HOME & Real Estate Weekly June 5, 2010 Longmont Times-Call www.YourFrontRangeHome.com P P l l a a n n t t e e d d b b u u l l b b s s c c r r e e a a t t e e a a n n i i n n s s t t a a n n t t s s u u m m m m e e r r l l o o o o k k P P r r i i c c i i n n g g s s t t i i l l l l g g o o o o d d f f o o r r h h o o m m e e b b u u y y e e r r s s O O u u t t d d o o o o r r S S t t y y l l e e P P l l a a n n t t n n o o w w f f o o r r f f a a l l l l d d e e c c o o r r
2 Times-Call / Home & Real Estate Weekly June 5, 2010
By Carol O’Meara, C o lo r a d o
State University Extension
There are 172 days untilThanksgiving, so you’d betterhurry if you plan on decoratingthis year. For a cornucopia of col-or, get your seeds in the groundbefore June 15, popping in every-thing you need to stuff that hornin November.
Start by planting two staples offall decor – miniature gourds andtiny pumpkins. These must-haveaccents nestle into centerpiecesand are easy to grow in our hot,dry summer. Each vine producesenough fruit to make any decora-tor happy, but because they like toramble, give them room or trainthem up a trellis.
Customize your plants to fityour decorator’s style, by plantinga mix of orange and white minipumpkins. If you favor a flatpumpkin, orange Jack be Little orwhite Baby Boo is what you need.But for perfectly round, miniatureJack O’ Lanterns, check out LittleOctober at Botanical Interests( b o t a n i c a l i n t e re s t s . c o m ) .
For a striking red accent, grow
Love Lies Bleeding(Amaranthus cauda-tus), an amaranthwith long, pendulousseed heads. Plant infull sun, giving these3-to-4 feet tall plantselbow room and astake for support. Wa-ter, but keep them abit on the dry side.Clip mature flowersand hang them in acool, dark location todry. Seeds of change (seed-sofchange.com) has this.
Ornamental corn is available ina variety of sizes and colors, fromdiminutive, 2-inch strawberryears to huge, nine-inch SenecaRed Stalker whose stalks and earsdelight in fall on porches, tablesand doors. Directly sow seeds infull sun, planting at least fiverows to ensure pollination. Wateroften so ears get large, then waitto harvest until after the silk turnscompletely brown and the kernelsare dry and hard.
Pluck the ears from the stalk bypulling them down, peel back the
husk to reveal the ker-nels, and then hangupside down in a cool,dry location that isfree of mice. Leave thehusk attached to thecob for a decorativelook, or peel it com-pletely off before dry-ing the ears. For alarge selection of col-ors and sizes, checkout Seed Savers Ex-change (seedsavers
. o rg ) .
Normally seen springing upfrom straw mulch by accident,wheat is an unusual addition tocut flower gardens. But its spiky,bearded seed heads are gorgeousin arrangements and bundled insheaves on the table. Plant it likegrass seed by sowing onto a pre-pared bed, covering it with one-quarter-inch of soil. Keep theground moist but not water-logged. Johnny’s Selected Seedshas black tipped wheat, or try Sil-ver Tip, a wheat/rye cross withhuge seed heads (johnnyseeds.com).
Small to medium sized sun-flowers are cheerful in dried ar-rangements, and keep long intothe fall. Harvest when flowers arepartially open, cutting the stemoff at the length you want for ar-ranging. Then bundle the sun-flowers into groups of three, mak-ing sure the heads aren’t touch-ing, tie with twine and hang themupside down in a cool, dark placeto dry. The flowers will unfurl asthey dry.
Try the pollen-less Pro Cutsunflower series; the orange, yel-low peach and bi-color bloomswere developed for cut floweruse. Johnny’s Selected Seeds hasthem.
Make your own fall wreath orswag with broomcorn (Sorghum
bicolor). The name is misleading– this isn’t corn – but the seedsprays of this sorghum come inbronze, burgundy, black andcream. Harvest after the seedheads have colored up, but beforethe stalk becomes hard andwoody. Cut the stem, then hangthe sprays upside down to dry.But if you want them to have adecorative arch once dried, standthem up in a vase for drying. Vic-tory seeds has an heirloom mix(victor yseeds.com).
Carol O’Meara is a horticulture ento-mologist with the Colorado State Uni-versity Extension office at the BoulderCounty Fairgrounds in Longmont. Con-tact her by calling 303-678-6238 or e-mailing [email protected]. Formore gardening tips, check out her blogat gardeningafterfive.wordpress.com.
Carol O’Meara
Colorado StateUniversity Extension
Plant early for gourds. (Courtesy Carol O’Meara)
Plant now for fall decor
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June 5, 2010 Times-Call / Home & Real Estate Weekly 3
News and Press ReleasesHome & Real Estate Weekly welcomes news
on hirings, advancements, awards, classes andother information of interest to the real estate andhome community. Please submit information tothe editor by e-mail, fax 303-774-8088 or mail to350 Terry St., Longmont, CO 80501. The dead-line is Monday at 5 p.m. the week of publication.
On the CoverYellow Non-Stop Begonias add summer color. See story above. (Netherlands Flower Bulb Center)
Kristi Ritter
Summer Stair
AdvertisingThe display advertising deadlineis Tuesday at 3 p.m., and theclassified line advertising deadlineis Thursday at 3 p.m. – boththe week of publication. Foradvertising information, call720-494-5445.
Instant SummerPotted bulbs add color, style
Netherlands Flower Bulb Center
Women know that the perfect twist ofsilk scarf can catapult an ordinary outfit in-to a fashion achievement. There’s a joyousinsouciance that prevails in such moments.Gardeners feel this thrill too – substitutethe perfect plant for the perfect scarf andyou understand the appeal of summerbulbs. Placed with strategic aplomb, thesesublime sub-tropical plants lend glamourto otherwise ordinary yards and gardens.
To sweeten the pot, smart garden retail-ers are dishing up a broader range of pre-grown summer bulbs as potted beddingplants, thus making such treasures as tuft-ed burgundy pineapple lilies (Eucomis),shimmering black-flowered callas (Zant-edeschia) and burgundy-splashed iron-cross shamrocks (Oxalis) accessible foreven the most novice gardener.
Now, a new Summer Bulb Primer onwww.bulb.com uses Flash technology todish the dirt on top summer bulbs in an en-tertaining fashion. Newly-updated,bulb.com is the website of the NetherlandsFlower Bulb Information Center in Danby,Vt. It’s a non-commercial information sitefilled with images and easy-to-follow how-to videos.
H e re ’s a quick look at the top 10 summerbulbs covered in the Primer. All are readilyavailable from garden retailers as barebulbs or professionally pre-grown pottedplants for instant color.
• Begonias – Most bulb plants love sun,but begonias are shade dwellers and one ofthe few that bloom so exuberantly in low-light settings. Short in stature, begoniashave large dense flowers with ruffled petalsin rich shades of red, yellow, white, cham-pagne, pink or orange.
• Caladium – Another shade lover, cala-diums are known for colorful “painted”heart-shaped leaves in mixes of greens,whites, pinks or reds. Some are solid col-ored, others sport spots, flares or blushes.Caladiums can handle more sun if keptwell watered.
• Calla (aka Zantedeschia) – A romanticchoice for bridal bouquets, calla lilies wereonce available primarily in white or softest
pink. Today, these lovely summer flowersare also available in red, orange, yellow,rust, lavender, pale green, gold, purple andnear-black. In the garden or the vase, thecalla’s chalice-shaped flowers and luxuri-ous leaves are elegant and long-lasting.Grow in full sun to partial shade.
• Canna – Cannas are garden peacocks,strutting their magnificent foliage. Theycome in dwarf (18 to 36 inches) and tall(3 to 12 feet) versions. Their broad leavesin shades of green, brown, burgundy,black and multicolored stripes are sodramatic that their fluttery flowers seemirrelevant. Still the flowers are an addedtreat, worn aloft like little cocktail hats.Grow in full sun, also suited to watergardens, if desired.
• Dahlia – Razzle-dazzle dahlias are thesurprise of the decade. Once pooh-poohedby the genteel set for their raucous colorsand exuberant shape shifting, dahlias todayare prized for these same traits. Count ondahlias to anchor the late season garden,blooming their hearts out, till frost slows
them down. Plant dahlias in full sun. Cutflowers for the vase any time you like, butdefinitely snip off faded flowers. You’ll behappy you did, because the more you cutdahlias, the more flowers they produce.
• Elephant Ears – Under this monikerthree elephantine-types are pooled – Colo-casia esculenta, Alocasia, Xanthosoma – allearmarked by elongated, outsized, heart-shaped leaves. These tender toughies tendto transform ho-hum settings into tropicalholiday havens. Different varieties have dif-ferent looks, with green, chartreuse, blackor striped foliage. Their heights vary wide-ly, ranging from 12 inches to 6 feet. Ele-phant ears like sun, partial shade, evendeep shade. Suited to water gardens, ifd e s i re d .
• Gloriosa – How truly odd: a summerbulb vine that pulls itself aloft by throwingtiny green tendrils from its leaf tips, its ex-otic flowers draped here and there like somany huge energetic spiders. Gloriosa liliesboast striking, streamlined petals so deeplyreflexed they’re bent back. They are sun
lovers that relish any bit of support, scram-bling up a trellis or obelisk, happy to hitcha ride to another woody vine or shrub.When the flower show is over, gloriosakeep going. Their fat undulated seedpodsprovide garden interest well into fall. Lookfor varieties with red-and-yellow, orange oryellow flowers.
• Lily – While most summer bulbs arefrost sensitive tender bulbs, lilies are hardyperennial bulbs and can be planted in ei-ther spring or fall. They are often consid-ered the queens of the summer garden in anod to their regal bearing and sophisticatedflowers. Many are wonderfully fragrant, toboot. Lily styles, colors and looks abound –especially now.
• Pineapple Lilies (Eucomis) – C e rt a i n l ythis bulb flower is reminiscent of the tuftedtropical fruit. With its 15-inch spire of tinyg re e n i s h –white (or wine-colored) flowersatop a base of broad, strappy green leaves,eucomis are decidedly dramatic. As pottedplants, they’re spectacular.
4 Times-Call / Home & Real Estate Weekly June 5, 2010
Special to the Times-Call
Rosa ‘Princess Alexandra of Kent’ – re -peat-flowering English Old Rose Hybridwith approximately 130 petals.
David Austin named this rose for PrincessAlexandra, a cousin of Queen Elizabeth IIwho is a keen gardener and great lover ofro s e s .
The rose that bears her name has unusual-ly large flowers of a warm, glowing pink.They are full petalled and deeply cupped,the ring of soft pink outer petals enclosingthe warm pink inner petals to create a mostpleasing effect.
In spite of their size, they are never clum-sy, being held nicely poised on a well-round-ed shrub. Because of their size, there is a lotto be said for planting in groups of three,keeping both flowers and growth nicely bal-anced.
They have a delicious fresh tea fragrancewhich, interestingly, changes completely tolemon as the flower ages – eventually takingon additional hints of blackcurrants. It isvery healthy. Size: 3.5-by-2.5 feet. Hardiness:USDA zones five to nine.
David Austin 2010 Intro Water SavingsArticle Resource Association
The summer months are right aroundthe corner, and water conservation willundoubtedly be brought to the forefrontfor those who are impacted by seasonaldroughts and water usage restrictions intheir towns.
According to the Environmental Pro-tection Agency, at least 36 states anticipatelocal, regional or statewide water short-ages by 2013, even under non-droughtconditions.
“The reality is that water conservationis a responsibility that we all share, re-gardless of location,” says Carol AnneKemper, product manager, Delta FaucetCompany. “By making small changesaround the house and to our daily rou-tines, we can make a significant impact onour water supplies without feeling asthough we’re sacrificing our comforts orexperience.”
She suggests starting with the homebathroom, where the water-saving poten-tial is great. “The EPA estimates thatAmericans use roughly 3.3 billion gallonsof water each day just for showering,”Kemper says. “We can bring that numberdown by taking a slightly shorter showeror using a water-saving showerhead.”
It seems to be abundant, but water is arelatively scarce resource. Less than 1 per-cent of the world’s fresh water is readilyaccessible for direct human use. Here area few tips that you can follow to reduceyour water consumption in the bath.
• Install a water-efficient showerhead.By installing a water-efficient showerhead,the average four-person household canpotentially save an estimated 11,000 gal-lons of water per year.
• Fix a leaky faucet. According to theEPA, a leaky faucet dripping at the rate ofone drip per second can waste more than3,000 gallons per year.
• Learn to reuse and recycle. Don’tpour water down the drain when theremay be another use for it, such as water-
ing plants or cleaning.• Turn off the water. According to the
EPA, a bathroom faucet usually runs at 2gallons of water per minute. By turningoff the water while brushing your teeth orshaving, you can save more than 200 gal-lons of water per month.
• Switch to a high-efficiency toilet. Ahigh-efficiency toilet uses less than 1.3gallons per flush, leading to an average of20 percent less water per flush when com-pared to the industry standard of 1.6 gal-lons.
For those who want to conserve waterin the bath but are concerned about sacri-ficing their desired shower experience,Delta Faucet offers its award-winning, ex-clusive H2Okinetic technology that blan-kets the body while using less water. Thetechnology manages droplet size, velocity,spray coverage and thermal dynamics,which results in larger water droplets thatretain heat longer. The combination of themassaging effect and a denser spray pat-tern creates a coverage, resulting in watersavings of approximately 36 percent.
In conjunction with manufacturers,leading organizations are also taking onwater conservation as a serious issue. InMarch 2010, the EPA established its Wa-terSense specifications for showerheads topromote water efficiency in the shower,product performance and quality.
Delta Faucet Co. was the first to earnthe WaterSense designation for shower-heads, and currently more than 50 percentof its products meet the latest WaterSensespecification. Those showerheads andhandshowers that meet these WaterSenserequirements use about 20 to 40 percentless water than the industry standard.
Effortless ways to conserve in the home
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June 5, 2010 Times-Call / Home & Real Estate Weekly 5
Market prime for homebuyersBy Scott Van Voorhis
b a n k r at e . c o m
If you missed the April 30 homebuyertax-credit deadline without snagging ahouse, pat yourself on the back: You justmay turn out to be one of the lucky ones.
While the credit is now history, buyersmay be able to make up that money – andthen some – through some shrewd house-hunting throughout the next two months,industry experts say.
“Savvy buyers can put their feet back intothe market,” says Rona Fischman, principalbroker at 4 Buyers Real Estate in Cam-bridge, Mass. “It will be more sane and lessof a seller’s market.”
Thanks to the tax credit, buyers came in-to the market in the past year who other-wise might have waited on the sidelines,says Olivier Garret, chief executive officerof Casey Research in Stowe, Vt.
Because the credit pulled demand for-ward, competition among buyers is set toplummet just as the spring market tradi-tionally peaks in May and June. That couldcreate bargains for buyers.
Several factors may put downward pres-sure on home prices and increase seller des-peration throughout the next few months,according to some economists and marketobser vers.
Home-mortgage rates may climb nowthat the Federal Reserve has ended its cam-paign of buying up $1.25 trillion in mort-gage-backed securities. In addition, inven-tory levels may swell as more foreclosuresand short sales come onto the market.
All of these factors could cause demandfor homes to soften. Garret is predicting an-other step down in home prices across theUnited States by year’s end.
“Nationwide, prices are going to go backdown,” Garret says. “We anticipate a de-cline in pricing in 2010 of 10 percent.”
For buyers who are employed and notburdened by debt issues, the weeks ahead
may turn out to be a great period for bar-gain-hunting. Real-estate agents and hous-ing-market experts offer the following tipsfor buyers who want to take advantage ofthe new sweet spot in the market:
• Maximize seller desperation. Sellersmay be ready to make a deal, especially ifthey thought they had an agreement linedup before the tax-credit deadline, only tosee it fall through.
Careful reading of MLS records may offerinsights into whether a seller is sufferingfrom such post-tax credit blues. For exam-ple, the property’s listing history mightshow it was placed under agreement in theweeks leading up to the expiration of thetax credit, only to be put up for sale againlater. A broker can be especially helpful inuncovering such clues.
“The seller is probably going to be moremotivated after suffering a disappoint-ment,” says Barry Nystedt, a board memberand former president of the Avondale, Ariz.-based National Association of ExclusiveBuyer Agents.
• Practice psychological warfare. Sellersdetermined to hold out for a higher pricemay require some subtle reminders aboutthe true state of the market, says Mitch Rib-ak, broker-owner of eHomes Realty Net-work and Tropical Realty in Suntree, Fla.
In a bid to get some sellers to move, Rib-ak has reminded them the tax credit won’tbe coming back and the competition willonly mount as foreclosures roll onto themarket.
• Be choosy but open-minded. Homebuy-ers may not find the range of selection theyexpect in today’s market. For starters, thesurge of buying that took place before thetax-credit deadline may have put a tempo-rary dent in your local market’s inventory.Also, new homes coming onto the marketare more likely to be foreclosures and shortsales.
There are good homes out there, thoughsome may be diamonds in the rough.
By Helaine Fendelman and Joe
R o ss o n
Scripps Howard News Service
Dear Helaine and Joe: Attachedare photographs of a knickknack thatwas handed down by my motheryears ago. It seems like it was in ourkitchen for ages. Stamped on thebottom is “c” in a circle followed by“1961,” “Inarco,” “E-19” and “o/c.” Iwould like to know what the valuemight be. Thank you, L.R.G.
Dear L.R.G.: Head vases were made ina staggering variety of styles by an amaz-ing number of companies.
Many were imported from Japan afterthe end of World War II, but others weremade in this country by such firms asShawnee Pottery of Zanesville, Ohio; theCeramics Art Studio of Madison, Wis.;DeLee Art and Ruth Sloan, both of LosAngeles; Florence Ceramics of Pasadena,Calif.; and Betty Lou Nichols Ceramicsof La Habra, Calif.
However, most head vases found ontoday’s collectibles market were import-ed from Japan by such companies asNAPCO, Enesco, Fitz and Floyd, INAR-CO and Lefton.
NAPCO is the acronym of the Nation-al Potteries Corporation, which wasfounded in 1938 in Bedford, Ohio, but
in the 1970s it was listed as being locat-ed in Cleveland. NAPCO imported fromJapan a variety of novelty and giftwareitems.
In the 1940s, Irwin Garber joined thecompany and is said to have been in-strumental in the development of thehead vase planters.
It is said that Garber designed manyof the head vases that were subsequentlymade in Japan, and that his wife some-times served as the model and inspira-tion.
Interestingly, this model, with itsberibboned black hat and hand heldgracefully near the face, is often identi-fied with Hollywood star Lana Turner(1921-1995).
The example in today’s question ap-pears to be in good condition, with boththe pearl earrings intact and its originalpearl necklace. The blush on the cheeksappears to be unmarred, as does theblack on the eyelashes, hat and off-the-shoulder dress.
It has an insurance-replacement valueof between $150 and $175.
Helaine Fendelman and Joe Rosson are theauthors of “Price It Yourself” ( H a r p e r Re s o u r c e ,$19.95). Contact them at Treasures in YourAttic, P.O. Box 18350, Knoxville, TN 37928.E-mail them at [email protected].
Knickknackholds littlevalue
Johnson awardedgreen designation
Kim R. Johnson with Wright Kingdomhas been awarded the National Associationof Realtors Green Designation, the onlygreen real estate professional designation byNAR.
Johnson achieved this prestigious desig-nation after completing 18 hours of coursework that were created in collaborationwith a multidisciplinary team of industryexperts nationwide, ensuring designeesgain comprehensive knowledge of greenhomes and buildings and issues of sustain-ability in relation to real estate. He wastrained in understanding what makes a
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Johnson
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6 Times-Call / Home & Real Estate Weekly June 5, 2010
Light up your nightsStarry evenings and backyard entertainment go hand-in-hand.
When the sun goes down, the right landscape lighting can turn anybackyard into a stylish outdoor living space. Try these ideas:
• Keep your lighting simple. Start with one main lighting sourceand add accent lighting to highlight garden features.
• For illuminating your entryway, deck and patio, use lightingthat mimics moonlight, like new solar-powered lighting systems.
• Stagger path lights. Be creative.• Skip the complicated wiring and costly electric bills by using
new solar lights.• With energy costs rising, people are looking for ways to cut
costs. Decorative lights illuminate specific areas but draw onenergy, have wires that need to be hidden and need replacementbulbs.
– ARA
Selling your home in tough timesArticle Resource Association
A few years ago, it seemed likeyou could stake a “for sale” signoutside your home and within a fewhours you would have multiple of-fers. Not anymore. Today’s tougheconomic times mean that homesellers need to do their homework,take a more assertive role in mar-keting their home and, at times, getcreative to help their home standout from others that are on the mar-ket.
Regardless of how tough thetimes are, the fact remains that anice home, well maintained, in adesirable neighborhood, and pricedright will sell more quickly than ahome that hasn’t been kept up orhasn’t been priced according towhat other homes in the neighbor-hood would sell for. Whetheryou’re selling your home as part ofdownsizing your lifestyle or you’reseeking a larger home for a growingfamily, the following steps offeredby FindLaw.com, one of the na-tion’s leading online sources for realestate law, can pay dividends inhelping you achieve a quick saleand a price that reaches your goal.
Assemble your TeamMost sellers prefer to work with a
real estate agent or a lawyer at somepoint in the process. In fact, in ahandful of U.S. states, a lawyermust help finalize the sale. Real es-tate agents typically charge a com-mission, about 6 percent, to be splitbetween your agent and the buyer’sagent, if any. Lawyers normallycharge by the hour.
Conduct a Pre-InspectionMany states require a home in-
spection report as part of a disclo-sure form before placing a home onthe market. To make sure yourhome passes the test, hire a third-party home inspector to conduct apre-inspection of your home tohelp you make repairs and updates
before an official inspection.
Conduct a CompA “comp” is shorthand among re-
al estate agents for comparing yourhome to similar types of homes inyour area with similar features.This process will help you deter-mine a price range for your home.
Review Actual Selling PricesOf course, list prices don’t tell
you how much houses ultimatelysell for – that’s the comparable datayou need. In a hot market, housesmight go for well over list price,and vice versa.
Go to Open HousesSellers need to understand what
others are doing and offering to selltheir homes. The best way to dothat is to go to as many open hous-es in your area and take note ofwho the potential buyers are, theirfeedback on nearby homes, andwhat sellers are offering potentialbuyers in terms of incentives.
Make your Home as AttractiveBuyers will pay thousands of dol-
lars for a home that is tastefullydecorated and appears in ready-to-move-in condition. The first placeto start is to declutter. Put away anypersonal items or items of expres-sion that would detract a buyerfeeling at home.
Hold an Open HouseMany home sellers find open
houses a useful tool. They’re cer-tainly good for bringing in thecrowds. In deciding when to holdan open house, look for opportuni-ties when your area attracts a largenumber of people.
Price AggressivelyAs the seller, of course you
would like to get every nickel out ofselling your home. The balancingact is finding the right price whereyou don’t have to cut it multipletimes, or a price that is so low that apotential buyer might think there’ssomething wrong with it.
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June 5, 2010 Times-Call / Home & Real Estate Weekly 7
Design a fun yetfunctional kids room
Article Resource Association
Parents and children rarely have thesame decorating tastes when the timecomes to redo a child’s room. But don’tworry – with a few tricks, you can create astylish bedroom that is fun and functionalfor your child.
“Your child’s bedroom is the one roomin the house they call their own,” says JeffNokkeo, academic director for Interior De-sign at The Art Institute of California – SanFrancisco. “Allowing your child to create asense of identity and personal space willhelp both of you to love the new decor.”
Here are some decorating tips that willhelp keep the whole family happy:
• Talk to your child about his or her vi-sion for the room. Then select a colorpalette and theme together. What are herlikes and dislikes? Does he have a favoritehobby or activity he likes to do? Incorpo-rating some of the child’s design ideas intothe room will help make it feel like his orher own.
• Does she want overpowering or brightcolors? “Compromise by using a neutralwall color in the room and adding punchand color with accessories and accents likebedding, lamps, wall art and other decora-tions,” Nokkeo suggests.
Both furniture manufacturers and homedecor companies have special sections forchildren, so there are plenty of options tochoose from. H e re ’s a look at some of thehottest trends for children’s bedrooms.
For GirlsIt’s all about bright colors for girls, from
purple to lime green to the ever-popularpink. Retro patterns are making a come-back, and they may look familiar to momswho had something similar when theywere young. But make no mistake: Thesepatterns are updated with a twist for a fun,funky look.
For example, Montgomery Ward fea-tures a personalized Sweetheart Pillow andThrow that will keep your daughter cozy
while sleeping. The set includes a throw(49 by 60 inch) that’s soft plush on oneside and silky smooth on the other and amatching 15-inch square pillow. Addingitems that can be personalized with a nameor favorite phrase, like this blanket, is away to make your child feel like the roomtruly is her special place. Choose pink withblack embroidery or black with pink em-broidery. The throw is machine washable,a good thing to note when choosing itemsfor a child’s room since little hands can bem e s s y.
For BoysIf your little guy loves sports, choose ac-
cessories that have his favorite professionallogo on them, such as a bedspread orposter. If your son isn’t a sports nut, youcan incorporate any interest into affordabledecor that will personalize the room. Forexample, if your son loves to play Army,add some camouflage curtains. Does helike science? Add a wall mural of the solarsystem. And if you don’t have a theme towork with, just choose his favorite colorsand find accessories that incorporate thatc o l o r.
For BothFunctionality is important in a child’s
room. Adding items like a desk or table towork on is a great idea. Montgomery Wardhas a great option for younger childrencalled the ABC Table and Chair Set thatgives little ones a special place for drawing,snacking and other activities.
Organization is also important in achild’s room. Consider adding a decorativetoy chest, closet organizers and storagebins to your child’s room to help avoidclutter. Encourage children to only takeout one or two toys at a time so their roomremains stylish and clean. Once they havea system to follow and know that their fa-vorite teddy bear is in the chest at the endof the bed, they’ll be more likely to put itaway when they’re done using it for easyaccess later.
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8 Times-Call / Home & Real Estate Weekly June 5, 2010
Addingto your
landscape
By Kim Palmer
Minneapolis Star Tribune
An edible landscape can be am-bitious or as simple as tucking afew edible plants among the orna-mentals in your existing beds orcontainer gardens. Here are somesuggestions.
• Lettuce: Leaf lettuces come inmany textures and colors, making
them great substitutes for flowers,says University of Minnesota horti-culturist Emily Tepe. She recom-mends red oak leaf lettuce andMizuna mustard.
• Sculptural veggies: Dinosaurkale, with its distinctive pebbly leaftexture, is an attractive addition toedible landscapes, suggests JulieWeisenhorn, state director of the
University of Minnesota Exten-sion’s Master Gardener program.
• Edible flowers: Consider signetmarigolds, which have an attractivemounded form, as well as pansiesand nasturtiums.
• Perfect pair: Plant thyme withsweet alyssum, Tepe suggests.
• Think ahead: Edibles withlarge heads, such as broccoli and
cauliflower, can be tricky becauseharvesting them leaves a big hole inthe landscape. Consider plantingthem among an ornamental plantthat spreads, such as trailing petu-nias, Tepe says.
• Edible edging: Many edibleplants make attractive borders, in-cluding strawberries, lavender ando re g a n o .
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