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Most of us buy antiques we can live with -- comfortable chairs, dishes that go in a dishwasher, desks that can be used with a computer and vases for flowers. But great wealth allows collectors to buy antiques to look at, not use. They can afford the high prices and the hidden costs of insurance, huge rooms, security systems and loss of interest on the money that was spent on a work of art.

We know a collector who bought a Jackson Pollock painting for more than $10 million. The required yearly expense to look at that picture in his dining room was $50,000 (interest lost by spending the money); plus the cost of fine-art insurance, about $20,000; and the added expense of security. Total cost per year to own the painting: more than $70,000.

A much-less-expensive but still pricey antique, a Meissen porcelain-mounted desk, auctioned recently for $54,500. It is an expensive and impractical but rare and beautiful antique. Once taken home, it will cost $2,750 in lost interest on the money, plus about $150 for insurance and more for security. Total: more than $2,900 per year to admire the desk.

The writing bureau (desk) is covered with hand-painted Meissen porcelain plaques surrounded by dore bronze mounts. Showpiece furniture was not made for the general public, but was popular with the aristocracy. This desk was made about 1878, perhaps for an important international exhibition.

It is said the surest sign of wealth is a massive flower arrangement. It is expensive, lasts a few days, then is gone. It gives joy while it lasts, but is not an investment like a diamond ring. Will your collectible earn its keep by giving you joy, or will it go up in value and make money?

Botanical name: Mertensia virginica

Where: Woodland Wildflower Garden and Perennial Border

Description: A perennial that has smooth, soft, blue-green foliage and loads of two-toned, bell-shaped flowers that hang down from the stems in clusters. One-inch-long pink flower buds turn blue as they open, resembling blue bells. Flowers from late March to early June. Reaches a mature height and spread of 18 inches.

Growing tips: Best grown in light shade to partial sun in moist wooded areas with rich soil. Virginia bluebells are referred to as ephemerals because they go dormant and disappear after flowering. Plants spread by seedlings and will colonize a large area that is to their liking.

Uses: Good companion to daffodils. Also good mixed with hostas and ferns that will cover bare spots left by the dormant bluebells.

Q:Do you have any pointers for keeping switch plates looking fresh?

A:If you plan on painting your switch plates, upkeep will depend entirely on the type of paint you choose. Latex-based coatings with a glossy finish are the easiest to clean. Simply wipe off smudges and fingerprints with a soft cloth dipped in a solution of warm water and a drop of mild dishwashing detergent. Flat paints, on the other hand, have a rough texture that traps dirt and leaves streak marks, so they are difficult to keep looking bright.

There are more creative ways to protect switch plates. You could cover them in pretty patterned paper, for example. Art-supply and crafts stores offer an array of options, but you might consider old maps or other papers with an interesting design.

Trace the switch plate onto the back of the paper, making sure it's aligned properly. Then cut out the template and adhere it with craft glue or positionable mounting adhesive. Cut holes for the light switch and screws. Seal the paper with water-based urethane, available at hardware stores.

Besides protecting the surface from tears, the sealer will make the paper washable with soap and water. For a variation on this idea, cover a switch plate with patterned cotton fabric. Follow the same procedure, substituting fabric glue and treating the surface with a stain repellent.

When I've had a hard day, I trudge through my back door and beeline straight up the stairs to my own private oasis: my master bath. After a long soak in the tub, I emerge with pruned fingers and a smile, relaxed and ready to take on the world again.

Would you like to transform your own bath into a private sanctuary where you're refreshed and revived? Here are a few tips to get you started.

A color palette

Sensational bathrooms have got to have a little something that makes them memorable, and a pop of color or pattern could do just the trick. When considering the hues for your bath, decide what type of overall feel you want to achieve in the space. Do you want it to be restful or spunky? Glamorous or rustic? To make sure the bathroom harmonizes with adjoining rooms, pick a complementary palette or repeat the same colors in both rooms.

This spring, when I decided to repaint my master bathroom, I knew I wanted a bright and bold color that was so cheerful I couldn't look at it without grinning. Since the lower two-thirds of the walls are covered in bead board painted a soothing cream, I went wild and painted the upper wall and ceiling a vibrant Gooseberry Green. It's perfect for my little sanctuary.

Q:I am tired of my high electric bills and consuming so much fossil fuel (coal, gas and oil). I like the idea of using a small windmill to produce my own electricity. What are the options for a house?

A:There are many options for using wind power to generate your own electricity. The first step is to contact your local weather service to check on the average wind speed in your area. Various wind turbine sizes and designs begin producing electricity at different minimum wind speeds.

Knowing the average and wind speed ranges, you can estimate how much electricity a given system will produce. Keep in mind, wind speeds on a specific lot can vary significantly from regional averages depending on its topography. Consider renting a wind speed meter for an extended test period.

Other than the fossil fuels used for the initial production of the wind turbine equipment, its delivery to and erection at your home, it is a completely clean, green source of electricity. Since the wind currents across the Earth are created by the sun's uneven heating, wind energy is actually an indirect form of solar energy.

The best wind turbine option depends upon your specific energy needs. Ones as small as 400-watt output can provide supplemental electricity for a specific appliance or application. Large ones, by residential standards, produce 10 kilowatts, enough for an entire house.

Giveaways of rain gauges, 300 tree seedlings and flower seeds will be among the festivities when Derby celebrates Arbor Day on Friday.

The celebration will start at 6 p.m. at the High Park enclosed shelter, 2700 E. Madison. It is free and open to the public.

There will be a moonwalk, free refreshments, a coloring table for children and an appearance by Sprig the Squirrel as well as the planting of an Arbor Day tree.

The event is sponsored by the city of Derby and the Derby Parks & Urban Forestry Board.

Chip Taylor of Monarch Watch will give a free lecture on how to set up monarch way stations at 10 a.m. April 26 at Dyck Arboretum of the Plains in Hesston.

Taylor is an entomologist at the University of Kansas who leads efforts through Monarch Watch to track and preserve monarch butterflies. Planting milkweed and other wildflowers for them on their migration routes is one way to make up for the habitat that is being lost to development and other causes, the way station program says.

Taylor will talk about how to plant these way stations in home and other gardens.

The seminar will take place during the members-only days of the arboretum's spring FloraKansas sale of native plants. The seminar is open to the public. To make reservations, call Dyck Arboretum at 620-327-8127.

The plant sale will be open to the public on May 10 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., May 11 from noon to 4 p.m., and on May 12 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Here are some of the questions the Sedgwick County master gardeners fielded this week on their hotline. The master gardeners answer questions from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m. weekdays at 316-722-7721.

How do you remove Star of Bethlehem from lawns?

Until now, the only control had been removal with a trowel (it works, but you must be very persistent). Research from Virginia Tech shows 96 percent success using a product containing carfentrazone (found in the consumer lawn-care products Weed Free Zone and Speed Zone and in the commercial-applicator lawn care product Quicksilver).

What are beaver-resistant trees that can be planted near water?

Beavers prefer deciduous trees over conifers, but may chew on any species. In beaver-prone areas, it is best to loosely wrap the tree trunk with hail screen. Check the screens yearly and loosen the wire or put on a larger cage.

very year you can tell some of the new plants being introduced by the names that immediately date them.

In addition to the usual women's names (Christa heuchera) and the should-I -know-this person? names (Mr. Morse brunnera), the cutesy names (Yella Fella oenothera) and the literally descriptive (Pink Lanterns columbine), follow these 2008 themes in perennials:

• Wine: Pinot Gris and Beaujolais heuchera, Merlot echinacea.

• Food: Tiramisu heuchera, Pomegranate columbine.

• Decorating: Tiki Torch echinacea.

Planting weather -- If you've been eager to get planting in the garden, you may have been stopped by rain or cold weather. When the windy days come along, the soil dries out faster. And hopefully the weather is finally on a post-frost warm-up.

Extension agent Bob Neier notes in the hotline feature on Page 3C that we're about two weeks behind on spring-planting schedules because of prolonged cool weather. It all should start evening out, but go ahead and continue to plant grass seed and cooler-season crops, and hopefully we'll have a gradual warm-up that allows grass to get established and vegetable plants to produce good crops.

Plant -- Cabbage, collards, chard, carrots, broccoli, endive, cauliflower, lettuce, potatoes, radishes, onions, peas, spinach, turnips, beets, strawberries.

Dandelions in buffalo grass -- Dandelions and other broadleaf weeds are especially noticeable now in buffalo grass as it is only starting to green up. But be especially careful of using herbicides on the weeds, because they'll burn buffalo, says Ward Upham of K-State. The grass will come out of the yellow burn in two to three weeks if the proper rates of herbicides were used. The least harmful herbicide to use is 2,4-D-amine (avoid ester formulations) used at the lower label rate, Upham says. But, as with all grasses, October or early November is the best time to treat dandelions. If you must do something in the spring, treat when dandelions are in full bloom, Upham says.

Rain and fruit spray -- Use a spreader-sticker with fruit-tree sprays to improve retention and distribution, Upham says. Less than an inch of rain won't dilute the herbicide much, he says. But 1 to 2 inches of rain will cut the effectiveness of a spray in half, so cut in half the days until you spray again. More than 2 inches of rain will remove much of the herbicide, so you should spray again as soon as possible in that case, Upham says.

You can tell that the odds are in our favor that we've seen the last frost of spring: Garden centers are having their annual flat and geranium sales this weekend, and waves of color are starting to wash over Wichita.

"I'm ready to get going," Carolyn Marshall said as she slid a plastic flat of locally grown purple alyssum into the back seat of her car at the Plant Kingdom greenhouse outlet at 3105 N. Hillside.

While perennials can handle being planted in below-freezing temperatures, annual flowers generally resent a frost, and that makes sense, considering they die every winter and have to be replaced.

Annuals that are included in flat sales are like the landscape version of generic food: cheaper and without the brand name.

"They are more standard flowers," said Eric Denneler of Tree Top Nursery. You won't find new varieties in flat sales, and you generally won't even know what variety the flower is.

I have always wanted to create a daffodil display garden -- a place where I could plant with abandon hundreds, even thousands, of one of my favorite spring-blooming bulbs, producing a couple of weeks of what I call "wow factor." Over the years, I have visited many such extraordinary plantings, where masses of many different varieties of daffodils have been set into the landscape to bloom with maximum effect.

There is no prettier sight than the myriad beds of bright-yellow flowers in New York City's Central Park.

I had no sooner rebuilt the dry-laid stone walls around the perimeter of my new property in Bedford -- great delineators that stand 48 inches tall and almost as wide -- when I started my annual bulb ordering. I had thought I would plant my first display outside the wall bordering Maple Avenue, a rather scenic, unpaved town road. Walking the terrain, I realized very quickly that if I planted as planned, I would most likely never see the flowers, for the wall obscured every bit of that view. All the joggers and hikers and drivers would see the daffodils but not me.

So I altered my original plan, and that first autumn, in 2003, we planted something like 20,000 daffodils in one giant, undulating mass inside the wall, in beds ranging from 12 feet wide to more than 20 feet wide and extending several hundred feet. The planting has continued: in 2004, 20,000 bulbs; 2005, 20,000 bulbs; 2006, 15,000 bulbs. By 2007, we had almost filled the area and moved into the woodland. So I have learned a lot about this kind of mass planting, called naturalizing.

In fact, there are some varieties of daffodils and narcissi that are better suited to this than others. And each season during blooming time, I have tried to be systematic in my study of the garden -- noting which daffodils reproduce and come back stronger each year; which weaken and return more sparsely; and, of course, which bloom first, second, third, and which are the shortest- and longest-lasting.

Here's something you didn't read in last Saturday's paper: I felt the earthquake that hit Illinois.

I offered my story to the editors here at The Eagle, but they have some kind of rule about reliable sources. It's kind of like them not quoting me a couple of weeks ago when I said that Wichita priest James Conley, just named auxiliary bishop of Denver, would be the first American pope. (Mark my words.)

But with the exception of an online comment from Rose Hill, I didn't hear of anybody else coming forward locally to say they experienced the temblor, so far from its epicenter. It's one thing to connect to the earth through the garden; feeling it in the alleged safety of your own bed in the darkness of early morning is quite another.

I had woken shortly before 4 a.m. that Friday and was just falling back to sleep a little while later when a wind came up and I heard the chimes ring and felt my bed move. I didn't know what to think. The wind had not been that strong. I discounted Satan and a structural failure as time went on and the movement didn't recur. I fell asleep and didn't think of it again until I heard about the quake at work. And then my nerves got jangled.

It was the beginning of a streak of earth-moving days. The third weekend of April brought sunny, hot weather, giving me my first sunburn as I sat with friends on the earth the next day at Bartlett Arboretum, listening to Robin Macy sing her "Songs From the Garden":

Q: My children have allergies, so I vacuum clean often. I notice the lights dim when I first start it. Would a central vacuum system bemore efficient than my canister model, and should it vent outdoors?

A: Don't judge electricity consumption of a vacuum cleaner by its size. Some small-canister vacuum cleaners have powerful motors that draw 12 amperes or more of current. Starting current draw is slightly higher, so you may see a lamp dim momentarily whenever you start the vacuum. If the light dimming is significant, the vacuum cleaner motor may be failing.

Most central vacuum cleaners can be plugged into a standard 120-volt electrical outlet, so they do not draw much more electricity than the canister. Even so, the central vacuum is often more powerful because the unit does not have to be as compact as a smaller pull-around vacuum cleaner. I use a central vacuum 90 percent of the time at my home and use a HEPA canister model for quick cleanups.

The energy-saving advantage of using a central vacuum cleaner is the fact that you will probably have to vacuum less often. Since dust and dirt are captured in the central power unit located in a garage, utility room or basement, none blows through the filter and back into the room. Even with a HEPA filter on a pull-around unit, some particles still escape.

The filters in most central vacuum cleaner power units do an excellent of removing particles from the exhaust. If a slight bit leaks out, it just settles near the unit on the garage or basement floor so venting it indoors is usually adequate for reducing airborne dust and allergies.

Jokes spread quickly today via the Internet or television, and satire can be found in comic strips, TV shows and e-mails. Our great-grandparents enjoyed humor just as much, but it had to be passed around by figurines, prints, dishes and even rag rugs or textiles.

Sometimes the original meaning has been lost because it was based on a local incident or a political joke. One famous Staffordshire group shows a parson, a woman with a child and a man holding a baby pig. The group is surrounded by baskets of eggs, corn and other produce.

At first it appears to be a family scene. But the title, "The Tithe Pig," gives a hint. The parson is waiting to get 10 percent, the tithe from the family for his church. The angry wife is handing him her 10th child. It is satiric -- a protest against the church's taking so much money from a family.

This figure, along with several other Staffordshire groups, including "The Vicar and Moses," which shows a very drunk Vicar being helped home by his clerk Moses, shows the tension between peasants and clergy. The feelings were so strong that the figurines often were displayed as mantel ornaments.

Staffordshire potters made not only "jokes," but also portraits of prizefighters, animal trainers, actors, kings, politicians and other famous people. They recorded the celebrities of their day.

Botanical name: Tulipa "Florette"

Where: Martha Parriott Terrace Garden

Description: Bunch-flowering tulips (also known as multi-flowering or bouquet-flowering) that produce at least four and as many as seven full-sized flowers per stem. They typically bloom in late April and early May to extend the bloom season. "Florette" has multiple intense yellow flowers edged in dark red. The red color heightens as the blooms mature, and the foliage is a striking green. This variety has strong stems and reaches a height of 16 to 20 inches.

Growing tips: Best grown in partial to full sun in well-drained soil. Bulbs should be planted 8 to 12 inches apart and 6 to 8 inches deep in the fall. Propagate by dividing bulbs (including offsets).

Uses: Plant as a display on their own, or in borders or containers. The flowers are also good for cutting. Tulips make a showy display of color in the spring landscape and are a great companion planting to pansies, hyacinths and daffodils.

Kim and Rey met at a boxing gym and fell in love at first punch! Kim was a novice boxer who was there to learn the sport, and Rey was a pro bantamweight boxer using the gym for training. They bonded over hooks and jabs, got married, had two sons and now share their busy lives -- Kim as a children's-television director and Rey as a boxing-equipment distributor.

The couple recently moved into a charming bungalow and started to renovate, but were stumped when they got to their main living space -- a long, narrow living and dining room. The room was empty, uninspiring and full of flamboyant colors chosen by the previous homeowners.

While Rey would have been happy to keep the space empty as a boxing ring for him and the boys, Kim said they would have to duke it out in the basement. She wanted this space to be a warm, welcoming and livable room for family and friends.

The easy part of this challenge was getting rid of the ugly colors. I painted the room a dreamy shade of beige, put down some gorgeous hardwood flooring, and the vibrant tones were but a memory.

The more difficult part of this challenge was how to break up the room into cozy little zones. To this end, I put in a focal point in the middle: a new gas fireplace that anchors the room. I flanked the fireplace with new cabinetry and added some traditional bead-board panels above. I topped it all off with a dark wood mantel and clad the front of it in beautiful circular glass tiles.

I've been receiving phone calls from people wanting to hire garden help ever since I wrote about personal gardener Peggy Griffith two years ago.

The demand for people to plant, weed and prune -- basically maintain -- our gardens only increases by the year.

"I could work day and night if I wanted, because people just don't like to go out and pull weeds," Kathleen Roberts, another personal gardener, told me this week.

Not only do people not like it, they don't have time. Laurie Myer returned to work once her sons got older and then found that the care of her beloved garden in Lakepoint no longer fit in her schedule. She hired Peggy, and the result has been ideal.

"I'm really picky about my garden, but she's artistic about it and she seems to care the way I do," Laurie said.

If you want to attract purple martins, hummingbirds or orioles to your yard, now's the time to prepare a place for them.

The next three to four weeks is the best time of year to put up a purple martin house, says Nick Clausen of The Wild Bird Center at 21st and Rock Road.

"More and more martins are showing up every day, and first-year birds (those that fledged last year) are just starting to arrive," Clausen says. "It is these 1-year-old birds that commonly choose new housing."

About 14 to 16 birds have arrived at the house at the store, he said, and all of them appear to be older birds, "so the great majority of young birds have not arrived yet." Putting up a house now helps eliminate the competition for nests, he added.

In addition, hummingbirds and orioles are on their way, and they like to eat nectar, fruit and jelly. Special feeders are available for all three.

Pine wilt -- If you've had a pine tree die in your landscape in a short amount of time, it's likely because of pine wilt. Remove the tree before May 1 to curb the spread of the nematode that carries this pine scourge. I'll be writing more about pine wilt soon.

Daffodil no-shows -- Here's a good example of the delayed reaction that can be caused by adverse weather: Last year's Easter freeze has cost some daffodils their flowers this year, Ward Upham of K-State says. Flower buds are formed between flowering and when the foliage dies back, he says. If a daffodil got frozen between those stages last year, it probably didn't flower this year. But it should be fine next year, Upham says. (Other reasons that can affect flowering are removing foliage before it dies back, overcrowding, bulbs overheating either before planting or when planted too shallowly, or bulbs being undersized, Upham says.)

Strawberry restraint -- Speaking of plant energy, if you put out spring-bearing strawberries this spring, you should be pinching out any flowers so that the energy goes into the plant for a much better harvest next year, Upham says. Newly planted everbearing plants also should have flowers removed for the first four to six weeks after planting so the plants develop a strong root system.

Pine pruning _ To control the height and width of pine trees and have them grow more densely, they should be pruned in late spring when new needles start to pull away from the candles, Upham says. Cut back candles one half to two thirds with hand clippers to avoid damaging the new, expanding needles. The central leader at the top of the tree is often cut back 12 inches, and side laterals cut to make a pyramidal shape. No pine should be pruned back past the candle, because new buds generally aren't produced on the old wood, and the tree will be deformed. "Overgrown plants need to be tolerated or removed," Upham says.

Plant -- Collards, chard, carrots, lettuce, beets, melons, sweet corn.

Here are some of the gardening issues addressed on the Master Gardener Hotline (316-722-7721) this week.

Is your rhubarb bolting?

Some rhubarb has been bolting in the Wichita area, but it shouldn't be allowed to go to seed. If it does, that really sets the plant back. Instead, cut out any flower stalks as soon as they appear.

Do you have a mugo or a Scotch pine?

Pine sawfly is active and can strip mugo and scotch pines. If you have either of these types of pines, check them for any signs of activity by tiny black worms. If there is some, you can use the organic treatments of horticultural oil, insecticidal soap or pyrethrin, or Orthene, Sevin or malathion.

If you don't know it yet, you soon will: This may be the year to get a new lawnmower. Here are some things to consider.

Know thyself: Do you enjoy mowing the lawn, or does it become a chore after the first few outings? Would it be worth it to hire the neighbor's kid or to contract with a service?

Know thy lawn: How big is your yard? How much is lawn and how much garden? Is the surface smooth or bumpy from stones? Are there portions where the sun rarely shines or that are swampy? Do you have to run over tree roots? How easy is it to mow around trees, bushes, walls and similar obstacles? Is your lawn level or does it slope? If it runs uphill, it might be easier to mow with a self-propelled machine.

Stow and go: The mower will have to be stored somewhere, which means finding a less-than-backbreaking way to get it in and out. You'll also need a safe place to store the gasoline and oil, or a place to plug in the mower if it's electric, or a place to charge the battery if you buy a battery-powered mower.

Money talks (sometimes): Some say affordability should be the primary consideration, but what you can afford to spend should be factored in along with the kind of mower you and your lawn need. Typically, $300 to $700 can get you an electric, battery-powered or gasoline-powered mower that suits most lawns. Ride-on tractors can cost up to $6,000.

Spring is a time of longer days, warmer temperatures and, of course, cleaning.

Many of us dread rearranging furniture and filing important documents, but Deniece Schofield, a national home management expert, plans to visit Wichita next week to share tips on getting organized at home.

"Organization makes things go faster," she said. "Clutter makes things go slower."

Schofield, author of "Confessions of a Happily Organized Family" and other books, has visited Wichita before, so we wanted to highlight some of the new information she would be including in the three seminars she will give next week.

Schofield said people often think that they have to get rid of their things to get organized, but that's not the case. You just have to make space if you can't part with your belongings.

Temperatures Thursday topped 80. But subsequent 40-degree nights are just one example of how this spring continues to be long and cool -- and confounding for gardeners.

It's been a lesson in planting by the weather and not by the calendar, extension agent Bob Neier said this week. Hot-weather vegetables such as tomatoes that were planted early have been struggling because of bouts of continued cool weather.

To give them a boost, Neier recommends using floating row covers on the plants. The light, mesh-like material is available at garden centers. Take it off in two weeks and you'll really see a difference, he said.

If you haven't planted them yet, wait a while to plant tomatoes, and even a little longer to plant peppers, because they like the weather even warmer than tomatoes do.

Today is the annual Herb Day celebration at the Extension Education Center at 21st and Ridge Road, and it's usually seen as kicking off the growing season the first weekend in May. This year, Neier said, "It will be a great shopping day, but you might wait until temperatures are a little warmer to plant."

Fertilizing fescue _ If you're planning to water your fescue lawn this summer, fertilization in May is in order. If you don't plan to water, the lawn will probably go through summer dormancy and won't need the fertilizer. It's best to use slow-release nitrogen at this time of the year, rather than quick-release (soluble) nitrogen.

Much of the nitrogen in synthetic fertilizers is usually quick-release. You can find total slow-release in organic fertilizers such as Milorganite, cottonseed meal and alfalfa-based fertilizer, says Ward Upham of K-State. If you use one of the organic types, you have to use more of the product to get the same amount of nitrogen as is available in synthetic fertilizers, and it will be more expensive.

Either way, apply enough fertilizer to provide 1 pound of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet. For example, if the fertilizer is 6 percent nitrogen by weight, it will take almost 17 pounds of fertilizer for 1,000 square feet.

If you use quick-release nitrogen, split the application in two doses: ½pound of nitrogen in May and ½ pound in early June, Upham says.

Sphaeropsis tip blight -- If your Austrian pine trees have Sphaeropsis (aka Diplodia) tip blight, it's time for the first of two or three sprays for it. The first spray is a little later this year because of the cooler than normal weather. The second spray should follow in two weeks, and a third can be applied two weeks after that for maximum protection. Professional applicators normally do the work because it's hard for a homeowner to spray a tall pine tree thoroughly.

Botanical name: Thermopsis lanceolata

Where: Shakespearean Garden

Description: An easy-to-grow perennial that illuminates the early-spring garden with large yellow, lupine-like flowers. When the new foliage emerges in the spring, it is a surprising black that soon fades to a blue-green. Dark bean-shaped seed pods are an added attraction. It grows up to 2 feet tall and wide.

Growing tips: Best grown in full sun, but it can tolerate afternoon shade. Plant in average garden soil and water modestly. Once established, it is drought resistant.

Uses: Great in perennial borders or xeriscape gardens. Attracts bees, butterflies and/or birds.

Q:I hear you talk a lot about making a home "yours." What, exactly, do you mean by this, and how do you do it?

A:As much as I like to ogle over the showplace homes featured in decorating magazines, I'm put off by stuffy and stilted interiors that resemble showrooms, full of cookie-cutter furnishings and garden-variety accents.

The most wonderfully decorated homes are those that reflect the owner's unique personality.

Everywhere you turn, you discover clues about who the inhabitants are, what they love and the experiences they've had in life. In homes like these, I want to kick off my shoes, curl up on the couch and hear the stories behind each special treasure.

One fun and easy way to add loads of personal charm and character to your home is to showcase a few interesting or whimsical curiosities you've picked up at flea markets, auctions or antique stores.

If you go

What: Information on selecting, planting, maintaining, cooking and decorating with herbs; vendors selling plants and other garden-related items; herbal brunch; master gardener plant sale; youth activity; farmers market

When: 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. todayWhere: Extension Education Center, 21st and Ridge Road

Cost: Free

Seminars

Q:I need a new kitchen faucet because the old one leaks cold water. There seem to be many designs available at home center stores. Which types are most efficient at saving water, and which are most durable?

A:It is important to repair or replace a leaking kitchen faucet even if the water feels cold. The dripping water may actually be coming from the hot water side of the faucet valve, but it feels cold because it has time to lose its heat before reaching the faucet. This can increase both your energy and your water bills.

Several factors affect a faucet's overall efficiency. The style and shape of the faucet can affect its convenience. A more convenient-to-use faucet allows you to turn the water on and off instead of letting it run between brief tasks.

A tall-spout faucet, some as high as one foot, provides plenty of clearance to fill large pots or to get your hands under to clean foods. These are also stylish and more popular today.

If the faucet has a short or nearly horizontal spout, large pots must be filled in several steps from a smaller pot. This wastes more water down the drain while the water is transferred between pots.

2 lbs. fresh young green beans, trimmed

Salt

4 tablespoons unsalted butter

2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh summer savory, or 2 teaspoons dried savory

Fresh ground black pepper

2 or 3 black tea bags (Earl Grey is especially good)

3 quarts of cold water

Any combination of the following:

½cup fresh chamomile flowers

¼cup fresh lavender blossoms, or 2 tablespoons dried

Folk art takes many forms, anything from cigar-store Indians to bottle-cap figures and carved coal pictures. It is the art of the untrained artist, and each piece is unique.

With spring comes thoughts of the garden and where to place antique urns, pots, statues, architectural tiles, fountains, sundials, bird feeders and other collected pieces.

Fashionable gardens today often have gates or fences decorated with antiques. Old gardening equipment is popular. Galvanized metal watering cans of the past have long spouts and large heads. Some European examples have brass heads.

Old, rusty metal hand tools that can hang on a fence also are popular. Larger gardening tools like rakes, pitchforks and shovels can be put in the ground as if just left by a gardener or worked into a folk art gate or fence.

Brunk Auctions sold a garden gate made from a pine frame decorated with a vintage shovel, pitchfork, sickle, trowels and hand cultivator. The 48-by-49-inch gate made in the 20th century sold for $650. Recycle your old tools or some you spot at a garage sale into a special folk art garden accent.

Today we celebrate plants that come with 'a million ramifications'

n all my years of going to Herb Day, I don't remember the word "volatile" ever entering into the discussion. And it turns out that's the word on which the whole discussion hinges.

Volatile to me implies power -- and that could be a good or a bad thing. I tend to think of it in the sense of something being explosive or changeable, but there are other shadings of meaning: flying or having the power to fly, lighthearted, difficult to capture or hold permanently.

This is a word I could come to love, even pattern my life after. It applies to angels. And definitely to herbs. Is there a more lighthearted classification of plant?

But what I found out this week is that the one thing that makes an herb an herb is the fact that it contains a volatile oil. And that means the oil vaporizes readily.

Garages were created for cars, but people park a lot of other stuff there as well. Shovels, sports gear, pet supplies -- you name it. The catchall can quickly turn into a dumping ground, which is why organization is essential in any garage.

Fortun-ately, with their high ceilings and open-frame walls, these utilitarian spaces can take on many storage solutions, while still leaving room for cars. Task-specific zones that are compact or even movable will help you make the most of the space.

Start by claiming every vertical inch. An exposed frame can provide endless shelving for small objects. To hold tall, lightweight items, including garden stakes, loop bungee cords around screw hooks fastened to adjacent studs.

Place rakes and snow shovels on a wall-mounted track system. Some track systems come with tiered shelving for storing objects that don't hang easily, such as tool kits and buckets.

Store bikes by mounting hefty steel hooks to a central support post. If there isn't one, consider ceiling-mount hooks.

For years, I coveted (quite openly) a charming little bird feeder my best friend had in her garden, made from a vintage china berry bowl mounted on a metal stake. Because she moved out of state, any hopes I had of seeing it appear in my garden have disappeared with her, so I decided to make my own.

This is a great project for all those mismatched pieces of china I've picked up at garage sales.

The best pieces are those with shallow, open shapes. If you don't have a ready supply of vintage pieces, dollar stores and close-out sections are great places to look.

Supplies needed:

• China: soup bowls, saucers, tidbit bowl. (Note: While working on this project, I found an inexpensive clear paperweight. The flat bottom of the globe was perfect for creating a bit of garden art -- the reflection of the sun through the bubbles cast incredible colors.)

The largest native-plant sale in the state will take place May 9 and 10 at Dyck Arboretum of the Plains in Hesston.

The annual FloraKansas celebration will also feature seminars, tours, arts and crafts, and food.

This year the arboretum is also offering a botanical getaway weekend in conjunction with the event.

FloraKansas will feature more than 300 varieties of hard-to-find native wildflowers, shrubs, trees and grasses. Members will get first pick May 8 and 9, and the public can shop from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 10, noon to 4 p.m. May 11 and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. May 12. A complete list of plants can be found on the Web site www.dyckarboretum.org.

Other events on May 10: "Herbal Breakfast" by Kay Neff at 8:30 a.m.; "Planting a Monarch Waystation Garden" by Cristina Janney at 9:30 a.m.; "The Art of Nature" with sculptor and painter Janice Weibe Ollenberger at 10:30 a.m.; "What's in Bloom," a 45-minute tour of the grounds with Scott Vogt, at 10:45. Vogt will be available to answer questions and provide growing tips throughout the sale.

Here are some of the questions answered on the Master Gardener Hotline (316-722-7721) this week.

I'm seeing dark spots in my lawn. What's wrong?

Before Thursday night's rain it was dry, especially in lawns that have been fertilized and therefore need more water. The windy days contribute to drying out the soil.

Some of my shrubs have dead tips. What is the cause?

We're seeing dead tips on lots of plants. It's the result of cankering that is still showing up from last spring's hard freeze.

Barber County to have wildflower tour next weekend

Half- and full-day bus tours to see spring wildflowers in the Gypsum Hills will be held May 10, starting from Medicine Lodge.

This is the 19th year for the spring wildflower tour, which starts with breakfast and either concludes before lunch or continues with lunch, surprise entertainment and another tour in the afternoon. Experts will be on the buses to narrate the tours.

The cost is $8 for the half day or $15 for the full day, free for children 10 and under. Reservations must be made by Monday by calling the Barber County Conservation office at 620-886-5311, ext. 3.

Konza tour taking reservations

Kewpie is the name of a nude, elf-like baby with fat cheeks, wide eyes, a topknot and tiny blue wings. Rose O'Neill drew the first Kewpies for a Ladies' Home Journal story in 1909. The drawings were turned into 3-D designs for Kewpie dolls and figurines by 1911.

They were an immediate success, and several companies made Kewpies and Kewpie-related products. Dolls were made of bisque, celluloid, composition or hard plastic. There was a whole family of Kewpies, and you can find everything from a policeman to Doodle Dog.

All have wings. Many other kewpies can be found, both those designed by Rose O'Neill and those that are kewpie-like copies. You can collect related kewpies on plates, coloring books, toys and even food cans. Kewpie is a major brand of mayonnaise and other foods in Japan, and is also the name of a small U.S. hamburger chain.

Kewpies are mascots for several schools, too, and a line of Kewpie cell phone charms was just offered in Japan. Kewpie dolls are still being made and the word "kewpie" is now part of our language -- not just a trademark.

Q:We own a round oak table 38 inches in diameter. It sits on a pedestal with four legs with claw feet. The label on the bottom of the tabletop says, "H.C. Niemann & Co., Makers of Good Tables, 1801-1813 N. Rockwell St., Chicago, Ill., Tables and Leaves." The table has been in our family for over a century. We're interested in knowing when the table was made.

Carl and Tony have lived in their charming semidetached house for 14 years. They are the social butterflies of their neighborhood and are always hosting get-togethers, poker games, barbecues and even Easter egg hunts. The duo recently decided they had outgrown their small home -- especially their dark, cramped living and dining rooms -- and started contemplating a move into bigger and brighter digs.

But the neighbors wouldn't hear of it. They all banded together in protest, and even bought them a beautiful leaded-glass window to entice them to stay. Their "keep Carl and Tony in the 'hood" crusade finally worked. After some serious thought, Carl and Tony decided to stay and renovate instead, but they needed an overhaul they couldn't orchestrate on their own. So I called in my crew and we geared up to turn the antique-stuffed space into a room worthy of two splendid hosts.

The first order of the day was to knock down a few walls and turn the chopped-up living and dining rooms into one big, open-concept space. I even opened up the outside wall in order to claim the porch as interior space, and added new windows to let in some much-needed light.

I then got to work on the details. I wanted to update the look but retain the home's traditional character. So, I put in older-looking finishes, including coffered ceilings, crown moldings and a walnut floor with a hand-chiseled finish. I also installed the leaded-glass window from the neighbors.

I then got started on the room's focal point -- the fireplace. The existing unit was an unused eyesore, so I updated it with new insert, mantel and marble tiled surround, and flanked it with beautiful display cabinets. Above the fireplace, I put in a television that is hidden behind a piece of remote-controlled artwork so it is out of sight when not in use. Across from the fireplace I installed a huge armoire where Carl and Tony can hang and hide their coats.

A listing of some area resources for arts and crafts. Call shops for information.

Vidichiart Studio/Gallery, 1007 W. Douglas, 316-558-5750, www. vidichiart.com, info@vidichiart.com.

• Classes in decoupage, home accent and furniture painting, pen and ink, fabric painting, wall glazing and related topics.

Needle Arts of Wichita, Embroiderers' Guild of America, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursdays, College Hill United Methodist Church, 2930 E. First St., 316-777-1783.

Needle Nook Fabrics, 2714 Boulevard Plaza, 316-684-5989

While friends can be one source of help for getting home projects done, clubs are also great places for people of like interests to share their expertise and brawn.

The Kansas Pond Society is one such group.

"What generally happens... is that somebody will speak up at a meeting that they need some help digging their pond or laying a liner or moving some rock, and we'll schedule a weekend and ask for volunteers," Susan Kandt of the pond society says. "Usually, three to six people will show up that weekend and work until they get it done."

Kandt said she and her husband, Mike, used to drain and clean their koi pond by themselves every spring, and it would take them all day and into the night. But for the past few years, two couples have been coming over and helping. Part of the job involves forming a line and passing the koi fish into a stock tank while the pond is cleaned, and then passing them back, hand to hand, to the clean pond.

"These two couples always volunteer, year after year, because they seem to enjoy the opportunity to handle and see close-up our huge koi," most of which are 2 feet long or longer, Kandt says. But she teases them that it's the Popeye's chicken dinner that she and her husband feed their friends.

Friends tackle projects at one another's houses that they can't seem to get done on their own

he home of Caroline Dezan and Ford James was all abuzz, literally, one recent Saturday morning.

James and two friends were using chain saws to cut apart oaks that had fallen. Three other friends were tackling a pond, re-leveling and weeding it. Three more friends were inside the house painting bathrooms.

James' wife, Dezan, dashed from one project to another, answering questions and giving directions.

"I'm happy to have friends help and not have to worry about paying a ton of money for a contractor," says Dezan, 35, a biologist who lives in North Fork, Calif.

Q:I have my central air conditioner and furnace serviced every several years to keep them running efficiently. Is there anything I can do to the air conditioner myself on the off years to improve its efficiency?

A:There are several things you can do yourself to keep a central air conditioner, heat pump or window air conditioner running at peak efficiency. Since the furnace air handler (blower) is also used for central air conditioning, maintaining it may also decrease your heating bills.

The two key factors to keep an air conditioner running most efficiently are making sure it has the proper amount of air flow over the indoor and outdoor coils and keeping the coils clean. Clean coils transfer heat more efficiently to the air blowing over them so the compressor has to run less.

First, remove any items, rakes, shovels, etc., that are resting against the outdoor condenser unit housing. These items may interfere with the air flow over the coils inside the unit. Clean off any leaves, pine needles, etc., from the top grille. They may blow off on their own when the unit starts running this spring, but it does not hurt to manually remove them.

Before doing any internal maintenance on a central air conditioner, always switch off the power to the unit at the circuit breaker panel box. You may also find a large switch near the outdoor unit. Usually, you have to open the switch door and pull a connector bar from it with its plastic handle. If you are at all unsure about how to do this, DO NOT attempt it yourself.

Q:I'm providing the salad for a picnic with about 100 guests. How much should I prepare?

A:When making salad for a large group, the rule of thumb is about 3 ounces per person. Some greens weigh more than others, however, so you'll need to tailor this figure to the specific recipe.

For example, to prepare Caesar salad for a crowd of 100, start with about 20 pounds of romaine lettuce, which translates into 15 heads. A bunch of spinach, a rugged green that's good for summer salads, weighs about as much as a head of romaine. If the recipe calls for mixed field greens, you'll need 12 pounds to 14 pounds of loose mesclun (which weighs less because there are no cores).

All greens wilt when dressed, so it's best to divide them into several large serving bowls and add the dressing only as more salad is needed, or serve the dressing on the side.

Q:The only thing that separates my living and dining rooms is an arch, so they feel almost like a single space. Should I paint them the same color?

Botanical name: Iris "Jesse's Song"

Where: Beverly Blue Teaching Garden

Description: This bicolored perennial has dark purple standards with white falls and violet-peppered bands. The flowers are generously ruffled and fragrant, with as many as seven buds on each stem. It reaches a mature height of 36 inches. This is an early to midseason iris variety that has a vigorous growth habit, multiplying quickly.

Growing tips: Best grown in full sun in well-drained soil. Should be planted in the summer. Propagate by dividing rhizomes.

Uses: This iris is a great addition to perennial borders. The buds and flowers are also good for cutting.

I somehow missed the window between cold weather and downpours for planting my tomatoes. Apparently this nanosecond existed sometime in the past week. But either I blinked or was busy that day, or the weather wasn't quite right for me.

Sitting in their pots, uncertain whether to first turn yellow or get too top-heavy to stand up, the only thing my unplanted plants apparently haven't suffered yet is hail. Give them some time.

One of my problems is that not only must the soil be warm enough and dry enough for the plants -- a requirement for anybody -- but the weather must be right for the process of planting. I want to enjoy the tucking in of plants, not consider it a chore like any of the millions of other jobs I have to do year-round, like washing clothes or cleaning the kitchen floor.

Planting days don't have to be sunny. Planting just before a storm, the clouds changing, the wind picking up, the electricity in the air, adds an edge and an urgency that gets things done. Hearing the first fat raindrops thud on soil newly settled over plant roots renders a feeling of deep satisfaction.

So clouds are OK, but the weather for planting must be warm. If I have to wear a jacket, I don't think so. And the wind can't be so strong that it whips dirt against my skin or hair into my eyes.

It's a stellar season for irises, as you can see on this weekend's garden tour

rises have become a new ambassador of friendship for me.

Last July at Tomato Day, a friend of my brother's whom I had never met got a copy of my book, "Best Garden Plants for Kansas," and asked me to sign it. She then went off to buy rhizomes of irises from the Wichita Area Iris Club and came back with some of them for me.

We divided the varieties between us, promising to compare notes, and this week, the light blue flower of Eternal Waltz sent up a glorious flag in my front yard, sending a shout-out from my new friend.

Every time I look at it, a warm feeling of kinship comes over me, and I realize anew how plants can knit people together.

Craft -- Edible graduation caps

What you need -- Mini Peanut Butter Cups, tub of chocolate frosting, red pull-apart licorice, kitchen shears, knife and square chocolate-covered peanut-butter cookies.

How to make -- Unwrap Peanut Butter Cups; set aside. With kitchen shears snip licorice into 1 ½-inch links. Divide the links into groups of three and pinch the ends together to form tassel. To assemble cookies, turn Peanut Butter Cup upside down and put a small dab of frosting on what is now the top of it. Place cookie over the frosted side of the cup and give a small press to secure. Place a small dab of frosting on the top center of the cookie and press the licorice tassel onto the cookie.

Botanical name: Paeonia "Coral Charm"

Where: Perennial Border and Peony Collection

Description: A perennial shrub that in early to mid-May bears many stalks of huge, deep-coral buds that open into large, semi-double flowers. The bloom color fades from a bold coral to a soft coral to a peach as it matures. The flowers stand out nicely against the glossy, green, herbaceous foliage. Reaches a mature height of 28 to 36 inches.

Growing tips: Best grown in full sun in cool, moist soil. Peonies are best planted in the fall, but, if potted, can be planted in the spring. "Coral Charm" grows vigorously and may require staking.

Uses: Peonies make superior cut flowers, lasting more than a week if cut in full bud.