Light, scent, and sound: the free home refresh you haven't tried yet
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM You've arranged the furniture. You've put up the art. The room looks fine. But it still feels a little off, heavy or flat, like you can't quite settle into it. The fix might not be another trip to the store. "Most people spend all their time on furniture Read More...
The gardening trick that gives vegetables a head start on weeds
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM The moment you plant a seed, a race begins. Your vegetable seedlings need to establish themselves before weeds do, and the longer germination takes, the harder that race gets. Frost, temperature swings, animals, and flooding can all interfere during that Read More...
Your allergies aren't getting worse with age. The pollen season is.
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM If your spring allergies feel worse than they did five years ago, there is a reason for that, and it is not you getting older or more sensitive. A study published in 2021 found that pollen season now starts 20 days earlier than it did in 1990 and produces Read More...
Urban coyotes are denning next door: here's what to know
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Somewhere near you, a coyote may be nursing a litter of pups right now. She chose her den carefully: tucked under a fallen tree trunk, wedged inside an old burrow, or backed into a pile of abandoned concrete. One priority guided the choice: keeping you from Read More...
Where and when to catch peak cherry blossom bloom across the US this spring
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM The beauty of the cherry blooms doesn't last long, but that's what makes it a spectacular phenomenon to catch each year. Once the trees are fully open, you typically have one to two weeks before wind, rain, or a temperature swing brings them down. Knowing Read More...
When to turn sprinklers on after winter (and how to avoid costly damage to lawn and home)
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM The first warm afternoon of spring has a way of making everything feel urgent. The lawn looks a little tired. The flower beds need encouragement. It’s tempting to flip the sprinkler system back on and declare winter officially over. But plumbers would Read More...
The case for growing nectar-rich plants in your garden this spring
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM The nectar created by flowering plants is a significant food source for many of the critters we share our environment with. Those of us who want to attract wildlife to our gardens understand the importance of having flowering plants in bloom for as long as Read More...
The case for growing nectar-rich plants in your garden this spring
The nectar created by flowering plants is a significant food source for many of the critters we share our environment with. Those of us who want to attract wildlife to our gardens understand the importance of having flowering plants in bloom for as long as possible. Selecting nectar-rich plants Read More...
Here’s how to prepare for allergy season
Spring is well underway, bringing with it migrating birds and blossoming trees. For some, spring also marks the start of allergy season. According to the CDC, 19.2 million adults and 5.2 million children in the U.S. suffer from seasonal allergies or hay fever. Due to climate change, pollen Read More...
Welcome spring with a stroll through these public gardens
Shake off the winter blues by visiting these gorgeous gardens. Just remember to check the garden for updates on new protocols such as schedules, open areas, mask requirements, and reservations. New York Botanical Garden Check out this garden for an impressive display of snowdrops, and early Read More...