The Costco Connection

FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK

I’M VERY FORTUNATE to have a backyard at my house. Over the years, we’ve worked hard to carve out a small, modest escape from the busy parts of life. Using Costco as the main source of supplies, we’ve slowly tackled various areas of the yard.

First came a ;ower garden in one corner, then landscaping rocks in another. We made a patio for a table and outdoor dining, and planted trees, shrubs and perennials wherever there was a bit of open space. In the summer we have raspberries and tomatoes, as well as colorful seasonal ;owers that attract hummingbirds and bees. We had a fence built around the yard to enclose it, and I added a little shed to store all the necessary tools, lawn mower and supplies.

We made sure to include meaningful personal objects: a beautiful, healthy sage plant from a special friend, a statue of St. Francis and a few pieces of homemade garden art.

There’s also a soccer ball, from when my three sons were young. I couldn’t throw it away.

The goal was to create a pleasant place to relax and entertain family and friends. I hadn’t anticipated a playground for raccoons.

One morning this past summer, I found the ball in the center of the yard. I thought the wind must have blown it, so I put it back near St. Francis. But time and again, the ball was back in the middle of the yard. I was thoroughly perplexed.

A few days later, the mystery was solved. Early one morning, in the quiet before full daylight, I happened to look out back. Three raccoon cubs were playing with the ball, wrestling and rolling with it. A larger raccoon—presumably mom, because males have no part in raising the young—was watching nearby. I watched with amusement, until the raccoons sensed the day was coming and ran o; under the fence.

I’m glad that humans and animals can enjoy our yard—as can my three grown sons when they come over. We’re lucky to have quiet places to relax, alone or with others, or raccoons. I hope you have a special place like mine. C

FROM THE PUBLISHER’S DESK

SPRING IS one of my favorite times of the year at Costco. In the warehouses, lots of space has been freed up to bring in flowers, shrubs and trees, as well as all the tools, fertilizers and other things needed for a beautiful garden. Our buyers work with a variety of suppliers to source the best live goods for spring, and each year they also look for a hot product or two for outdoor living activities.

Our cover story and the Home & Garden special section in this issue are all about making the most of the spaces in and around your home. One key message is that there is no shortage of wonderfully creative things you can do to improve the place you call home. For some perfect examples, check out the garage makeovers that members told us about, on page ;;.

I am a casual gardener with a modest yard. But I’m intrigued by the numerous creative options that go beyond the traditional ;ower and shrub garden along my backyard fence. Our cover story, on page ;;, describes several di;erent garden types. For example, container gardens can beautify a deck or balcony and are easy to start and maintain. In the rainy Paci;c Northwest, where I live, containers can start producing color and beauty just as winter is ending, and can keep going to the eve of next winter. Try some scented plants for a special touch!

If you love to cook, why not try growing your own herbs and vegetables? Nothing beats the wonderful freshness of something grown in your own yard.

When it comes to home improvement, remember Costco as you do your research;

we might be able to help you save money on your projects. If you’re remodeling, stop by the Special Order Kiosk in the warehouses. This program o;ers great deals on new garage doors, countertops, ;ooring, windo w coverings and more. Costco.com also o;ers a wide selection of home improvement products. This option is especially helpful if you’re buying something too big to ;t in your car.

If it seems too early in your region to get outside, and winter seems to be holding on, be reassured: March comes in like a lion, and goes out like a lamb. C

FRONTEND

The Costco Connection is published by Costco Wholesale. All editorial material, including editorial comments, opinion and statements of fact appearing in this publication, represents the views of the respective authors and does not necessarily carry the endorsement of Costco Wholesale or its officers. Information in The Costco Connection is gathered from sources considered to be reliable, but the accuracy of all information cannot be guaranteed. The publication of any advertisements is not to be construed as an endorsement of the product or service offered unless it is specifically stated in the ad that there is such approval or endorsement. Products advertised may not be available at all locations at the time of publication. Publishing offices are located at 999 Lake Drive, Issaquah, WA 98027. Copyright © 2018 Costco Wholesale.

PUBLISHER Sandy Torrey storrey@costco.com

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

Tim Talevich 425-313-6759 ttalevich@costco.com

EDITOR, U.S.

T. Foster Jones 425-313-6748 tod.jones@costco.com

EDITOR, CANADA

Stephanie E. Ponder 425-427-7134 sponder@costco.com

EDITOR, UK

Will Fifield 425-313-6988 wfifield@costco.com

ASSOCIATE EDITORS

Ron Damiani, Canada ron.damiani@costco.com

Sue Knowles, UK sknowles@costco.co.uk

Heather Seoyoung Lee, Korea hsylee@costcokr.com

Yuko Nakagawa, Japan connection@costco.co.jp

Abelardo Navarrete, Mexico anavarrete@costco.com.mx

Nora Wang, Taiwan norawang@costco.com.tw

REPORTERS

Steve Fisher steve.fisher@costco.com

Christina Guerrero cguerrero2@costco.com

Hana Medina hanamedina@costco.com

COPY EDITOR Miriam Bulmer

CONTRIBUTORS

Annette Alvarez-Peters, Roberta Carson, Shawna Coronado, Milly Dawson, Paul and Sarah Edwards, Adam Grant, Peter Greenberg, Rakesh Gupta, Amanda Horowitz, Judi Ketteler, Amy Keyishian, Kristin Kirkpatrick, Joelle Klein, Laura Langston, Elizabeth Lombardo, Suja Natarajan, Sherrie Newman, Suze Orman, Liz Pearson, Marc Saltzman