It's that time again ... If you live in th City of Frederick, you'll be setting out bulk trash for pickup over the next week or two. (Click here for info and guidelines.)

Before you dump all your unwanted furniture on the sidewalk, consider donating usable items to a local non-profit. Many organizations are in need of office furniture and other necessities.

Just this weekend, we sent two truckloads of office furniture to the MET, who have recently expanded. It was a fantastic opportunity for us to get rid of some clutter, and it was a great way for them to fill their new space.

As far as I can see, it's a win-win-win situation. My house is clean, a local non-profit has more money to spend on the stuff they really need, and there's less crap in a landfill.

	Photo by Jessica Hibbard Gardens by Design. This book is chock full of essential eye candy. Curated by Noel Kingsbury, it features insight from a worldwide "who's who" list of top garden designers.

When the ground is covered with snow, there's nothing better than curling up on the couch with an inspiring garden book. Here's a list of my personal favorites, which would all make perfect additions to any gardener's library.

For beginners, DIY enthusiasts, and urban gardeners -- You Grow Girl: The Groundbreaking Guide to Gardening, by Gayla Trail.

For nature lovers, native plant geeks**, and those who don't like to mow the lawn -- The American Woodland Garden: Capturing the Spirit of the Deciduous Forest, by Rick Darke.

For foodies, chefs, and vegetable gardeners -- The Edible Garden, Sunset Books

For modernists, minimalists, and design junkies -- Gardens by Design, by Noel Kingsbury

** This term is used most affectionately ... After all, I'm married to one.

	Photo by Jessica Hibbard Our own small yard in Frederick is now a Certified Wildlife Habitat.

It's always this time of year, when the trees start to look bare and the temperature drops, that I start thinking about all the critters outside who don't migrate south for the winter. Their needs for food and shelter are even greater than usual at this time of year ... And if you know what they're looking for, you can create a backyard habitat that's a magnet for some pretty entertaining wildlife!

Over the past couple years, we've added native plants, a birdbath, bird feeders, and other elements to our own yard that make it more enjoyable for us and our wild friends. We've seen a Monarch butterfly laying eggs on our Asclepias incarnata, and Goldfinches eating the seeds from our Echinacea purpurea.

Earlier this spring, we realized we had all the elements required to register our yard as a Certified Wildlife Habitat. According to the National Wildlife Federation (NWF), we're not alone. Since 1973, over 75,000 homes, schools, and businesses have been certified as wildlife habitats.

Wondering where to get started? Here are the essential elements:

• Food sources (seeds, fruits, and nectar)
• Water sources (birdbath, pond, stream, water garden)
• Places for cover (rockpile, birdhouse, bat house, shrubs)
• Places to raise young (shrubs, nesting box, pond)
• Sustainable gardening practices (mulching, composting, rain gardening, eliminating pesticides and synthetic fertilizers)

To learn more, check out these online resources:

• NWF: Garden for Wildlife
• Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
• US Fish & Wildlife Service: Bayscaping

	Photo by 2modern.com The Bruklyn Low Dresser from 2modern. Nice, but at $5800, it's way out of my price range.

The holidays are (almost) upon us, and everyone’s gearing up for a whirlwind season of entertaining. It looks like Domino magazine and Design*Sponge are getting in the spirit by offering their own roundups of credenzas and sideboards.

I love the inspirational eye candy, but luckily, finding the right piece for your dining area really doesn’t have to be complicated (or cost-prohibitive). There are so many great tables, dressers, and buffets out there.

In my own home, I’m using an old dresser that’s been in my mom’s family for years. I really love the piece, and it ended up in the dining room because it didn’t fit anywhere else in our house. It turns out to be the ideal place to store napkins, placemats, and serving dishes that we don’t use that often. Of course, I love credenzas, too. We found a "modern low buffet" at Antique Cellar last year, and we use it for a TV/media stand in our living room.

The point of all this? Furniture pieces are indeed designed for specific purposes, but that doesn’t mean you can’t break the rules a little bit. That secretary desk in your garage might make the perfect hutch, and your china cabinet might be a good home for office supplies and stationery. Before you break the bank on a new piece of furniture, it doesn't hurt to poke around in the attic or at a local used furniture store.