Find a Great Halloween Pumpkin Near Your TriBridge Apartment

cool jack-o-lantern

It's time to carve a jack-o-lantern!

The kids are back in school which means fall is here and Halloween is right around the corner! Part of the Halloween fun is finding that perfect pumpkin and turning it into a jack-o-lantern. But where should you go to find that perfect pumpkin?

Pumpkin Patches and More is your place to go to find all of the best pumpkin patches and other Halloween fun near your apartment! No matter which TriBridge Residential apartment you live in, Pumpkin Patches and More can help you find the best nearby pumpkin patches, corn mazes, hayrides, and more! In addition to all of the information on places to visit, you will also find recipes for pies, breads and other fall favorites. Hints on making your cut pumpkins last longer, home canning ideas, and templates for jack-o-lanterns are also on the site.

What kind of jack-o-lanterns are you planning to carve with your family this Halloween? Tell us your plans in the comments!

Photo via morgueFile


 

Balcony Gardening: What to Plant for Fall

The balcony of your TriBridge apartment home can become your own garden spot will very little effort on your part. Fall is the perfect time for starting a container garden out on your balcony.

Since the fall is cooler and has a shorter growing time than spring, you want foods that will grow fast and mature quickly. Leafy greens are just the thing for fall growing. They are fast growing and don’t require as much sunlight to absorb nutrients and water. Plus, the upcoming holidays are a great time to use all the fresh herbs you can grow.

cilantro

Now's the perfect time to grow some herbs on your balcony!

Spring is easy, but what are the best things to start growing in the fall? Start by giving a few of these plants a try:

  • lettuce
  • spinach
  • kale
  • Swiss chard
  • herbs (cilantro, chives, parsley, rosemary, sage and thyme do well at this time of year)

You can even give tomatoes a try in many areas of the Southeast so long as your balcony remains frost free. Just make sure to look for plants that are larger and already have buds.

Check with a local nursery or Growing in Fall to get more information.

Do you have a container garden? Comment and tell us what you’re growing right now!

Photo via morgueFile

Make Your Apartment Look Great and Live Healthier with Houseplants!

Beautify your apartment and your life with houseplants! Everyone knows that greenery can add a serene aesthetic to your home, but did you know houseplants are also great for your health?

Fern by a sunny window

In addition to looking great in your apartment, keeping houseplants can also improve your health!

Adding some simple plants like lilies or ferns to your Tribridge Residential apartment, and you too can enjoy these proven health benefits:

  • Breath easier – Plants release the oxygen humans breathe in and absorb the carbon dioxide that humans release, making them a refreshing housemate!
  • Humidify the air – Plants release roughly 97 percent of the water they take in, increasing the moisture in the air around them. Studies show that having houseplants decreases dry skin, colds, sore throats, and dry coughs.
  • Purify the air – Plants remove toxins from the air, including substances found in old rugs, cigarette smoke, inks, solvents, paint, grocery bags, and books.
  • Improve your health – Research shows that adding plants to hospital rooms speeds recovery rates and reduces pain and anxiety in patients. They are also know to decrease fatigue and illness.
  • Get focused – In rooms containing plants, students are 70 percent more attentive than in those without, and attendance is higher! Place a house plant near your desk, and get to work.

Do you keep houseplants in your TriBridge apartment? Let us know in the comments!

Photo via Flickr

Natural Ways to Keep the Bugs Off Your Apartment’s Patio

Many of our TriBridge Residential apartments feature lovely patios and porches. And with summer right around the corner, now is the perfect time to be out enjoying them!

closeup of a live rosemary plant

Rosemary plants can help keep mosquitoes away!

To help you make the most of your patio, here are a few natural tips to keep it bug free:

  • If there are bugs on your patio, get rid of the things that are attracting them. Making sure that there is no standing water, trash, or uncovered food on your porch should always be the step in fighting off bugs.
  • Plant a bug repelling garden! Rosemary, catnip, and marigolds will all help repel mosquitoes and they will make your porch look and smell great.
  • Keep ants away. If you’re trying to keep ants away, consider a natural and non-toxic repellent. Strangely enough, ants avoid cucumber slices and refuse to cross chalk lines.

For more nature ways to keep the bugs from your apartment’s patio or balcony, check out Keep the Bugs at Bay Without Bug Spray.

Photo via FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Apartment Interior Design: Freshen Up Your Apartment for Spring

Now that spring is here, it’s the perfect time to refresh and liven up your apartment! To help, here are a few apartment interior design tips to get your living space ready for spring:

  • Do a little spring cleaning. The first step to any kind of apartment redecorating is always going to be clean up a bit. Give everything a nice wipe down and straighten up any clutter.
  • Add a little color. Accent your room with a spring color palette that “pops.” Repeat your colors in your fabrics, throw pillows, picture frames, candle, and the like.
  • Bring the spring inside, literally! The best way to freshen up your apartment for spring is by bringing some flowers inside. Using hanging vases and flower arrangements are both great ways to liven things up for spring, but our favorite thing to do is to invest in a couple of beautiful, flowering potted plants.

For more, check out Apartment Therapy’s Spring Forward: 10 Tips to Update, Refresh, and Modernize Your Home.

How do you get your TriBridge Residential apartment ready for spring? Comment and let us know!

Photo courtesy of Duncan Harris