Better Homes and Gardens was founded in 1922[2] by Edwin Meredith, who had served as the United States Secretary of Agriculture under Woodrow Wilson and had previously founded the magazine Successful Farming.[3] The original title was Fruit, Garden and Home. The name was changed to Better Homes and Gardens beginning with the August 1924 issue.[3]
The first editor for the magazine was Chesla C. Sherlock.[4] One of Sherlock's contributions was an article series on "Homes of Famous Americans", which was also published as a series of books.[5]
Better Homes and Gardens is one of the "Seven Sisters", a group of women's service magazines.
Brand extension
The Meredith Corporation publishes a number of books on home economics and gardening under the BH&G brand, the best known of which is the Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book, colloquially known as the "Red Plaid" book. Now in its 15th edition (published in August 2010), the Red Plaid was originally published in 1930. Meredith also publishes the New Junior Cookbook for children learning to cook.
Meredith's broadcasting division began producing the television program Better in the fall of 2007, which is a lifestyle show which has a mix of content from Meredith's various magazine titles (included BH&G), consumer advice and celebrity interviews. The program would air on stations owned by Meredith, Scripps, Fisher and LIN TV groups.[6] Some Meredith-owned stations produce their own local edition of Better. The show was canceled in May 2015.
Mad Magazine published a satire in March 1958 (issue #38) titled "Bitter Homes and Gardens," including articles titled "They Built Their House on a Lot 22 Inches Wide" (A house built between two office buildings), a "How-The..." department which suggests putting a lawn on rollers so one can drag it "to a nearby spot where it's raining", and an article on how to convert a second bathroom into a basement (with a photo of the author's wife, who has just stepped out of the shower and covers herself with a towel). The magazine was also spoofed in the 1970s as "Bitter Homes and Garbage", in a set of "Crazy Magazine Covers" produced by Fleer.
In an episode of I Love Lucy, Lucy jokes about the magazine as, "Better Homes and Garbage" when she and Ethel redecorate Lucy's apartment.
Better Homes and Gardens is mentioned in the song "I Save Cigarette Butts" by Daniel Johnston.
In Little Shop of Horrors Audrey sings in "Somewhere That's Green" about how her dream house is a "picture out of Better Homes and Gardens magazine."
In country recording artist Miranda Lambert's 2010 hit single titled "The House That Built Me", there is a verse that says, "Mama cut out pictures of houses for years from Better Homes and Gardens magazine".
Brandon Flowers mentions the magazine in the song "The Clock Was Tickin" from his 2010 album Flamingo.
The Shel Silverstein song "One's on the Way" (made popular by Loretta Lynn) has the line "'Better Homes and Gardens' shows a modern way to live."
