Last summer, I stepped out into our small balcony garden. The air smelled sweet — jasmine and fresh earth after a little drizzle. I glanced at my basil pot and noticed a small insect hovering just a few inches above…
If you’ve ever walked into a sunlit room on a cool afternoon and noticed small red or orange beetles crawling on your windowsill, then you’re already familiar with the strange combination of charm and nuisance that ladybugs bring. And in the…
Have you ever seen a dark green bush or tree growing happily even in the deep shade of a garden? That is probably a yew tree. Yew trees belong to the Taxus family. People have been planting them and talking…
Have you ever wandered through a garden and spotted a tree that appears as though it’s from dinosaur times? That is the Araucaria tree. It’s like a “living fossil” because it has been on Earth since the time of the dinosaurs. These…
If you’ve been in the market for a new cutting board, chances are you’re familiar with your standard options: maple, walnut or bamboo. But there is another contender that’s quietly starting to earn the reverence of chefs, home cooks and woodworkers:…
As you begin to look up wood for outdoor projects, siding, decking and even furniture Larch wood will keep making its way back into your view. And there is good reason for that. Great for those projects where you are looking for…
If you’ve spent any time exploring exotic hardwoods, whether for woodworking, furniture-making, outside structures or even higher end firewood, you’ve likely heard of Mopane wood. Mopane is renowned for it’s incredible density, intense hardness and deep red-brown coloring; in terms of durability…
Elm is one of those woods that surprises people. At first glance, it looks charming and rustic. But when you look closer, it reveals a wood that combines strength, character and old-world history in a way few woods can match. In…
It is one of the most widely used softwoods in the world. Whether it’s a house frame, a musical instrument, something as small or even an unassuming cardboard box — spruce is found everywhere. But what exactly makes spruce so popular? And…
Cross-Laminated Timber, often abbreviated as CLT, is rapidly transforming the world of construction. As architects, builders, and developers push toward more sustainable and efficient methods, CLT stands out as a remarkable alternative to conventional materials like concrete and steel. .…
