GardeningTips to keep it green
PetsDr. Doolittler and more
Hot PropertyLuxury real estate here and elsewhere
A suite of 25 or 30 related butterflies in South Florida, including blues and hairstreaks, is in danger of disappearing, says one of the state's leading butterfly experts.
You can say anything you want about Raymond Baur, but you could never accuse him of leading an uneventful life. Nicamaka, a small shop in the lobby of the Grand Hotel in Miami filled with hundreds of brightly colored hammocks, is his idea and creation. It came about after he started traveling to Nicaragua, where he discovered ``the most comfortable hammocks in the world.''
SPRUCING UP
If you really want to impress your house guests, look no further than your bathroom. With some thoughtful decorating and accessorizing, you can transform your bathroom from a bland facilities center to a private oasis, a warm, soothing refuge where anything your guests desire will be at their fingertips.
FURNITURE
John and Valarie Feaster like contemporary decor and used a lot of it in their previous home in Fresno, Calif. But when they recently bought and restored a 100-year-old Colonial Revival-style house, ''we kind of switched'' because (of the house's age), says John Feaster, a retired dentist.
WASHINGTON REPORT
After six months of haggling and political gamesmanship, a massive housing relief bill is heading for final approval. The centerpiece is a $300 billion ''HOPE'' program designed to provide refinancing lifelines to as many as 400,000 homeowners in deep trouble on their current loans.
Your garage may be hopelessly cluttered and disorganized if any of the following circumstances have a familiar ring: When you open the garage door, you have to take a real close look to be sure your car is actually in there.
PERSONAL SPACES
If you're a perennial pack rat, cleaning out your closet might generate as much excitement as a 24-hour C-Span marathon. But even if you eagerly anticipate ''editing'' your wardrobe each time the seasons change, tidying your drawers, racks and bins can seem like an overwhelming task.
During the Victorian era, women used chaise lounges to sit on and to catch them when they fainted. While it's no longer common for them to wear corsets that can make them lightheaded, women still are the primary buyers of these accent furniture pieces, several furniture experts say. And even though retailers haven't necessarily seen a surge in customers demanding chaise lounges, they have noticed many more styles to pick from for practically any room of the house.
The first blast dropped in dead winter. Eye-popping color and bold patterns, the likes of which are usually embraced in summer months, were all over Pottery Barn bedding and furnishings and in other catalogs as well.
When a customer of Victoria Rogers' housecleaning business wanted to hire her to do some painting, Rogers agreed -- but only if she could use paint without fumes and toxic compounds.
Francisco Sheuat's artwork ranges from flat to flamingo. The elegant birds are his trademark. People seem to -- ahem -- flock to them.
DR. DOLITTLER
Q: Last week our pets surprised us during the Fourth of July fireworks in our neighborhood. It was louder than usual, so our pets, three dogs and one cat, all found places to hide. What can we do in the future to make them comfortable during this time of the year? Should we use sedatives?
Name: Lobster claw Botanical name: Heliconia rostrata Description: One of the more controllable heliconias, the dwarf form of lobster claw has the right scale for small gardens while producing a classic pendant inflorescence in green, yellow and red. The bracts that conceal small flowers are so finely sculpted they are works of art. The Heliconia Society shows several forms of rostrata on its website, and it's worth going to www.heliconiasocietypr.org/heliconia_cultivars6.htm to take a look. Originally...
PLANT CLINIC
Q: When is the best time to pick mangoes and avocados? A: Mangoes that ripen on the tree develop the best flavor. Ripe fruit will turn the characteristic color for that variety and begin to soften to the touch. Mature but not fully ripe fruit can be harvested when a distinct shoulder develops near the stem end of the fruit and the skin is at least half yellow.
EVENTS
Art Deco Welcome Tours: Join a 90-minute walking tour to learn about the Art Deco, Mediterranean Revival and Miami Modern styles found in the Miami Beach Architectural Historic District. Explore hotels, restaurants and other commercial structures. Tours depart from the Art Deco Welcome Center: 10:30 a.m. Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays; Art Deco Welcome Center, 1001 Ocean Dr., Miami Beach; $20, $15 for seniors and students, free for members. 305-672-2014.
ARTIST
At 94, Otto Heino has no time for false modesty. ''I am,'' he says, ``the oldest, richest potter in the world.'' With an output of 10,000 pieces a year, Heino might add ''most prolific'' to his list of superlatives. For more than six decades, the Ojai artist has been the workhorse of post-World War II ceramics, one of the artisans who transformed California crafts into a national design movement in the 1950s to '70s. Now that home furnishings are falling in step with a burgeoning green movement...
 |
•
View a complete list of Experts |
|
|
| Doors and Windows: • Secure Windows and Doors |
