Innholdsfortegnelse for March 2023 i Better Homes and Gardens Australia

Above all, they are a source of joy. And so, in this issue, we launch our Better Homes and Gardens and Tuscan Path Garden of the Year Competition 2023, with plenty of time for you to nurture your plot, patio or balcony before you submit your entry (page 75). We’ve ideas for multi-zone backyards (page 70), perfumed lavender to plant and also craft (page 78), the best flowers to grow, snip and dip in a vase (page 66), and how the colour wheel (your new best friend), can help you to combine blooms for harmony and a pleasing palette (page 54). Plus, we’ve terrific tips for growing carrots (page 92) and the sweetest strawberries (page 88). And now to decorating, another passion of mine, why go for neutrals when you…

CARROT, ROCKMELON AND TURMERIC SMOOTHIES Preparation time 10 mins Cooking time nil Makes 2 3 cups cubed rockmelon, frozen1 cup grated carrot⅔ cup freshly squeezed orange juice½ cup Greek yoghurt¼ cup coconut water2 Tbsp pure maple syrup1 tsp orange zest½ tsp turmeric STEP 1 Put all ingredients in a blender. Cover and blend until smooth. Serve. PEAR, CELERY AND COS SMOOTHIES Preparation time 10 mins  Cooking time nil Makes 2 2 cups chopped ripe pears2 cups chopped cos lettuce1 large frozen banana, sliced1 cup chopped celery2 Tbsp lime juice1 Tbsp honey (optional)2-3 tsp matcha (green tea powder)2 cups ice cubes STEP 1 Put pear, lettuce, banana, celery and lime juice in a blender. Add honey (if using) and matcha. Cover and blend until smooth. STEP 2 Add ice cubes, one…

SEEN ON BHG TV FRIDAYS 7.00 KAREN MARTINI Join me as I show you how to make delicious dishes on BHG TV on Fridays at 7pm, on Channel 7. (Apologies, may be subject to change) Go to bhg.com.au for more food tips and tricks. CHAI SPICED FRENCH TOAST WITH ORANGE MASCARPONE Preparation time 20 mins plus 30 mins chilling Cooking time 15 mins Serves 4 Finely grated zest and juice of 1 orange, plus extra finely grated zest, to serve2 tsp maple syrup or honey, plus extra, for drizzling400g mascarponecheese Orange segments, to serve CHAI SPICED TOAST 4 free-range eggs140ml full-cream milk1½ Tbsp brown sugar or maple syrup3 tsp powdered chai spice, plus extra to serve2 tsp cardamom, ground Sea-salt flakes8 slices high top white bread, thickly sliced2 Tbsp extra virgin…

SEEN ON BHG TV FRIDAYS 7.00 There’s French, English and Spanish lavender and all look the same when seen from afar – a haze of soft, wispy purple spikes, shifting in a light summer breeze and evoking images of the lovely lavender fields of Provence. But up close there are subtle differences in flower and leaf shapes and, most importantly, the intensity of the perfume. And if it’s the power of the perfume you’re after, then the narrow-leafed lavender is the one for you. FINEST FRAGRANT LAVENDER GOOD TO KNOW THE OIL FROM LAVENDER IS USED AS A RELAXANT, AND AS AN ANTI-BACTERIAL, ANTI-FUNGAL AND ANTI-INFLAMMATORY AGENT. SUPREMELY SCENTED NARROW-LEAFED LAVENDER is also called common, French or English lavender, which can be confusing, since it grows naturally in the hot, dry…

1 BOWL ME OVER! Papier mâché will have you taking a jaunty trip down memory lane, back to your school days. It was – and still is – fun and messy in a squishy kind of way. Be inspired to creatively craft and colour gorgeous accessories for your home like these beautiful bowls and fruity treats. Instructions on page 130 Handmade homewares and sculptural works of art are all possible with papier mâché. The objects and curios found in Puglia’s churches, Mexican galleries and Cuban craft fairs attest to this. So join in the fun, recycle your newspapers and raid the pantry for the main ingredients. Happy crafting! 2 LIGHT AND SHADE Create unique pendant lights using homemade glue and newspaper! For the base of a cylinder light, you can…

1, 2 OFF-THE-RACK HACK! Use slimline shoe cabinets to create bespoke storage. Join two units with timber shelves and a top for custom cabinetry on a DIY budget. The drawers pull down not out, so it’s a great solution for skinny spaces, like a hallway, but can go wherever you need – a front entry or living or dining room. SEEN ON BHG TV FRIDAYS 7.00 The front entry of your home should be a welcoming space but can often become a dumping ground for shoes, bags and more. To keep your hallway clutter-free and also have a spot for keys and other everyday essentials, install slimline storage cabinets that won’t impede flow and add DIY touches for a tailored space to store and display. EASY STEPS TO BUILD STORAGE…

Love the clean lines and functional beauty of Scandi-style furniture but not the price tag attached? Turn timber from your local hardware store into a coffee table – no woodworking skills required. It’s the ultimate in style on a shoestring! EASY STEPS TO YOUR COFFEE TABLE Use budget-friendly pine for your table – both precut panels and pieces you can cut to size with a handsaw – then it’s a simple nail, glue and screw job! Gather your supplies • 735mm round pine furniture legs (3) • 20 x 8mm x 1.2m pine square edge coverstrip (12) • 600 x 17mm round pine panels (2) • 8mm pine dowel • Feast Watson Timber Wax Spray You’ll also need Mitre box and saw; tape measure; carpenter’s pencil; medium-grit sandpaper; PVA glue;…

1 PAINT IT NICE AND BRIGHT Dogs have limited colour perception and can only see blue, yellow and shades of grey. So paint your kennel in bright blue and give it a retro racing stripe in yellow so your pooch can see their crash pad clearly. Line it with a comfy bed and your pal will want to be in the doghouse! Build your dog a kennel in the style of a retro caravan and every day will be an adventure! Made from plywood, the kennel is lightweight enough to roll around on two wheels so you can move it around your yard and bring it indoors or to the back verandah in bad weather. With windows on all sides your dog won’t feel cooped up and built-in bowls gives…

YOUR SHOPPING DIRECTORY Adairs adairs.com.au Bridestowe Lavender Estate bridestowelavender.com.au Bunnings bunnings.com.au Cater Works caterworks.com.au Country Road countryroad.com.au David Jones davidjones.com Freedom freedom.com.au Harry Hartog harryhartog.com.au IKEA ikea.com/au Inartisan inartisan.com Kmart kmart.com.au McMullin & Co mcmullinandco.com Officeworks officeworks.com.au OZ Design Furniture ozdesignfurniture.com.au Spotlight spotlightstores.com Target target.com.au LAVENDER UPLIFT! PAGE 78 Project supplies Bridestowe Lavender Estate Bridestowe Gourmet lavender essence, 25ml, $15. Spotlight Offray double face satin ribbon, 3mm x 2.7m, various colours, $9. OUT OF THE BOX, PAGE 84 Project supplies Bunnings 2440 x 1220 x 12mm plywood hardwood marine AA grade, $79. Bastion exterior waterproof membrane, 4L, $61.80. Dulux Duramax flat black spray paint, 340g, $14.90. Carinya 150 x 150 x 40 x 6mm galvanised heavy duty angle bracket, $9.20. Taskmaster 10 x 150 x 25mm 315 stainless steel eye bolt,…

A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO CREATING AND MAINTAINING A WATER-EFFICIENT GARDEN, INCLUDING A COMPREHENSIVE PHOTOGRAPHIC PLANT DIRECTORY, AND INSIGHTS INTO SUSTAINABLE DESIGN, IN BIG AND SMALL SPACES. HURRY! OFFER ENDS 8TH MARCH 2023 SUBSCRIBER BENEFITS 13 ISSUES OF BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS FOR $69.99 VIA AUTOMATIC RENEWAL A BONUS COPY OF FUTUREPROOF YOUR GARDEN VALUED AT $45 SAVE 28% OFF THE RETAIL PRICE FREE DELIVERY OF THE MAGAZINE TO YOUR HOME EACH MONTH…

“SERVE UP YOUR NACHOS IN NO TIME WITH A NO-COOK CORN HACK” MINT AND HONEY-GLAZED LAMB WITH BACON-BUTTERED CORN RIBS Preparation time 10 mins Cooking time 20 mins Serves 4 2 corn cobs, husk and silk removed1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil Sea-salt flakes and freshly ground black pepper, to season2 rashers rindless bacon¼ cup mint jelly2 Tbsp honey2 garlic cloves, crushed8 lamb midloin chops60g butter, softened¼ tsp dried chilli flakes1 Tbsp chopped flat-leaf parsley leaves, plus extra leaves, to serve2 small cos hearts, quartered250g mixed cherry tomatoes, halved1 Lebanese cucumber, sliced STEP 1 Preheat oven to 200°C fan-forced (220°C conventional). Put corn in a microwave-safe bowl and drizzle with water. Cover with plastic wrap and microwave on HIGH (100%) for 5 minutes or until tender. STEP 2 Quarter corn…

LEMON AND ROSEMARY CHICKEN SALAD Preparation time 10 mins Cooking time 10 mins Serves 4 2 lemons1 eschalot, finely choppedSea-salt flakes and freshly ground black pepper, to season¼ cup olive oil, plus extra2 chicken breasts, halved horizontally1 Tbsp rosemary, finely chopped1 head butter lettuce, trimmed and chopped1 head endive, trimmed and chopped4-5 radishes, thinly sliced STEP 1 Juice 1 lemon into a small bowl, stir in eschalot and add a pinch of salt. Drizzle oil into bowl, whisking constantly, until emulsified. Season dressing with pepper. STEP 2 Preheat a grill pan on high heat and brush with extra oil. Season chicken, sprinkle with rosemary and rub lightly with oil. Grill for 5 minutes or until golden brown on one side. Turn and cook for a further 5-6 minutes or until…

Your porch or verandah is designed to give shade, which is not so great for many plants. They can also be limited on space, which isn’t ideal if you’re hoping to put in a slew of plants. But don’t be down, look up and think of hanging baskets. Better still, create a box garden, filled with pretty, shade-loving ferns! 1, 2 shady ladies Fast-growing with long, arching fronds, Blechnum ferns are lovely for a shady spot in your hanging garden. Pair with the light green, lacy fronds of maidenhair ferns for a compact corner that makes a big impact. SEEN ON BHG TV FRIDAYS 7.00 EASY STEPS TO YOUR HANGING GARDEN BOX It’s just a simple box, but it has so much potential to improve your environment and liven up your…

Hand Trowel Cyclone’s Hand Trowel is an essential all-rounder, ideal for the beginner or seasoned gardener. Great for breaking up earth, digging small holes, especially for planting and weeding, mixing in fertilizer or other goodies, and moving plants to pots. Hand Fork Often underrated, Cyclone’s Hand Fork is a versatile tool that can be used for weeding, aerating & cultivating, mixing compost and transplanting small & fragile plants. Also ideal for harvesting root vegetables such as carrots, radishes and onions. Potting Scoop Not only is Cyclone’s Potting Scoop beautiful, it’s bigger than a standard trowel, allowing you to hold more soil or potting mix and make potting plants so much easier. Bulb Trowel Cyclone’s Bulb Trowel is a handy tool that’s designed to dig deep, narrow holes for planting bulbs, transplanting…

MARCH 2023 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 signs Libra, Aquarius and Gemini are in harmony with plants that produce flowers and perfumes. Water signs Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces are…

1 DASHING ENTRY Your front door is the perfect place to introduce a shot of brilliant yellow to a neutral interior. Bright and cheerful, it will bring a smile to your face. Do you prefer a richer, darker autumnal version of the hue? Try a warming saffron yellow. 2 FIRE UP Few can deny an all-white room – be it country or contemporary in style – offers a calming sense of openness and refined timelessness. But view it as a blank canvas and you have an opportunity to add serious sass with a painted band of a vibrant and unexpected contrast colour. It’s the most up-to-date way to define and draw the eye, creating or enhancing a focal point. Make your decorative palette pop with your preferred bright – or…

SEEN ON BHG TV FRIDAYS 7.00 RECYCLING BY DESIGN Defy Design also do plastic recycling workshops at schools, workplaces and markets, using their portable mini-factory to demonstrate the entire recycling process in half an hour. This takes a piece of plastic waste through cleaning, sorting, shredding, moulding and finishing for a useful recycled object at the end, defydesign.org. CLEAN UP! Clean Up Australia Day is on March 5 this year. Get involved, cleanup.org.au. Have you ever wondered where your empty milk bottles end up? A micro-recycling centre in Sydney showcases just one of the creative possibilities. Defy Design take milk bottles from a café and turn them into cutting boards for the same café to sell to customers. It’s just one of many sustainable solutions they offer and also make…

Love the look of stone homewares but not the price tag or the weight? Go plastic fantastic! Raid your kitchen cabinets for old bowls and cups – or pick up a few at a bargain shop – you can transform into faux granite pieces. All you need to do is glue, prime and spray your way to luxe-looking pedestal bowls using a fast setting adhesive and special-effect paint. It’s fun and easy! EASY STEPS TO YOUR STONE-LOOK BOWLS Gather your supplies • Plastic or melamine bowls in various sizes • Tall plastic or melamine cups • Selleys Power Grip all plastics primer and adhesive • Dulux Duramax granite effect spray paint in dark and light grey You’ll also need Cardboard work mat; cardboard box spray booth; face mask; plastic primer…

This 3D collage is a project where nature, science and art meet, and a creative way to learn about the use of a proportional system called the golden ratio. Used by great artists such as Leonardo da Vinci as a composition technique, it is a pattern also found in nature and can be used in architecture and other endeavours. Here, you can use it to make curvy abstract art that pleases the eye. It’s maths made fun! SEEN ON BHG TV FRIDAYS 7.00 EASY STEPS TO YOUR 3D ARTWORK Mount cut-out shapes to a framed backing panel, all painted in the same colour to make an artwork with depth and shape. Gather your supplies • 900 x 600 x 12mm MDF panels (2) • 89 x 19mm x 3m DAR pine…

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“THE WRITER WHO GOT CLOSEST TO THE HUMAN TRUTH…”LIBBY PURVES, THE TIMES Elizabeth: An Intimate Portrait Gyles Brandreth (Penguin Random House, $35) This intimate, personal biography of Queen Elizabeth II tells the story of Her Majesty’s remarkable life, reign, and times, from a perspective unlike any other. Brandreth writes The Queen’s tale with grace and sensitivity from the view of someone who talked with her and kept a record of those conversations. Told with authority, a refreshing dose of humour and moving honesty from a totally unique perspective, this book is the must-have biography of the longest-serving monarch in English history, Red Winter Tom Clancy (Hachette, $32.99) It’s 1985 and a top secret F117 aircraft crashes into the Nevada desert. The Nighthawk is the most advanced fighting machine in the world…

SEEN ON BHG TV FRIDAYS 7.00 ED HALMAGYI Join me as I show you how to give your meals and desserts a seasonal makeover on BHG TV, Fridays at 7pm on Channel 7. (Apologies, may be subject to change) Go to bhg.com.au for more food tips and tricks. HERBS AND SPICES TURN YOUR PANTRY STAPLES, SUCH AS BEANS AND RICE, INTO MEALS TO SAVOUR BUTTERED SNAPPER WITH PEACH AND WATERMELON SALSA Preparation time 10 mins Cooking time 10 mins Serves 4 4 x 200g thick snapper filletsSea-salt flakes and freshly ground black pepper, to season1 Tbsp avocado oil80g unsalted butter, at room temperature½ bunch rosemary, finely chopped2 tsp capers, very finely chopped2 ripe peaches, cut into fine wedges2 cups watermelon, cut into 1cm dice1 red onion, very finely diced2 Lebanese cucumbers,…

SEEN ON BHG TV FRIDAYS 7.00 grow strawberries Strawberries are the ultimate temptation – they look like plump, heart-shaped baubles, give off a warm, sensual, caramel-like aroma and their fresh, sweet juices explode in your mouth! But they can be tricky to grow, being susceptible to fungal diseases such as botrytis and fruit mould. So take tips on raising yours from Driscoll’s in Tasmania (driscolls.com.au) one of the best strawberry growers in the country. Make them WARM & SNUG Water is a growing strawberry’s best friend, but having it linger on the leaves during long periods of rain can be an invitation to rot. As cold-climate fruits, strawberries don’t cope well with temperature fluctuations. Then there is the issue of the ripening berries falling to the soil where they can pick up…

SEASON SPECIALS Check out these sunseekers. RING THE BELLS Calibrachoas come in an abundance of cheery colours. GOLD ON SILVER Santolina is a hardy heat-lover from the Mediterranean. SO DECADENT Daylilies are colourful, long-flowering and drought tolerant. 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 Ageratum, aquilegia (top left), candytuft, delphinium, everlasting daisy, forget-me-not, hollyhock, lobelia, lupin, marigold and nigella (bottom left). ZONES 1-3 Gerbera, nasturtium, salvia, verbena and zinnia. ZONES 4-6 Cornflower, godetia, larkspur and wallflower. VEGETABLES ALL ZONES Beetroot, broad beans, broccoli, cabbage, carrot, cauliflower (top left), celery, chives, leeks, onion, parsnip and radish. ZONES 1-3 Asparagus, capsicum, chilli,…

YOGHURT GRANOLA AND FRUIT POPSICLES 1½cups plain Greek yoghurt1 Tbsp Mavella Superfoods Immune Boost¼cup fresh or frozen raspberries¼cup sliced kiwifruit¼cup granola STEP 1 Mix Greek yoghurt and Immune Boost in a small bowl. STEP 2 Fill popsicle moulds with fruit. Pour in yoghurt mixture, then sprinkle with granola. STEP 3 Freeze popsicles for at least 4 hours or until solid. Serve. mavella.com.au…

Your child will actually want to hang up their clothes when you build them this rack. The classic A-frame design suits most interiors and the rail is at ideal kid height. Let them choose the colour and help with the painting too, and they’ll love it even more. EASY STEPS TO YOUR A-FRAME CLOTHES RACK Create a decorative storage solution for your kid’s bedroom. Gather your supplies • 2250 x 600 x 30mm plywood • Primer • Acrylic pant • 60mm brass wood screws You’ll also need Tape measure; carpenter’s pencil; safety glasses; ear plugs; 600mm steel rule; circular saw; circular saw guide; drill; combination square; 10mm drill bit; jigsaw; clamps; 12g smart countersink drill bit; 28mm speed bore drill bit; masking tape; trimmer router; 5mm over round router bit; 240-grit…

EASY STEPS TO YOUR TIMBER DESK Gather your supplies • 1200 x 300 x 33mm Okoume FJ timber panels (4) • 140 x 19mm x 1.2m DAR pine (2) • Pocket hole jig • 51mm fine thread pocket hole screws • 32mm fine thread pocket hole screws • Clear Danish oil • 1200 x 800 x 9mm black acoustic pinboard • 22mm black stick-on Velcro dots You’ll also need Tape measure; carpenter’s pencil; combination square; safety glasses; ear plugs; drill; clamps; PVA glue; timber batten; timber putty; putty knife; 600mm steel rule; circular saw; circular saw guide; carpenter’s square; handsaw; 10g and 12g smart countersink drill bit; 10g x 40, 50 and 70mm timber screws; 12g x 60mm timber screws; handsaw; 240-grit sandpaper; gloves; lint-free cloth; fixings to suit wall…

Our furry mates bring out the best in us. And even when we get things a little wrong, they never hold a grudge. Here are a few easy ways to make things extra right for your dog – from feelgood foods to health hacks that boost their quality of life, these tweaks will bring out the best in them, too. DITCH Boring meals TRY Hide and seek “Most modern dogs are bored, causing them to get into trouble or behave undesirably,” says Frontier Pets vet Dr Kathy Cornack. “It’s important for mealtimes to be enriching.” To make their food interesting, think outside of the bowl, hiding their food in a licky mat or inside a Kong toy, so retrieving it is a rewarding challenge. DITCH The mystery meat TRY Ethically…