Innholdsfortegnelse for October 2021 i Better Homes and Gardens Australia

If the past 18 months have taught us anything, it’s to delight in life’s simple joys – bringing our gardens to bloom, decorating our homes, getting creative with craft and experimenting in the kitchen. It’s been about finding new pleasure in the familiar, and with spring on the horizon, it’s an attitude we can all take to the next level. With the warmer weather all but ordering us outside, you can seize the chance to bring your yard to vivid life, from pillowy hydrangeas (page 38) and cloud-like topiary (page 70) to flowers designed to give you the blues – in the most wonderful of ways (page 30). There are even clever ideas for a DIY therapy garden (page 58), which seems so relevant in current times. Yet botanicals aren’t…

1 NATURE’S GALLERY Highlight a lovely tabletop display by continuing the theme up your walls with artwork in neutral and green tones. Particularly striking are these handmade botanical plaster-cast tiles, which reveal plants and foliage in relief. Check out Rachel Dein’s range at etsy.com/au. 2 GARDEN ROOM Create a soothing sanctuary that connects your interior and garden. Start with a neutral base, add a dose of happiness with a cluster of geometric and plant-life patterns in fresh blues and greens for cushions and rugs, and you’re well on your way. Soren pendant light from Pinch, spenceandlyda.com.au. 3 LAYER ON THE TEXTURE Decorate with tactile elements you’re likely to find outside to emphasise the indoor/outdoor connection. Mix woven rattan and timber furniture with a wicker pendant shade. Then dress the table…

This is best done in spring or early summer when life again begins flowing through the stems. Gather your supplies • Rooting hormone powder or gel • Quality propagating mix You’ll also need Clean bypass secateurs; clean plastic pots Here’s how STEP 1 If you haven’t done so already, deadhead the flowers down to where you get living stems. STEP 2 Cut healthy pieces of stem about 15–20cm long, positioning the top cut above a pair of emerging leaves, close to the node, and the bo. om cut also just above a node. STEP 3 If lower leaves are mature, remove all but the top 2 and cut these in half to reduce water loss as roots eventually begin to form. STEP 4 Dip the cu. ings into rooting hormone…

With cymbidium orchids, repot them every 2-4 years in spring a.er the flowers have faded so that, as the roots grow, they have more room and air, and the growing medium is replenished. This is also a chance to divide your bulbs – especially if their roots are getting too snug – and create more plants. Here’s how STEP 1 Remove plant from pot. Loosen up roots and shake off mix. STEP 2 Separate bulb clumps with clean secateurs if they are jammed together, or with a clean, sharp knife if necessary to cut through thick masses of roots. STEP 3 Ensure you cut around, not through, the bulbs. STEP 4 Remove dead roots – they will be brown or look burnt – with clean, sharp secateurs. STEP 5 Repot…

SEEN ON BHG TV FRIDAYS 7.00 Enhance the clean, straight lines of your contemporary home with the clean, curving lines of bromeliads and succulents. They can colour your world all year round as you let them explore and settle in where your lawn once was. You’ll end up with carefree brilliance – bold and soft colours, strong and soft shapes, and strong and fluffy flowers that defy your imagination and embrace the sun, all with a limited demand for water. MAKE MORE BEAUTIES PROPAGATING SUCCULENTS • Many succulents propagate themselves, sending out ‘pups’ at their base. Cut these away with roots intact and plant elsewhere. • You can grow more with stem cuttings, allowing soft stems to dry for 24 hours before planting in a slightly damp succulent potting mix.…

OCTOBER 2021 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 1 hour. ZODIAC SIGNS The 12 signs of the zodiac are divided into four groups – fire, air, earth and water. Fire signs Aries and Sagittarius are in harmony with all fruit. Leo is in harmony with nuts and all seed-producing crops. Earth signs Capricorn and Taurus are in harmony with all root vegetables that produce crops below the ground, including garlic. Virgo is in harmony with all herbs. Air…

Recipe on page 100 YOU CAN MAKE MARVELLOUS MEALS WITH FIVE INGREDIENTS PLUS PANTRY STAPLES – OIL, SALT AND PEPPER Recipe on page 100 Recipe on page 100 Recipe on page 100 Recipe on page 100 THAI-STYLE FISH AND VEG SALAD Preparation time 5 mins Cooking time 10 mins Serves 4 350g fresh stir-fry vegetables mix4 x 125g pieces skinless, firm white fish fillets⅓ cup Thai-style salad dressing1 cup coriander leaves⅓ cup roasted unsalted peanuts, roughly chopped, to serve STEP 1 Heat 2 Tbsp vegetable oil in a wok or frying pan on high. Stir-fry vegies for 3-4 minutes, tossing, until tender. Remove from wok. Set aside. STEP 2 In the same wok, cook fish for 2-3 minutes on each side, until just cooked through. STEP 3 Serve vegetables drizzled…

The pandemic has impacted our lives in more ways than the obvious, so much so that WFH (work from home) has become a common reality, even if it’s only one or two days a week. But with everyone at home for longer (making messes), here are a few tips to help you work basic cleaning tasks into your daily routine. SNEAK IT IN Clean as you go, making it an extension of your usual activities – use a squeegee on the screen at the end of your shower, wipe the bench, tap and sink after brushing your teeth… you get the drift. Remove dirt from window tracks Loosen gunk with a stiff bristle brush, then vacuum it up. Sprinkle bicarbonate of soda over any stains (just enough to cover them…

POP UP SODA STAND Gather your supplies • 3m aqua and white striped fabric • Water-soluble marker • General sewing supplies • Scissors • 12m of 20mm PVC pipe • PVC pipe cutting tool • 20mm PVC tee joints (2) • 20mm PVC three way joints (2) • 20mm PVC elbows (2) • 1290 x 480 x 19mm piece of plywood (for tabletop) • Four 70cm table legs with mounting plates • 4.5m of 19mm self-adhesive hook-and-loop tape For you to note • Measurements include 6mm seam allowances. • Sew with right sides together unless it’s otherwise stated. Cut fabric as follows (noting direction of stripe) • 96 x 131cm rectangle (awning) • 77 x 140cm rectangle (table skirt front panel) • Two 77 x 48cm rectangles (table skirt side…

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Set the scene for a lovely spring with a simply breathtaking display of colourful floral decorations using fresh, dried, preserved and papercrafted flowers – you can even opt for a stylish combination of all or just some! From pendants to table decorations and more besides, you’ll find the creative ideas on the following pages incredibly inspiring and unbelievably easy to craft and make. So go ahead and celebrate spring in spectacular style! FLORAL PENDANT Transform a wire lampshade frame into a showstopper of a hanging arrangement with fresh and/or dried flowers. It’s ideal for a garden party, engagement or wedding theme. Scour charity shops for an old shade you can strip back to bare wire. Or, to find the ever-popular vintage-style wire lampshades, visit etsy.com/au. Instructions on page 18 CHAIR…

Bromeliads are often overlooked for a sunny garden because they are thought of as tropical or sub-tropical plants that want a moist, shady spot. But many are sun-lovers and thrive in an arid environment. These bromeliads are also cold-hardy, coming from regions where the temperatures drop dramatically at night. MAINTENANCE This garden, Paradox, on the NSW Central Coast, was created by nurseryman Ray Henderson and features semi-terrestrial and epiphytic bromeliads and succulents. Water Because the plants have low water needs, they generally only need a spray when the weather is hot or during extended dry periods. Feed Apply slow-release fertiliser when you’re planting, either in a pot or a garden bed, then again in spring. Mulch Apply heavy, organic mulch such as bark to help keep down weeds and to…

Foliage clouds are fascinating enough, but you can add even more impact by bending branches to create curves and take them in the direction you want for a more dramatic effect. This is mainly done with young flexible trees. Use ropes or winch straps to tie a branch to a trunk above or below where you want the curve to be, then slowly tighten and curve the branch into your desired direction. Or tape branches to stakes to train their growth, noting this training can take some months.…

SEASON SPECIALS It’s dizzy times with so much colour. KEY TO CLIMATE ZONES ZONE 6 Mild warm summer Cold winter ZONE 5 Warm summer Cold winter ZONE 4 Hot dry summer Cold winter ZONE 3 Hot dry summer Mild winter ZONE 2 Warm humid summer ZONE 1 Hot humid summer 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 Alyssum, amaranthus (top left), begonia, cosmos, dahlia, marigold, portulaca, salvia, verbena and zinnia. ZONES 1-3 Balsam, celosia, dianthus, gaillardia, petunia, phlox, sunflower and torenia (bottom left). ZONES 4-6 Aster, Californian poppy, candytuft, lobelia and snapdragon. VEGETABLES ALL ZONES Artichoke, asparagus, beans, beetroot, cabbage,…

SEEN ON BHG TV FRIDAYS 7.00 Recipe on page 104 Recipe on page 104 GREEN PEPPERCORN STEAK Preparation time 10 mins Cooking time 10 mins Serves 2 2 x 280-350g Scotch fillet steaks, at room temperatureSea-salt flakes and freshly ground black pepper, to season2 Tbsp olive oil50g unsalted butter2 large cloves garlic, smashed in skins4 sprigs thyme1 Tbsp green peppercorns1 Tbsp cognac or brandy3 tsp Dijon mustard100ml pure creamShoestring fries, to serveGreen salad or blanched green beans, to serve (optional) STEP 1 Preheat a heavy-based cast iron frying pan over medium-high heat. Season and oil steaks on both sides. Cook on one side for 3 minutes, then turn and cook on the other side for 2 minutes. Set steaks aside to rest on a plate. STEP 2 Drain any excess…

Want to see more? You can watch the video of this classic BHG TV makeover at bhg.com.au/how-to-upgrade-your-entertaining-spaces. Adining room makeover doesn’t have to cost big bucks. The biggest investment is the table and chairs, so start with pieces that will last and not date, and go from there. If your walls are plain, there’s no need to paint them or invest in exxy art – you can create impact and add dimension with large mirrors and wall panels. Old furniture can be reinvented with paint while accessories complete the style upgrade. Here’s how to get the designer look on a DIY budget. “TAKE YOUR WHITE WALLED SPACE FROM BLAND TO GRAND WITH DRAMATIC BLACK AND METALLIC ACCENTS” EASY STEPS TO YOUR PAINTED SIDEBOARD Turn a dated timber sideboard into a…

LIGHT IT RIGHT Forget filters! You can look your best on a Zoom work call or FaceTiming with friends with a Hypop Black LED table top ring light, $99.99. An ideal size for home use, it can be adjusted 180° front and back, offers 10 steps of brightness and has a flexible smartphone holder you can rotate for the perfect light and angle. It also features colour temperature adjustability with three light modes. Power the light with a USB charger or any compatible devices with a USB port. Visit hypop.com.au. BRAIN GAME A retro classic goes hi-tech with GoCube, $129.99, an app-enabled Rubik’s cube that connects to your phone or tablet and tracks your moves in real time. Great for all ages, this brain teaser lets you turn screen time…

“STUFFED TO THE GILLS WITH RAUCOUS ANECDOTES”JESSICA FELLOWES Oh, What a Lovely Century Roderic Fenwick Owen (Hachette,$32.99) Aristocrat and travel writer Roderic Fenwick Owen was born in 1920. He enjoyed an extraordinary life, encompassing some of history’s biggest moments, taking him to the ends of the earth and meeting, and living with, some of the 20th century’s most well-known people, such as US president Dwight D Eisenhower, artist Jackson Pollock and actress Marlene Dietrich. Owen was briefly married to a Tahitian princess and became the court poet to Sheikh Shakhbut in Abu Dhabi. And he never passed up on love, even if only for a night. The Good Wife of Bath Karen Brooks (HarperCollins, $32.99) England, 1364. Married off at 12 to an elderly farmer, Eleanor Cornfed is constantly told…

FLORAL PENDANT Using wire cutters, remove the bulb holder on a wire lampshade frame. Completely cover wire sections with moss, using florist wire to hold it in place. To create the floral base around the shade’s rim, make a small bunch of flowers with 4 or 5 stems plus foliage – no longer than 10cm in length – and wire in place. With alternate posies facing slightly up or down, work around the rim gradually, covering the wire each time as you layer and build up the arrangement. Add ribbon to hang your pendant. DECO TIP This project calls for the bulb holder to be cut away. Don’t fancy doing that? Conceal it using moss as with the rest of the shade! CHAIR BACK DECO Take a length of covered…

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◆ DON’T THINK OF THEM AS JUST AN INLAND PLANT Hydrangeas thrive in well-drained soil, so give them a shady and moist coastal spot and they can rival the shades of the sea with their rich blue blooms. Or, think crimson against that richly coloured ocean. ◆ HYDRANGEAS ARE MADE FOR POTS This means you can put them on your balcony or deck corner. Alternatively, bring them inside to rival your indoor greenery. ◆ BECAUSE YOU’RE DEALING WITH BIG FLOWERS, think about how they can dominate your garden. Don’t hesitate to control the impact by cutting bloomers for indoor display. ◆ CREATE A WARM-WEATHER HEDGE When your hydrangea shrubs die down in winter, or you cut them right back, light can get onto the winter plants emerging from behind. Create…

SEEN ON BHG TV FRIDAYS 7.00 ORCHID ESSENTIALS Give these unique plants the special attention they deserve! ENVIRONMENTAL NEEDS Some cymbidiums are epiphytic and grow on trees. Others are lithophytic and grow on damp rocks. But most are semi-terrestrial, meaning outside their natural environment they must grow in a special medium in pots. Their roots operate as a support structure, rather than a straw for nutrients, and need a very open medium so their roots can breathe between watering. Royale Orchids nursery in NSW (royaleorchids.com.au), recommends: • 70% coir or coconut husks, to retain moisture • 20% perlite, to ensure good drainage • 10% pumice/scoria/gravel/ash/bark, to ensure good air flow. LIVING NEEDS • Cymbidiums love a damp environment, not soggy – more orchids probably die from overwatering than underwatering. Give…

Filling a water bowl with water-loving plants is a crucial part of creating a therapy garden. Choose plants that grow to different heights so you get layers of visual interest. Gather your supplies • Water bowl, at least 51 x 22cm • Pond sealer • Aquatic epoxy pu. y • Range of water plants • Pea-sized pebbles You’ll also need Sponge or cloth; paintbrush; disposable gloves; spirit level; trowel; sandy loam soil For you to note If you want to add fish to your pond, let the water stand for at least 24 hours so chlorine can evaporate. Here’s how STEP 1 Clean your water bowl inside and out, then apply pond sealer with a paintbrush. Wearing gloves, fill any drainage holes with aquatic epoxy putty, then leave to cure.…

SEEN ON BHG TV FRIDAYS 7.00 7 Imagine taking a wander through your garden with your head in the clouds – green clouds, in fact. The idea of pruning trees to look like clouds – or a lollipop fantasy straight from a Dr. Seuss book – has been developed by the Japanese for centuries, and cloud-pruned trees are now becoming popular in western gardens, especially if you love a contemporary look to suit your ultramodern home. Their sculptured shapes create a stunning focal point with a single specimen, or you can compound the effect with a row of them. Whatever you decide, it will be a knockout! GROWING TIP YOU CAN CREATE A TWINNING EFFECT WITH ONE HALF OF THE TREE REFLECTING THE OTHER THIS IS BEST DONE WITH YOUNG…

SEEN ON BHG TV FRIDAYS 7.00 7 EASY STEPS TO REPAIR YOUR MUDDY PATH Gather your supplies • 200 x 50mm treated pine sleeper • Posts 90 x 90mm treated pine • Rails 70 x 45mm treated pine • Fence pickets 1800mm cypress pine • Charcoal timber stain • 10mm blue metal • 60cm star pickets • Geotextile fabric • Paving sand • Turfgrid pavers • 900 x 1800mm arch gate • Small river pebbles You’ll also need Shovel; tamper; spirit level; 100 and 50mm batten screws; drill; trowel; rubber mallet; angle grinder fitted with diamond cutting blade; post-hole shovel; circular saw; quick-set concrete; 65 and 40mm galvanised screws; 250mm galvanised tee hinges (2); galvanised gate latch For you to note Timber was pre-stained in charcoal before installation. Here’s how…

SEEN ON BHG TV FRIDAYS 7.00 Recipe on page 112 Recipe on page 112 Recipe on page 112 Recipe on page 112 FAST ED’S RECIPE HACKS You can make your meals, snacks and even desserts healthier for your family with simple ingredient swaps. EASY MUESLI BARS Muesli bars are a lunchbox staple, so give your kids a sugar-free version with these easy-make bars that are sweetened with date syrup. Recipe on page 114 TOMATO AND OLIVE PASTA Using wholewheat pasta instead of the regular stuff is an easy way to get lower-GI food with longer-lasting energy on your dinner table. Recipe on page 114 ONE-TWO-THREE-FOUR CAKE Dessert doesn’t have a reputation for being good for you, but it can certainly be better for you, like this tasty cake made with…

SEEN ON BHG TV FRIDAYS 7.00 The front door of your home is the focal point of your facade, so even the smallest change can have a massive impact. If your door is in good shape, a simple lick of paint can work wonders. If not, it’s the perfect opportunity to go for a whole new look – and you can do it without having to call in a pro. EASY STEPS TO REPLACE YOUR FRONT DOOR Gather your supplies • Exterior door slightly larger than existing • Hinges to match dimensions of existing • Door handle, locks or deadbolt You’ll also need Spirit level; screwdriver; circular saw; planer; combination square; pencil; scrap plywood; drill; knife; hammer; chisel; sander; paint or clear exterior varnish; painting equipment; 54mm hole saw; 25mm…

20S – 30S check-up list SKIN CHECK Melanomas don’t just happen to older people, and getting to know your skin could save your life. Sounds dramatic, but it’s all too true. Keep an eye out for any changes to existing marks or moles and talk to your doctor about your level of risk. Early identification and treatment for skin cancer increases your chances of avoiding surgery. Go to cancer.org.au and learn about what to look for. BLOOD PRESSURE Have your blood pressure (BP) checked at least every two years, from age 18. If it’s high, you’re at greater risk of a heart attack or stroke. As a guide, 120/80 is classed as optimal. The top figure refers to your heart pushing blood into the arteries and the lower figure is…

Are you looking for kids’ party inspo? Australia used to have old-fashioned soda fountains from the late 1800s! And, while most of them were in hospitality establishments, we did also have the classic drugstore – or chemist – fountains, a la America. So tap into this slice of sodalicious history to create a ‘pop party’ for your kids. Check out these ideas for a fab and fizzy fun fest! Instructions on page 172 Template on page 175 “A soda fountain party needs classic milkshakes, too!” Instructions on page 177 Instructions and templates on page 179 Recipe on page 179 Instructions on page 178. “The secret to party success is good company, yummy food and fun games to play!” Template on page 175 “Soda fountains were super popular in Australia during…

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