Is this plant safe for dogs or cats? That’s one of the questions we’re asked most at the Horticultural Society. Fortunately, the folks at the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) offer a long list of toxic and non-toxic plants for dogs and a similar list for cats. They also share…

African violets. Could a name sound more magical? Even though they have suffered an identity crisis of late—sometimes being pegged as stuffy and old-fashioned—they are enchanting, easy-care bloomers. They are a colorful addition to the houseplant landscape, with countless varieties of color and texture. I’ve had one violet for decades and a large part of…

The debate over whether to display a real or an artificial Christmas tree dates back to the 1930s. That was when a toilet brush manufacturer-Addis Brush Company-discovered it could create an artificial tree using the same bristles it used in its brush. (Before that, many artificial trees were made of feathers dyed green.) At the…