Desert Sun Retreats 1/13/23

Bennion Deville Homes

Proudly Sponsors Celebrate CV Event

Bennion Deville Homes was a sponsor of the recent Celebrate CV event, held along El Paseo in front of the Gardens on El Paseo, stretching from San Pablo to Larkspur Lane. This inaugural event drew over 5,000 attendees to enjoy live music, food trucks, free games and fun for the family, and so much more. Platinum album selling singer Jordin Sparks headlined the event, setting a fun and bright tone on a chilly desert evening.

As a part of the Celebrate CV sponsorship, Bennion Deville Homes had a presence with a booth at the event. Agents Amanda Lacey and Joel Vendette from the Indian Wells office and Jon McGihon of the Palm Desert office represented Bennion Deville Homes, greeting passers-by and handing out a variety of fun giveaways and copies of Bennion Deville Homes’ semi-annual magazine, AT HOME Collection. The booth also had heaters to help warm up eventgoers on an evening where temperatures hit the mid-50s.

“We are honored to sponsor Celebrate CV,” states Bob Deville, C.E.O. of Bennion Deville Homes. “The desert’s unique climate and outdoor lifestyle affords the opportunity to put on phenomenal events throughout the year. Being able to be outside at night in the winter is a luxury very few communities can enjoy. As a local business founded in the Coachella Valley over 20 years ago, it is important that we give back to the communities where we serve our clients. As desert residents, it is fun to see opportunities to advance our community’s profile, spotlight local businesses, and have some fun in the process with world-class entertainment. We would like to thank all who attended Celebrate CV, and give a special thanks to Amanda Lacey, Joel Vendette, and Jon McGihon for representing Bennion Deville Homes.”

About Bennion Deville Homes

As a leader in the local community, and the desert real estate leader, Bennion Deville Homes strives to make the neighborhoods it serves a better place for all. Founded in 2001 by Bob Bennion and Bob Deville, Bennion Deville Homes serves home buyers and sellers throughout Southern California in the primary markets of the Greater Palm Springs Area (Coachella Valley) and the mountain communities of Riverside

County. Bennion Deville Homes, the #1 real estate brokerage in the Coachella Valley, is a wholly owned subsidiary of HomeServices of America, a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate. HomeServices is the nation’s largest real estate company based on closed transactions, strengthening Bennion Deville Homes’ standing as a top brokerage on the local, regional, and national stages.

For the location of the Bennion Deville Homes office nearest you, visit our website, BDHomes.com. Follow us on major social media platforms @BDHSoCal for the latest local and national real estate and lifestyle news. We will unlock possibilities for you.

Top: (L to R) Joel Vendette, Amanda Lacey, and Jon McGihon represented Bennion Deville Homes at Celebrate CV.

Left: Jordin Sparks put on an incredible performance to a packed crowd.

1BD/1BA

OPEN HOUSES

3BD/3BA Enclave At Sunrise 1680 Sienna Court $1,150,000 Terry Murphy 760-832-3758By Appointment

3BD/3BA Villas at Movie Colony 550 N. Indian Canyon Drive $1,287,000Doug McCourt 760-641-6567 Sat/Sun 12-3

4BD/3BA Movie Colony East 1675 E. San Jacinto Way $1,379,000 Judy Koubek 760-413-4377Sat 10-1 • CATHEDRAL CITY •

2BD/1BA Cathedral City Cove 68433 San Jacinto Rd $425,000 Jeff Palmer 760-218-8030 Sat/Sun 10-2

• RANCHO MIRAGE •

3BD/3BA Mirage Cove 23 Alta Vista $1,350,000 Marilyn Bauer 760-333-6303 Sat/Sun 1-3 OPEN: Sun 12:00pm-3:00pm

DRE# 01325548 760.341.4141

• PALM DESERT •

2BD/2BA Sun City Palm Desert 37351

$444,000 Gayle Pietras 760-636-8527 Sat 12-3

2BD/2BA Sun City Palm Desert 38568 Bent Palm $575,000 Gayle Pietras 760-636-8527 Sat 12-2:30

4BD/3BA Sun City Palm Desert 78149 Kistler $695,000 Gayle Pietras 760-636-8527 Sat 12-3

3BD/2.5BA Sun City Palm Desert 78443 Sterling Lane $699,000 DW & Associates 760-776-7070 Sat 12-3

3BD/2.5BA Sun City Palm Desert 34743 Blake Dr. $795,000 Gayle Pietras 760-636-8527 Sat 12:30-2:30/Sun 1-3

3BD/3.5BA Indian Ridge 270 Tomahawk Drive $1,185,000 DW & Associates 760-776-7070 Sat 1-3

3BD/3.5BA Indian Ridge 436 Tomahawk Drive $1,250,000 DW & Associates 760-776-7070 Sat 1-3

3BD/3.5BA Indian Ridge 870 Deer Haven Circle $1,565,000 DW & Associates 760-776-7070 Sat/Sun 1-3

3BD/3.5BA Indian Ridge 483 Tomahawk Drive $1,895,000 DW & Associates 760-776-7070 Sat 1-3 • LA QUINTA •

2BD/2BA Duna La Quinta 78118 Calle Norte $619,000 Walter Barnes 760-424-6599Sat 11-1:30

3BD/4BA Trilogy La Quinta 60160 Desert Rose Drive $699,000 Mark Miller 442-234-3325 Sun 12-3

3BD/2BA La Quinta Cove 54030 Eisenhower Drive $820,000 Randy Steele 760-534-4199 Sat 1-3 OPEN: Sat 11:00am-1:30pm

Invasive plants a nuisance for gardeners

Betty Montgomery Special to Spartanburg Herald-Journal USA TODAY NETWORK - SOUTH CAROLIINA

Over the years, gardens have been enriched by the introduction of plants from other parts of the country and from abroad. Most of them are fundamental to our lifestyle, such as food crops while others like hostas and camellias enhance our gardens. These non-native plants species are also called exotic species. Some exotic species are invasive while many are not invasive.

There is a lot said today about planting only natives. I think it is good to plant natives and I do plant a lot of natives. However, our country is very large and not all non-native plants are invasive but the ones that are invasive and a real nuisance.

Now, what is an invasive species? Invasive plants compete against other plants and crowd them out and discourage the growth of other plants. They produce large quantities of seeds, thrive on disturbed soil, often have deep root systems and smother roots of surrounding vegetation and inhibit the growth of plants around them. They are known to crowd out indigenous plants, our native plants that support wildlife.

There are lists that spell out plants that are invasive but because our country is large, many non-native plants are not invasive everywhere. This is a fact that people need to understand. There are plants listed as invasive in the South that are not invasive in the North and vise-versa. Conditions vary wildly in our country because of the size. Species become invasive if it outcompetes and displaces native species, causing ecological and economic damage and we should avoid planting them for sure.

One of the most popular food crops in the world are tomatoes. They originated in the Andes, growing in parts of Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. Camellias, primroses, begonias, Hosta, Chrysanthums are a few of the flowering plants that are frequently planted in gardens. We also use spruces, cedars, junipers umbrella pines and yews that also come from Asia. These are beloved plants and none are invasive where I live.

On the other hand, kudzu, a semiwood, perennial vine is native to Japan

and China and spreads like wild-fire. It is said to the be the “invasive vine that ate the South”. It was first introduced to the United States during the Philadelphia Centennial Exposition in 1876 where it was touted as a great ornamental plant for its sweet-smelling blooms and sturdy vine that would control erosion. Another plant that became very popular about forty years ago was the Bradford Pear. People loved these trees because they had showy white flowers in the spring and produced colorful leaves in the fall. Today, there are pear trees coming up everywhere and they continue to spread.

Now, there are plants that you should certainly steer clear of planting. Where I live, Chinese Privet, Bradford Pears, Mimosa, Elaeagnus are some of the ones that should not be planted. There are wonderful native plants that can give you the same effect. Elaeagnus has been used for hedges over the years but Sasanquas, some hollies and Tea Olive (Osmanthus) can be used just as well and neither will spread like Elaeagnus.

English Ivy, Wisteria, Japanese hon-

eysuckle are all quite invasive in our area. Oriental bittersweet and autumn clematis are invasive just up the road in the North Carolina mountains but where Ilive, they are not so invasive.

So, what is the difference between invasive and aggressive plants? The key here is that invasive plants are not native to the area. Now there are native plants that can spread rapidly and overpower the competition. We refer to these as “aggressive”, “thuggish,” or “ill-behaved.”

What is the best way to get rid of invasive plants? That is the $64,000 question! This has to be determined by you. You can manually remove them, use chemicals, or herbicides. You can tackle them manually by digging them out or cutting them down over and over until they die.

If you want to remove them organically, try using vinegar as a herbicide. Combine four parts of cleaning vinegar to one part water. Add about an ounce of dishwashing liquid to a gallon of the mixture and apply it with a spray bottle or a clean backpack sprayer. Do this on a dry, calm,

sunny day and saturate the plant with the mixture. This works best on small plants.

If you choose to use chemicals, the two most popular chemicals are triclopyr 4Bush Killer (Garlon) and glyphosate (Round-up). Be sure to read the instructions carefully and follow the recommended amount to mix for specific plants.

The best thing to do when deciding to purchase a new plant is to read about what you are considering to plant. Remember that if a plant is grown in Oregon, the tag on the plant might be true in Oregon and not in Florida or Virginia. Make sure it is a good plant for your area. No plant is perfect so find a plant that pleases you and is right for your where you live and have fun trying something new in your garden.

Betty Montgomery is a master gardener and author of “Hydrangeas: How To Grow, Cultivate & Enjoy,” and “A FourSeason Southern Garden.” She can be reached at bmontgomery40@gmail. com.

Camellia bushes are a non-native plant that is not invasive BETTY MONTGOMERY/SPECIAL TO SPARTANBURG HERALD-JOURNAL

Air fryers for better health

Franke Reviewed.com | USA TODAY NETWORK

Looking for the best air fryer to buy? After years of extensive research and hands-on testing dozens of these small appliances, we can confidently say that the Ninja Speedi Rapid Cooker & Air Fryer is our top pick for your kitchen. h Its results are closest to using a deep fryer, making crispy, juicy foods, without the extra calories or trans fats. Plus, like many air fryers, it includes dishwasher-safe parts for easy cleanup. h Air fryers have become a popular, healthier alternative for making crispy chicken wings, french fries, tasty desserts, and easily frying frozen foods at the push of a button. Manufacturers have even started incorporating the technology into other kitchen appliances, including full-size ovens.

BEST OVERALL Ninja Speedi SF301

Convection and steam technologies make the new Ninja Speedi an air fryer and multicooker that’s capable of delivering complete meals in 15 minutes.

Pros

Excellent air fryer

Delivers complete meals quickly

Intuitive and easy to use

Cons

Bulky, industrial design

Lacks handles on pot and crisper tray

BEST VALUE

Cosori CP158-AF

Food from the Cosori Premium 5.8-Quart Air Fryer emerges crispy. And while it’s big and boxy, this air fryer still looks better than most.

Pros

Large capacity

Food comes out crispy

Digital

Parts are nonstick and dishwasher safe

Cons

Basket is tricky to remove

BEST AIR FRYER TOASTER OVEN

Cuisinart TOA-65

As an 1,800-watt toaster and air fryer, this can help you prepare a variety of delicious food products at anywhere from 80 to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

Pros Foods come out crispy Toasts evenly

Digital controls

Nonstick interior Cons

Baking requires time and temperature adjustments

Philips Premium Airfryer XXL

When it comes to air frying, this knocked it out of the park. The downside is that this is a big, heavy, machine that’s noisier than most.

Pros Huge capacity

No preheat required

Foods come out crispy Cons

Takes up a lot of space Noisy Heavy

To read more, go to: Reviewed.com/cooking/best-right-now/the-best-air-fryers

Cuisinart AFR-25

If you’re looking for an appliance to air fry and do it well, this Cuisinart is well worth your consideration.

Pros

Uncomplicated to program Doesn’t require preheating Foods come out crispy

Helpful manual Cons

Controls aren’t digital

Parts are not dishwasher safe or nonstick

Reviewed’s mission is to help you buy the best stuff and get the most out of what you already own. Our team of product experts thoroughly vet every product we recommend by testing them in our labs to help you cut through the clutter and find what you need

Sharon

TIM RENZI/REVIEWED COSORI

TIM RENZI/REVIEWED BETSEY GOLDWASSER/REVIEWED CUISINART

Get rid of cooking smells from your home

There’s something comforting about walking into a home filled with the aroma of good ol’ home cooking. Whether it’s your mom’s famous enchiladas or your husband’s Sunday morning bacon, food nourishes not only our bodies but also our souls, and the smell of it cooking feels like home. h However, there are times when you need to rid your home of cooking odors, too – no one wants their clothes to smell like last night’s burger. So, here are a few ways to get rid of cooking smells at home.

1. Use a charcoal splatter screen

Charcoal cooking screens, such as the popular KitchenAid Gourmet Odor Absorbing Cooking Screen, sit atop a pot or pan while cooking and filter odors before they have a chance to escape into your kitchen. Plus, it helps reduce splatter, so you don’t have stinky food residue hiding in places you can’t easily clean.

$22 at Amazon

2. Try an air purifier

Aside from helping to reduce allergens and kill airborne viruses, air purifiers also help to filter and remove odors from our homes. Look for an air purifier that excels at trapping VOCs like the Winix Air Purifier, placing one in your kitchen can help remove food odors.

$160 at Amazon

3. Clean your stove

Cooking is a messy task, with spills and splatter being inevitable. But leaving all that mess on your stove means that you are also leaving odors behind,

so make sure to give your stovetop a good scrubbing when you are done washing the dishes.

Pay attention to the side of the stove where food can drip and hide, and don’t forget to check underneath the hood vent where food splatter messes can hide and fester into unpleasant smells.

4. Turn on a vented hood range

If you are a regular in the kitchen, consider investing in a quality vented hood range, which vents cooking odors outdoors. This helps eliminate cooking odors before they escape the stove area.

Not all hood ranges are the same and some offer only subpar suction power, which is why regular chefs will want to

invest in this kitchen feature in the same way they invest in quality appliances, pans, and knives.

$225 at Amazon

5. Set out bowls of vinegar, baking soda, or coffee grinds

It may seem odd that by adding more smells to your kitchen you can reduce the cooking smells in your home, but vinegar, coffee grinds, and baking soda actually absorb and neutralize odors in the air.

By leaving individual bowls of them out overnight, you can help trap and eliminate odors; bonus, you can use this same method to remove the smell of skunk, cigarette smoke, and any other odor that lingers around your house.

6. Use an oil diffuser

Many people think of oil diffusers in connection with diffusing oils to boost your mood, calm your nerves, and possibly improve your immune system, but the potent oils also work to replace unpleasant odors in the home.

Stick with the oils bergamot, grapefruit, lemon, lime, mandarin, sweet orange, and tangerine to help neutralize cooking smells, since they are strong in

scent without being overbearing. An essential oil diffuser like the Saje Aroma Om is one of the best you can buy right now.

$98 at Saje

7. Spray fabrics with a deodorizer

Although most of the cooking cleanup happens in the kitchen, many cooked food smells actually settle into fabrics throughout the rest of your house. Spraying fabrics with a deodorizer like Febreze Unstopables is an easy way to eliminate cooking odors, and it only takes a few minutes.

A light mist of fabric deodorizer, paying special attention to the carpet, upholstered furniture, and curtains, is typically plenty to rid of cooking odors in your home.

$10 at Amazon

8. Clean your garbage disposal

Dark, wet, and prime for growing bacteria, your garbage disposal is one of the dirtiest things in your kitchen – you just can’t always see it. Cleaning a garbage disposal is as difficult as you might

11 ways to get rid of cooking smells from your home REVIEWED/WINIX/HONEYWELL/COSMO

Smells

imagine. With a little elbow grease you can get rid of food residue before it has time to start smelling like a three-day-old dinner.

For a quick and easy cleaning, drop an Affresh Garbage Disposal Cleaner Tablet down the drain.

$9 at Amazon

9. Light a scented candle

A tried and true tactic, lighting a scented candle is an easy way to reduce cooking smells from your home. Like the hood range, quality is key and a good scented candle will infiltrate your home in the same way cooking odors do and leave behind a long lasting pleasant scent.

Garlic smell out, Yankee Candle sparkling cinnamon smell in.

$16 at Amazon

10. Turn on a ceiling fan

A lack of air circulation is a common reason why cooking smells linger. In addition to opening your windows and doors, turning on an overhead fan, like the Honeywell Carnegie Ceiling Fan can help circulate the stinky air out faster.

Remember, stale air means day old smells, so fresh air is key.

$135 at Amazon

11. Simmer homemade potpourri

If cooking created this smelly problem, then cooking can also get rid of it. By simmering water with lemon peels, cloves, and cinnamon sticks for as little as 10 minutes, you can create the same circumstances that diffused unpleasant odors into your home, but this time diffusing pleasant odors into your home.

Try a pre-made mix like the Home Fragrance Potpourri Jar, Citrus & Sage.

$50 at Williams Sonoma

Cinnamon is the ultimate scent of the holiday season. REVIEWED/YANKEE CANDLE