It’s pretty common knowledge that planting flowers can help honeybees thrive; bees feed on the nectar that flowers produce, and they carry pollen to help with pollination. But not all flowers are the same when you’re choosing which varieties to put in your garden. Seek out flowers with “single tops,” instead of those with “double tops.”  Single-top flowers like marigolds and daisies are preferred because they produce more nectar and are desirable for bees. And avoid “hybridized” plants, which are bred not to seed and have a side effect of producing nearly no pollen.

Over time, a plastic garden hose can crack and spring a leak, which would lead most of us to toss it and buy a new one at the store. But before you throw away that garden hose, consider doing an easy repair. It’s as simple as cutting out the bad part of the hose with a box cutter and using a hose repair kit to mend it back together. The inexpensive kit covers the two newly cut sides of the garden hose and cinches them together. Four simple screws tighten the new area, and voila! Your old hose is as good as new.

When drips of grease get onto your clothes, getting the stains out can be a real challenge. Since water and grease don’t mix, it’s best to try to “lift” the oils out of the fibers of the clothing. Reach into your kitchen drawer for some regular white chalk. The natural minerals in chalk absorb the excess grease. Rub liberally into the stained area and wait at least 15 minutes for the natural magic to work. Then launder as usual, and the grease stain should be completely lifted from your garment.