Happy Arbor Day! It’s been over 135 years since the first Arbor Day was celebrated, and the simple idea of setting aside a day to plant trees is now more important than ever. But even if you don’t plant a tree today, take time to acknowledge Arbor Day in your own way. Take a hike in the woods; visit a nearby nature center; climb a tree; learn how to identify and care for trees in your yard. You could even volunteer to help a local tree planting organization. Whatever you do, go ahead and get out there, have fun, and appreciate the splendor of trees on this beautiful spring day!

After your Easter lilies have bloomed their little hearts out and you’ve practically forgotten about ‘em, you should bring them back to life in your garden. How? First, collect as many as you can get your hands on—ask your family, friends, and neighbors for their discards. Then plant them in well-drained soil, 3 inches deep, and about 12 to 18 inches apart, in a spot where they’ll get plenty of sunshine. They may not look so hot now, but just wait ‘til they bloom again in July—and then again next summer! You’ll have a gorgeous, fragrant garden—all without spending a dime. Talk about a gift that keeps on giving…

Eggshells have more uses than you can shake the Easter Bunny at. So when you and your kiddies are done with the Easter eggs next week, don’t throw the shells away. This list of what you can do with them is only the tip of the cottontail:

· Soak them in water overnight, and then water your plants with the calcium rich “tea.”

· Start seeds in eggshells. At transplant time, crack the shells and set the whole thing into the soil.

· Give them to the birds as a source of essential grit. Crumble the shells, and either mix them with the seed in your feeder or serve them as a side dish.

· Scatter crushed shells around plants to deter slugs, cutworms, and other crawling pests.

I look forward to a freshly brewed cuppa joe every morning, but when the brewing time starts taking longer and longer, it’s time to give my coffeemaker a fresh, clean start. And it’s as easy as 1, 2, 3! Just pop a denture-cleaning tablet into the filter basket (without the filter), add hot water to the reservoir, and run the machine through a cycle. Follow up by “brewing” one or two pots of clear water before you make the real thing. You’ll get your coffee a whole lot faster, and as an added bonus, it’ll taste a whole lot better, too!