALIA AND LEMON ROAST POTATO Turn your fave roast into a mouthwatering Mediterranean feast – the secret is to marinate the meat, use lots of lemon and herbs, and serve it with garlic potato dip. Recipe on page 70 SLOW-COOKED MASSAMAN BEEF Create your go-to Thai takeaway dish at home! Simply saute and stir on the stovetop – using curry paste as a tasty shortcut – then pop the lot in the oven and walk away until it’s ready. Recipe on page 70 SLOW-ROAST STICKY CHICKEN Done in the oven, this whole cooked chook is marinated in a sweet and spicy Chinese-style glaze that you also use for basting, then served with homemade coconut caramelised onion rice. It’s finger-licking good! Recipe on page 70 SLOW-COOKER PORK…

BERRY NICE The Queensland strawberry season runs from May to October, which means winter is the perfect time for delicious fresh strawberries! Remember to wash your strawberries only just before eating – this prevents them going mushy. Visit qldstrawberries.com.au. CHEERS! Part of a collective of more than 100 grape growers, The Group’s Shadow pinot noir, $34, from the Adelaide Hills is a full-flavoured wine ideal for cosy winter dinners by the fire. Visit thegroupwines.com.au. Bake on! This might just be the oven of your dreams. The Belling 1100mm Richmond Deluxe Dual Fuel Range Cooker, $9098, has everything a home chef could want – and more! With seven burners and four ovens, you’ll never run out of space! Visit harveynorman.com.au. Go slow Slow cooking weather is here, so upgrade to Breville’s…

1 MIX OLD AND NEW Design magic happens when you mix modern and rustic, as here, where the well-worn coffee table takes the edge off the simplicity of the contemporary interior. Try it and you’ll soon learn to love mixing in a little history, by way of aged materials and vintage objects. 2 WALL MATTERS Opt for the raw textural beauty of a distressed, polished-concrete effect for your walls. While you can hire specialists, why not have a go at creating the look yourself? It’s easier than you think and there are even video tutorials to step you through the process. For a similar effect, try Dulux Design Concrete Effect paint in Pale Elements or Onyx Edge, dulux.com.au. 3 LET THERE BE LIGHT Dissolve the barrier between inside and out…

What if you had an incredibly sharp memory? You might imagine a world where everyone’s name rolled off your tongue and you never again had to wander around a parking lot in search of your car. But, memory affects more than just keeping track of facts and experiences. Give it a boost and you’ll also help everyday productivity, focus and problem-solving. So get ready for a stroll down memory improvement lane. STRESS LESS If your memory isn’t up to speed, don’t stress. It could just be that you’re tired or unwell, so take it as a prompt for a little TLC BOOST YOUR BRAIN POWER – 4 KEY TACTICS Strengthening memory is all about making sure your brain is working at full capacity – and it’s actually pretty simple. Research…

Here’s how STEP 1 Use PVC cement to attach 1 threaded access coupling to end of each pipe. This will become the top of the planters. STEP 2 Cut templates out of cardboard to mark out windows for plants on pipes. For larger PVC pipe, make cardboard 100 x 75mm; for smaller pipe 75 x 50mm. STEP 3 Using stencilled writing on pipes as a guide, mark places for 5 windows with templates, alternating them either side of writing and spacing evenly apart. STEP 4 Use mini hacksaw to cut out windows in pipes. STEP 5 Use a file to smooth cuts in pipes and round out edges. Finish with a sanding sponge around all cuts to make smooth. STEP 6 Drill drainage holes in end caps using a 5mm…

There are two types of secateurs or pruners – bypass and anvil. If you only want one tool get a bypass. Anvils cut in much the same way as a knife on a cutting board – the blade is pushed through the material onto the anvil, crushing the soft tissue and damaging your plants. An anvil’s main function is cutting up dead wood, but bypass pruners can do that job too. Bypass pruners work like scissors and don’t crush your plant material. You can also use them to cut herbs or deadhead flowers, although snips give you more agility. TIP These may be the smallest tools in your box, so are the easiest to leave behind in the garden when you head indoors. Get a pouch for your belt and…

ADVENTUROUS NACHOS You may find the idea of eating bugs a little… weird. But can you say no to nachos? Just put roasted crickets on top, along with the guac. Go on, try it! Recipe on page 80 LAMB AND CABBAGE IRISH-ISH STEW The traditional dish is a bit bland, but a few tweaks – think beer, paprika and fennel – make this version delicious. Serve it with sour cream and soda bread. Yum! Recipe on page 80 SWEET AND SOUR CHICKEN The ’70s and ’80s classic from your local Chinese is getting a makeover. And, if you always wondered how to get that perfectly flavoured, intense sauce, here’s your answer! Recipe on page 80 ORECCHIETTE WITH HOT SMOKED SALMON AND DILL BUTTER SAUCE This satisfying pasta dish features crispy…

1 ARTFUL VIGNETTE Add designer style to your home with an arrangement of objects. Here, pedestal side tables elevate a candle bowl and vase, giving them greater presence, while blossoms connect the vignette to the picture. Note the adherence to a strict, dramatic colour palette. 2 DIVIDE AND CONQUER With a largish living room, a corner often remains unfilled, making it appear stark and soulless. If you can, zone the room into two sitting areas that operate independently, or as one when entertaining. Give your corner the decorative attention it deserves – casual sofa, occasional chair, bookcase, coffee table, rug – and it’s likely to become your go-to reading spot. 3, 4 IN-ROOM DINING If you’re up for the nostalgia of in-kitchen dining, forgo an island in favour of a…

Gaps, cracks and holes around your home are normal and a fact of life, but they do detract from its overall appearance. The way to fix them, and the products to use, varies according to the situation, but the end result will be a home you’re proud to show off to visitors. EASY STEPS TO FIX WALL CRACKS As a building settles, cracks appear around the corners of windows and doors, since they are the weakest part of a wall. While they’re nothing to worry about, they are unsightly and a look your home can do without. Gather your supplies • All-purpose plaster compound• Self-adhesive easy tape• Undercoat• Interior paint to match your wall You’ll also need Sharp utility knife; broad scraper; fine sandpaper; sanding block; vacuum; paint roller Here’s…

EASY STEPS TO WINDOW SHELVES Transform a bare window into a green wall with custom shelving. Split into three parts for ease of installation, it turns an expanse of glass into a stylish showpiece without blocking the light. Gather your supplies • Outside frames 135 x 19mm Tasmanian oak• Shelves 110 x 19mm Tasmanian oak• Intergrain UltraDeck stain in Driftwood You’ll also need Tape measure; small paint roller and tray; PVA glue; clamps; cloth; combination square; pencil; countersinking drill bit; drill; 3mm drill bit; scrap plywood; 50mm stainless steel screws; paint roller; 30mm screws Here’s how STEP 1 Measure inside the window reveal to determine the overall dimensions of your shelving unit, allowing a few millimetres less for wriggle room and leaving space at the back for the window to…

Salmon and walnuts These two foods are particularly high in fatty acids, which are central to brain function. Eating omega-3 fatty acids will promote healthier brain tissue and strengthen and maintain your memory. Dark, leafy greens Lettuce, spinach, kale and other dark, leafy greens are especially good sources of vitamin K and other nutrients that have a positive effect on your brain health. Berries, red wine and chocolate Your brain requires a huge amount of blood flow to operate, and these foods are all high in polyphenols and other compounds that help improve circulation. That’s why anything good for heart health is also good for your brain.…