I have clients at all budget levels and it's just common sense to view one's home / real estate through the filter of "increasing the value or decreasing the value". Realtors do it all time. I have no problem harnessing my consultation to my client's criteria whether it's monetary or a paint color. I have perfect faith in my ability to design a solution (at any price point) that a client will care about and want to implement. I say that from experience not from ego. One of my first questions to homeowner's usually is related to how long they plan to live in the home and their answer helps me guide my "best advice" for them from there. Sometimes we do have to give a client disappointing answers or help them dial down their remodel or improvement ambitions but, that just goes with the territory. Nevertheless "design" planning has value whether improving a reading corner or a whole house. It doesn't just change the home or room, it can change us inside and we can bloom. I do not depend on "trends" for my consultation and recommendations to a client but, it can be very inspiring and exciting for all of us to see what sellers are bringing to the market place. I find new things inspiring and worth sharing all the time. Who's to say if it becomes, a "trend" or not. I care about good design solutions. And, I always love being excited and amazed by NEW things and I love having excited and inspired clients! I will never never tire of that! Above I've posted a cool item saved recently! I love how "texture" is becoming appreciated and sought after as another tool in the design tool box at last!

No Stink Bugs here this winter in northeast North Dakota, but there was a Box Elder bug walking around in the bathroom yesterday. Theyve never damaged any of my plants, but it can be alarming to see 3,267 of them quietly sunning themselves on a huge garden rock. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boxelder_bug

I am not sure that is herbicide damage. If it was, one would assume other plantings in the same area would also display damage......and they don't as far as I can see. Few herbicides we use in our gardens are that plant specific that they would affect only the tomatoes and not the marigolds or what appears to be a pepper plant. OTOH, tomatoes are subject to almost a dozen different viruses, several of which mimic the symptoms displayed by herbicide damage. Regardless of the source of the problem, you will need to remove and destroy the affected plants. And I would select another site for any tomatoes or other Solanaceae. btw, most herbicides tend to breakdown and dissipate when in contact with soil and soil moisture. Heck, you only need to wait 3 days after the use of RoundUp to be able to reseed or replant! Only a few very persistent chemical herbicides would require soil replacement and none of those are available for use by homeowners.

I noticed my Sango Kaku didn’t just leaf out this spring but it’s also showing signs of black on some stems. The nursery where I purchased this told me it’s just “winter damage”. I was reassured it’s nothing to worry about and sometimes this variety gets these kinds of markings. It did leaf out fine but I’m concerned this is a disease and on its way to tree heaven… ????