Don’t wait for the snow to melt and ground to thaw before planning your next landscaping project. Take it from Joe Hanauer, owner of Landscape Architecture LLC in Madison, who has over 20 years of experience in landscape design and horticulture. Whether you’re a green thumb or would rather hire a pro, his spring landscaping tips will help your plants thrive and yard shine. 

Clean the yard

In March or early April, rake up leaves and remove perennial foliage and ornamental grasses left from fall and winter. It's important to get rid of rot and mold to keep your garden free from pathogens. "It will reduce the apple scab in crab apples and some of the black spot on roses, so it's good to get that stuff out of there," Hanauer said. As long as a

With 25 recreation parks in Dane County, Indian Lake County Park ranks as one of the largest and most popular according to a recent survey. Located along State Hwy. 19 in the Town of Berry (north of Cross Plains), the park encompasses prairies, rolling meadows, valleys, wetlands, and woodlands centered around a 67-acre lake formed by the glacial melt.

To see this gorgeous hilltop view, take a short walk from the shelter parking lot, up some wooden stairs, and past a secular place of meditation, built in 1857.

Scenic hiking trails loop through the 483-acre park, including the Ice Age National Scenic Trail that passes by the adjacent Halfway Prairie Wildlife Area.

Offering a wonderful blend of natural, cultural, and recreational

If you've ever asked for book recommendations on social media, you were likely overwhelmed by the responses. With so many online choices it can be tough to decide what to read next. Sometimes it's easier (and more fun) to flip through the pages in person to get a better sense of the story inside.

Now is a great time to do just that at the Friends of Madison Public Library (FMPL) book sale, February 22-25. Head to the first floor of Central Library, 201 W. Mifflin St., to browse the huge selection of books for every age and interest. You never know what you might find!

"There is no better way to spend time on a cold winter day than cozying up with a good book," the news release said.

With most items priced at $2 or less, it's also an

Binoculars, iPads, smartphones, and telephoto lenses were all pointed toward the sky as two large raptors soared above the water.

Their dark, speckled plumage suggested they're immature bald eagles. Across the bank of the Wisconsin River perched at the top of a tree was an adult -- unmistakable by its stark white head and tail feathers.

These magnificent birds of prey are drawn to the open water for fishing in winter, and there are some great spots to watch them in Sauk City and Prairie du Sac. This gathering place of sorts is the impetus behind Bald Eagle Watching Days, held January 12-13, 2018 in the Sauk Prairie area just north of Madison.

Earlier this week, dozens of people hoped to catch a glimpse of the eagles before the crowds

Home and garden projects can be daunting, especially when you're unsure how to start. Madison offers five winter expos to get you informed and connected with professionals before the construction and landscaping season really takes off.

Thousands of people will flock to these convention centers to get advice from experts, brainstorm project ideas, and learn about the latest design trends and products. Follow the links to see a schedule of seminars and list of exhibitors in the home building, remodeling, design, and landscaping industries.

Madison Home Expo

When: 2-8 p.m. Friday, January 5; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, January 6; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, January 7
Where: Monona Terrace Convention Center, 1 John Nolen Dr., Madison
Admission: $5 for

Lake View Hill Park: the name says it all. Overlooking Lake Mendota on the highest point on Madison's north side, it has been a place of reflection, recreation, and even healing.

Now a 27-acre conservancy that surrounds the Dane County Human Services building along Northport Drive, you are likely to find people walking their dogs, hiking, or watching wildlife through the wooded trails. And on the great lawn you can usually see a trio of cranes or, when it snows, kids sledding.

But there's more than meets the eye on this piece of land. Dane County Parks installed several historical displays throughout the park to help explain its storied past, which includes remnants of a 20th century sanatorium all the way back to boulders from glaciers

Dane County's hot housing market often makes headlines, but there's another side to the real estate climate that deserves attention: the housing gap. The housing gap, as defined by the Dane County Housing Initiative (DCHI), is the difference between the amount of income people earn and the house they could afford and the number of units available at that price point.

To help educate the community and policymakers about this issue and why it matters, DCHI recently released a short video called "Minding the Gap: The Housing Crisis in Dane County." Several area residents, an employer, a workforce housing developer, and a housing expert weigh in on the topic in this 7-minute film, which is definitely worth watching here.

Although the affordable housing

As the area gets teased with traces of snow, there's still not enough on the ground to trade your hiking boots for snowshoes or cross country skis. But in Wisconsin that could quickly change, so be prepared for all sorts of weather conditions for these free outdoor nature events at local parks in Madison. After many of these leisurely and family-friendly walks, warm up by the campfire and sip hot chocolate. Don't forget your binoculars or camera!

Bird and Nature Outing
When: 10-11:30 a.m. Saturday, December 16
Where: Goodman Community Center, 149 Waubesa St., Madison
What: Hike the bike trails and paths next to Starkweather Creek Area.
Photo (above) credit: Goodman Community Center

Candlelit Hike
When: 4:30-8 p.m. Saturday, December 16
Where: Aldo

It's no secret Madison is growing. But how and where it should grow is up for debate. To try to tackle one component of this matter, the Cap Times recently held a panel discussion about "How can Madison build more great neighborhoods?" You can listen to the podcast about the Cap Times Talk here.

Moderated by city government reporter Abigail Becker, the panel included the following members: David Mollenhoff, Madison historian who helped revitalize the Marquette neighborhood in the 1960s; Heather Stouder, city of Madison's planning division director; Tariq Saqqaf, city of Madison's neighborhood resource coordinator; Sheray Wallace, Meadowood neighborhood activist; and Michael Ford, Madison College instructor known as the "Hip Hop Architect."

When the best of the best collaborate, good things are bound to happen. We recently watched this unfold with our Nolen Shore Condo listing, which drew multiple offers and accepted one above listing price in just 3 days.

This downtown high-rise overlooking Lake Monona is stellar on its own, but with the help of professional stagers and a photographer we were able to quickly transform this vacant property. "It demonstrates what can happen when you have all the right players involved to plan, execute, and manage a project," said Realtor Dan Miller.

Behind the scenes were stagers Debbie Lea and Karla Gones and photographer Justin Lackner, whose combined expertise helped make this condo shine. 

While most of our listings only use Debbie Lea,