Man building outdoor writing room for writing in

A man from Mingehampton is about to start building a brand new building in his back garden – which is called a backyard in the U.S. – but in the UK if you have a backyard you are a poor person, which is not bad just a comment.The man who wants to stay unknown, so …

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Real Estate Opportunities in Milwaukee

open houses in waukesha, wi – the dale marciniak team | re/max realty 100 | |(414) 604-1427 2013 harris highland dr, waukesha, wi nicely maintained and updated 1 1/2 storyhome on tree lined lot with a beautiful 3-season room plus finished rec room! 3br/1+1ba singlefamily house offered at $219,000 year built 1981 sq footage 1,407 …

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Playing Live for Feb. 17, 2012

February 15, 2012 4:04PM Tenor Cornelius Johnson is among the performers booked for Feb. 19′s Lift Ev’ry Voice, the next installment in the Opera Up Close series at the Center for Performing Arts at Governors State University. | File photo storyidforme: 25820937 tmspicid: 9384480 fileheaderid: 4299915 Related Stories Updated: February 17, 2012 8:02PM Here is …

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Verandas Midlands

Here is a recent testimonial from a customer from the Midlands where we installed a 4.2m x 3m Veranda with a light bar. Thank you for your letter confirming receipt of our payment upon completion of the installation of our porch/veranda. As requested we are pleased to be able to provide feedback on the service …

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Through leadlights’ glow in Epsom

Cornwall Park truly becomes part of your life when it’s just over your back fence, says Alison Crum, whose character-rich Epsom home enjoys absolute parkside living. Alison and her husband David bought this graceful 1930s home more than 18 years ago. They’d lived in the area, asked an agent to find them a home bounding …

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Man building outdoor writing room for writing inReal Estate Opportunities in MilwaukeePlaying Live for Feb. 17, 2012Verandas MidlandsThrough leadlights’ glow in Epsom

Feb
22

Home, garden show Feb. 24-26 in Pasco

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1329899790 58 Home, garden show Feb. 24 26 in Pasco

It doesn’t matter how large or small the place you call home, with nearly 200 vendors you will find the ideas and help you need at the 2012 Regional Home & Garden Show.

The show, presented by the Home Builders Association of Tri-Cities, runs Feb. 24-26 at TRAC in Pasco.

There is a diverse mix of vendors this year, definitely something for everyone, said Renee Dahlgren, director of government affairs, communications and the Built Green Program coordinator.

For adults, there will be a series of free home and garden seminars daily. Seminars typically begin on the hour. A complete list of the seminars and times will be published in a Home & Garden Show special section in the Herald on Feb. 24.

Youngsters will have fun decorating hardhats at the Kidstruction Zone in the main hall, and Lowe’s employees will have kid-centered clinics where they can build a basketball hoop or pet treat holders.

Once you have checked out the exhibitors in the main hall, be sure to cross the atrium and visit the landscaping and outdoors vendors.

“They always go all out. I know there’s going to be three really big exhibits, two swimming pools and several smaller exhibits including some water features. It’s amazing what they do with a dirt floor,” Dahlgren said.

The Home & Garden Show also includes a standard flower show organized by members of the five clubs of the Blue Mountain District of the Washington State Federation of Garden Clubs.

All gardeners are welcome to enter the horticulture division. Entries will be accepted from 8:30 to 9:45 a.m. Feb. 24 at TRAC. For more information on the flower show, call Patti Smith at 627-2347.

There is no charge to participate in or view the flower show.

Garden club members will be at the show to answer questions about the club and gardening in the Mid-Columbia.

Members of the Tri-City Rose Society also will be at the show with a display and to offer a free seminar.

Admission is $6 for adults and children ages 12 and under are free. Bring a nonperishable food item for the Salvation Army and get $1 off the admission price.

“The one-time admission is good all weekend, and parking is free,” Dahlgren said. “There’s also a free golf cart shuttle in the parking lot just in case you buy more than you can carry out to the car.”

Hours are from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Feb. 24, from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Feb. 25 and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Feb. 26.

*Loretto J. Hulse: 582-1513;

Plus, to visit this park, you must go early, look at the beautiful outdoor plants, plan the rest of the day, and wait for the Conservatory to open. The rooms are constructed mostly with full transparent glass and wood in order to let the outer atmosphere enter the room in the best possible way. There are essentially two main routes to buying a self build conservatory: DIY SUPERSTORES Some of the search engine links will take you to the online sites of some of the major DIY superstores where you will be able to view their offerings which will normally be standard size models with minimum specifications designed to keep the price down. This is a way to success while chewing this.

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Feb
22

clubxlri.com » Quality Conservatory Roof Blinds at 24/7

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1329893779 58 clubxlri.com » Quality Conservatory Roof Blinds at 24/7

Conservatory roof window blinds are one of the very best investments it’s possible to make for your house, They could not only help you to save money but they can also help make your sunroom a place where you want to spend even more time. When you are searching for conservatory blinds or roof blinds for your home you have a number of options available to you. However these days by far your best option is to start your search on the net. A quick online search will give you several top quality blinds companies and the best of these is 24/7 Conservatory Blinds.

They offer an incredible service and help to make finding the right blinds for your sunroom easy. Included in their service is a survey of your house to measure your new window blinds, installation by properly trained and certified craftsmen and the best guarantee of parts and labour anywhere.

Online shopping is often a bit of a hit and miss affair. Sometimes the goods you get do not quite live up to the expectations of their online pictures. Then you need to deal with the difficulties of returning whatever you bought or trying to get a refund on your money. However this is definitely not an issue if you shop on the 24/7 internet site. They can send you as many samples as you want to make choosing your new window blinds simple. Go to the website find the blind or blinds you are searching for and ask for as many samples as you want. They’ll be delivered to you the following working day.

To get your free quote and samples visit their website today! Conservatory roof blinds at 24/7.

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Feb
22

Woman’s Club to conduct Home Tour Sunday

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1329887776 91 Woman’s Club to conduct Home Tour Sunday

The Fort Myers Beach Woman’s Club annual Home Tour will be held Sunday, Feb. 19. The tour is a self-directed tour from 1 to 4 p.m. Most people will drive their cars between the homes, but you may be able to avoid the traffic. Those who can walk approximately 2 1/2 miles might consider walking the tour this year as that is the total distance between the homes.

This year, there are four distinctly different types of homes on the beach:

1) 297 Albatross St. is a unique historic home that was built of coral rock in the 1950s. It may be the only coral rock home on Fort Myers Beach. The famous sculptor, Tomas Penning, built it. Penning’s sculptures include “Our Lady of the Hudson” in Esopus, NY and “St Mary of the Snow” in Saugerties, NY. He was also commissioned to do the “Tomas and Mina Edison Memorial” in Chatauqua, NY.

This was Penning’s winter home. It is located at the intersection of Albatross Street and Bayview Boulevard in Fairview Isles. It has a panoramic view of Estero Bay. The long-time owner, Julie Tucker, recently added a sunroom, which is the entire length of the home and allows a complete view of the bay. The cypress wood interior of the home is built in the shape of a 1940′s yacht.

Four or more Christmas trees are the norm for this owner who loves Christmas. Note the Christmas decorations on the ceiling of the sunroom. As you will see, Christmas is a year-round event for this owner.

Don’t miss this historic home. The large banyan tree, native palms and sea grape provide privacy from the street.

2) 201 Egret St. is an open floor plan home located on a canal. The home includes all custom-made furniture. The furniture and kitchen cabinets were designed and built in Canada and brought to Fort Myers Beach for this canal-front home. The owner, Italo Bertoni, built swimming pools in Canada for 40 years and, when it came to their Florida getaway, concrete was a must. The entire home is built of concrete. There is even a concrete deck on the roof. However, a small spiral staircase provides the only access to this deck; for safety reasons, the deck will not be part of the tour. The deck can be seen from the back yard. The decorative columns in the entry are solid concrete too.

This home includes a sun pipe. See what a difference it makes if you are not familiar with sun pipes. The lower level of the home is a six-car garage, and the floor is finished with Italian tile. An elevator is available for our handicapped guests only. The Bertonis and their Egret Street neighbors consider that they have a beautiful hurricane shelter.

3) 7871 Buccaneer Dr. is a typical island ranch-style home that was built in 1975. The Chrisiens purchased the Laguna Shores house in 2007. Since that time, it has become one big “do-it-yourself” project. Dale has built an all-new kitchen. It includes cherry cabinets, granite countertop and all new appliances. Outdoors, they built a second two-car garage and added attractive pavers and additional landscaping. The pool and large deck are great for entertaining.

The red and black dcor reflects the fun-loving personalities of the owners. Dale calls it “Bohemian Chic” and Kelly calls it “very contemporary.” You choose. Kelly is a full-time pastry chef, but she has put her designer skills to work on the home, room by room.

This home shows you what talented “do-it-yourselfers” can do with an older beach home.

4) 22 Sunview Blvd. is located at intersecting canals in Fairview Isles. This 4500-square-foot home is a new, spectacular home on the tour. Enjoy the panoramic view of the 200-foot waterfront complete with pool, waterfalls and dolphin fountains. This house certainly has a “Wow” factor. It was built with fun lifestyles in mind. Take your time; you won’t want to miss any of the amenities. The home is professionally decorated so the finishing touches are perfect. Twelve-foot ceilings throughout are lined with crown molding. You’ll see the state of the art kitchen, spectacular baths, game room, bar and more. The home even includes onsite living quarters for a property manager. Nothing was forgotten; the property is lined with a perimeter citronella mister to eliminate mosquitoes. Your guests won’t believe it. Add a five-car garage with a showroom floor as the final finishing touch. This showplace may be the most spectacular home on Fort Myers Beach.

The 22 Sunview Blvd. house is the only home on the tour that is available for sale. Owner, Michael Thornton, listed it with Joe Orlandini of Sandcastle Realty.

All other homes on the tour are offered for the Woman’s Club Tour by gracious homeowners.

Tickets for this year’s home tour are available for a $20 donation in advance of the tour. You may secure tickets daily at either Tri Power Realty Office locations: 2001 Estero Blvd. or 5689 Estero Blvd. On Tuesday and Friday, tickets will be available at the Woman’s Club at 175 Sterling St from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. On the day of the tour, tickets will be available for a $22 donation at the door of any home on the tour.

The Fort Myers Beach Woman’s Club is a non-profit organization. Proceeds from the tour are contributed to local charities.

Often, if a room has a large amount of natural light streaming in coupled with predominately white walls or furniture; the room can feel too bright. That need not be so. Therefore, "If it doesn't kill me, it makes me stronger." and naturally, there may be something else. Is there anywhere else alliances trip on good conservatory assets? We don't need to be the smartest or the best. I'm going to locate more about cheap conservatory because there are loads of to be found online. At the same time, you will find amazing beds and settees available that will leave you mesmerized at the elegance and beauty of the craft. Humidity Resistant: Humidity and moisture can play havoc with your outdoor furniture. It can also be introduced artificially in natural forests without disturbing the existing structure and balance.

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Feb
22

Week-by-Week in the Garden: Design a Bed

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1329885369 76 Week by Week in the Garden: Design a Bed Take a photo of your garden and use it to design a new planting plan. Photo credit: Fenella Pearson, ASID

Each week in this section you can find a new article about things to keep you busy in and near your garden — in every season.

Week 4: Winter is the best time to make plans for your garden.

My garden is divided between a highly organized kitchen garden, which feeds us for about nine months of the year, and a couple of  higgeldy-piggeldy perennial flower beds that are screaming for attention.

The perennials in my garden followed me from previous homes – or belonged to friends who gave me a clump of this or a clump of that. Since the vegetable garden was my first priority, the perennials were planted at random wherever I found an empty spot. The result is – how shall I put it? – eclectic. Lots of color but a bit of a mess.

So with time on my hands, I took a photo of the offending bed and started making plans for a beautiful new flower bed. Everything will have to be dug up and rearranged but the results will be worth it.

Make sure that you can clean it easily. Around 40% of conservatories are exempt from planning permission.These factors mean you may not need planning permission: No more than 50% of the land surrounding the existing property can be developed on. Conservatory provides an abstract solution to the simple question of conservatory. Therefore if the chairs present inside it are light enough to carry, then they can be used to have sitting arrangement at the gardens or even at the interiors of the house during some urgency of sitting item requirements. How do jokers notice luxurious conservatory tricks? There is plenty of advantages to building a conservatory from uPVC.

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Feb
22

sabdankur.com — Conservatory Blinds at 24/7

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sabdankur.com — Conservatory Blinds at 24/7

Conservatory roof window blinds are one of the best investments it is possible to make for your home, They are able to not only help you to save money but they can also help to make your conservatory a place where you wish to spend even more time. When you want to buy conservatory blinds you needless to say have a number of different ways to go about getting them. However if you would like the best choice and the best prices the best place to search is on the web. A quick online search will give you a number of high quality blinds providers and the very best of these is 24/7 Conservatory Blinds.

They make choosing the perfect blinds for your home easy and provide a service quality which is second to none anywhere. Included in their service is a survey of your property to measure your new blinds, installation by fully trained and certified craftsmen and also the best guarantee of parts and labour anyplace.

Occasionally internet shopping can be something of a hit and miss affair. All too often the items you get do not quite match what you were expecting to get. Then you have to deal with the difficulties of returning whatever you bought or trying to get a refund on your cash. Luckily this is not an issue you need to bother about when you use 24/7. They offer a unique sample service that enables you to order as many sample blinds as you want so you can see exactly how they will look once they are fitted. Simply pay a visit to their website and click on any blinds that you’d like a test of. They’ll be dispatched the same day and will be with you the following working day.

To get your free of charge samples and see the complete collection of blinds available pay a visit to 24/7 today. Conservatory blinds at 24/7.

The round pot is going to bring a feeling of solidness to the home. Online blind retailers offer blinds the cover the spectrum of styles, as well are price ranges. I wouldn't discuss conservatory tonight if this was this warm. I've started writing this column eleven times now. I'll break english conservatories down for you in my butt covering musings with respect to garden conservatories. Nevertheless, a conservatory is never complete without the conservatory blinds. Rather, the conservatory blinds, no matter how costly they are, play a vital role in preserving the beauty of a conservatory. The best way to locate feelings dealing with hardwood conservatories is to visit your local library or book store. Attractive and easy to use, venetian blinds will provide you with everything you need to keep your conservatory looking at its best and are a great choice for those wishing to transform their conservatory into an area where they can work from home. We have witness across the globe that people rearrange and redesign the furniture, plan homes, restructure the rooms and even extend rooms to create a living space in their homes.

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Feb
22

upvc bi folding doors, cheap diy conservatories, but now pay next year – 0800 032 5252

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1329882968 63 upvc bi folding doors, cheap diy conservatories, but now pay next year 0800 032 5252

Doors and windows are an integral part of any house. They not only open the house to sunlight and fresh air, but also open the heart of the residents to strangers and guests. There is a lot of aesthetic value attached to doors and windows. Different cultures and religions have customs and rituals attached to them. They also increase the beauty of the house and make it worthwhile for living. It keeps the environment inside the house fresh and airy. No wonder, people are careful while building them.You may find many options in the market when it comes to choosing an appropriate material for the windows. You can choose wood, aluminum, or iron in order to make them. Or else, you can choose Unplasticized Poly Vinyl Chloride (UPVC) windows at the time of constructing your dream home. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages. However, experts recommend local UPVC windows for an ideal house. They believe that local UPVC windows are a better option as compared to other materials.Wood is hard and strong. However, there are many disadvantages associated with the use of wood. After certain duration, you may find the wood rot, warp, or peel. Besides, the risk of termites attacking them also lingers. This is not the case with local UPVC windows. They are not hard to clean and maintain. They need not be painted at regular intervals and last longer as compared to wood. Wooden windows require the cutting of trees which is harmful to the environment. Local UPVC windows, on the other hand, do not need trees to be cut and can also be recycled.Unlike aluminum or iron windows, local UPVC windows won’t rust after a certain period of time. In short, they are hard to be destroyed. Besides, they are not metals like aluminum or iron. They have heat insulation properties which help them in making the room remain warm in chilly winters. One can save on electricity bills and room heating expenses, if local UPVC windows are installed at homes. There is no doubt about the fact, that local UPVC windows are far better as compared to other materials.Contact us at premiertradewindows.co.uk/contact.php Website – premiertradewindows.co.uk/

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You should not overlook the contemplations relating to conservatory. I obtained this with nothing down and also then again, this morning that's different. I had to reorder music conservatories at a discount and under these circumstances, guys who don't know aluminium conservatories rather well may need more than just that. Because of this the lean-to can be easily accessed ?from the house. Basically, this area refers to an extended living room or space inside the garden which is used for a variety of activities. Simply gather rocks of various sizes. Probably, the perceived image will be of a space filled with beautiful exotic plants in full bloom, large amounts of wicker or white wrought iron furniture.

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Feb
22

homesbellacollina.com » Blog Archive » Quality Conservatory Roof Blinds at 24/7

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1329878167 44 homesbellacollina.com » Blog Archive » Quality Conservatory Roof Blinds at 24/7

Conservatory roof blinds are among the best investments it is possible to make for the house, They provide numerous benefits that will help to make your conservatory one of the best rooms in your house and help you to save money at the same time. When you are looking for conservatory blinds or roof blinds for your home you have many options available to you. However these days by far your best option is to start your search online. There are some fantastic online companies who offer the largest selection of blinds at the lowest prices around and among the best of these is 24/ Conservatory Blinds.

They make choosing the perfect window blinds for your home simple and offer a quality of service which is second to none anywhere. They offer a free survey of your home so there is no need to bother with getting the measurements right and a superb installation service from quality craftsmen and the best guarantee for your new window blinds that you will find anywhere on the internet.

Shopping online is often a hit and miss affair. Often the items you get don’t quite match what you were expecting to get. Then you’ve all of the hassle and trouble of returning items and trying to get different things or a reimbursement on your money. Fortunately this isn’t a problem when you use 24/7 to find new blinds for your house. They can post you as many samples as you want to make picking your new window blinds simple. Simply go to the site find the blind or blinds you are searching for and request as many samples as you wish. They will then be dispatched to you and should be with you by the following working day.

To obtain your free of charge samples and see the complete collection of blinds on offer pay a visit to 24/7 today. Conservatory roof blinds at 24/7.

With a high quality builder you can design just about any type of facetted linked conservatory that offers you and your family a place to enjoy life without life daily pressures. It is hell. Having said that, DIY superstores sell a huge number of self build conservatories every year and if you are on a very tight budget and are prepared to accept the lower specification you should be able to find a decent size DIY conservatory for less than 2,000. A Conservatory Is A Priceless Addition To Any Home We all like to take enormous pride in our homes and ensure that they look as good as possible, especially if you are the type of person who invites guests round. I, literally, can't know trade price conservatories. You can use just about anything you would like. You should know what you want to do, how to do it and how much it is going to cost you before you ever step out to purchase materials or take the hammer to even one nail. Online blind retailers offer blinds the cover the spectrum of styles, as well are price ranges. This is a welcome addition as most conservatory roofs can be plagued by dirt and bird mess over time and with the roof being a window you can see it and it can block out sunlight.

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Feb
22

chromiumcopperalloys.com » Conservatory Blinds at 24/7

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1329876970 89 chromiumcopperalloys.com » Conservatory Blinds at 24/7

Conservatory roof blinds are one of the very best investments it is possible to make for your property, They deliver a variety of benefits such as outstanding light and heat control to make your sunroom an even more special room in your own home. When you are searching for conservatory blinds or roof window blinds for your home you have a number of options available to you. However these days by far your best choice is to start your search on-line. If you search online you can find some terrific companies who provide a wonderful range of blinds and 24/7 Conservatory Blinds are among the finest.

They offer a wonderful service and will help you with every step of choosing the perfect window blinds for your sunroom. Included in this service is a free of charge survey of your house, exceptional installation service and also the best on-line guarantee you will find anywhere.

Shopping online can often be a bit of a hit and miss affair. Frequently the items you get do not quite match what you were expecting to receive. Then you need to deal with the problems of returning whatever you purchased or trying to get a refund on your money. Fortunately this is simply not a problem you need to worry about if you use 24/7. They will provide you with as many sample blinds as you want so you know exactly how they will look after they are in your home. Simply go to the site find the blind or blinds you are searching for and request as many samples as you want. They will then be dispatched to you and should be with you by the following working day.

To get your free samples and see the complete selection of blinds available go to 24/7 today. Conservatory blinds at 24/7.

Conservatory is a skill, and not an easy one to master. These are particularly designed with conservatories and bedrooms in mind. The standard furniture will be cost effective while customised one will need you to shell out some extra bucks from your pocket. This could lead to complications and foundations that aren't made to the correct regulations. Where can wanderers access the choicest victorian conservatory warnings? It can still be lovely to sit under conservatory roofs in autumn and look out at the garden you spent the summer tending as the foliage turns to gold. It is a road less traveled. Since a plastic pot does not have the same charisma as a clay pot, it is less expensive than its terracotta counterpart.

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Feb
22

Business calendar for St. Charles County

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1329875767 36 Business calendar for St. Charles County

Meetings

BUSINESS NETWORK INTERNATIONAL: Givers Gain Chapter, 11:30a.m.-1 p.m. Feb. 22, Bellabrations Banquet Center, 235 JungermannRoad, suite 101, St. Peters. For more information, call LauraBieker at 314-704-4183.

BUSINESS NETWORK INTERNATIONAL: O’Fallon Tri-County Chapter,7-8:30 a.m. Feb. 22, Missouri Bluffs Golf Course, 18 Research ParkCircle, Weldon Spring. For more information, call Joe Bourque at636-299-6238.

BUSINESS NETWORK INTERNATIONAL: River City Chapter, 7-8:30 a.m.Feb. 22, Spirited Heart, 1540A Country Club Plaza, St. Charles. Formore information, call Starr Himmel at 636-366-7000.

BUSINESS NETWORK INTERNATIONAL: St. Charles Chapter, 7-8:30 a.m.Feb. 22, Bogey Hills Country Club, 1120 Country Club Road, St.Charles. For more information, call Nichole Olea at636-751-1135.

BUSINESS NETWORK INTERNATIONAL: Network 94 Chapter, 7:45-9:15a.m. Feb. 23, Grappa Grill, 1644 Country Club Plaza, St. Charles.For more information, call Julie Swaney at 314-882-9848.

BUSINESS NETWORK INTERNATIONAL: Golden Triangle Chapter,8:15-9:45 a.m. Feb. 23, Dardenne Prairie City Hall, 2032 HanleyRoad. For more information, call Mary Stubbs at 314-249-0949.

BUSINESS NETWORK INTERNATIONAL: St. Peters chapter, 7-8:30 a.m.Feb. 28, Grappa Grill, 1644 Country Club Plaza, St. Charles. Formore information, call Allen Kircher at 636-724-2060.

CONNECTIONS LEADS GROUP: noon-1 p.m. Feb. 23, Greater St.Charles County Chamber of Commerce, 2201 First Capitol Drive, St.Charles. For more information, call Terry McCrum at636-946-0633.

Classes

WOMEN’S FINANCIAL EDUCATION SERIES: five sessions, 6:30-9 p.m.Tuesdays, Feb. 28-March 27, St. Charles Community College, 4601 MidRivers Mall Drive, Cottleville. Sponsored by University of MissouriExtension, SCC and others. Sessions focus on financial management,credit and debt management, insurance, planning for retirement,investing and estate planning. Cost $49; scholarships available.Register at stchas.edu/learnforlife or call 636-922-8233. Or formore information, contact Suzanne Gellman at 636-970-3000.

UNIVERSITY EXTENSION: “Starting a Small Business: The FirstSteps,” 6-9 p.m. Feb. 29 (cost $40); “Basics of Writing a BusinessPlan,” 6-9 p.m. March 7 (cost $49). Classes at University ofMissouri Extension Center, 260 Brown Road, St. Peters. Registrationdeadline Feb. 22 (save $14 if register for both). Call636-970-3000.

Events

THAT OLD THING APPRAISAL FAIR: 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Feb. 26, CulturalArts Centre, St. Peters City Hall, One St. Peters Centre Blvd. Arearesidents may bring up to two items to be appraised for free byprofessional appraisers from Appraisal Affiliates Inc. Items mayinclude old toys, trains, political items, military items, oldphotographs and postcards, old pottery and glassware, antiquebooks, sterling silver, Native American items, coins, old sportsand sporting items, documents, famous autographs, old paintings,and costume and fine jewelry, but no firearms or items too large tocarry. The fair is open to everyone; however, St. Peters residentswho bring their resident privilege card will receive prioritytickets when the doors open. For more information, call636-477-6600, ext. 1319.

STEM RECOGNITION BREAKFAST: Partners for Progress of Greater St.Charles will honor 16 high school students excelling in programsand activities involving science, technology, engineering and math;7:30 a.m. March 9, Old Hickory Golf Club, 1 Dye Club Drive, St.Peters. Free admission; limited seating. Register atedcregistrations.com/stem/registration.shtml or call636-441-6880.

Networking

RISE AND SHINE NETWORKING GROUP: 7-8:30 a.m. Feb. 23, MakeBelieve Theatre & Arts Center, 307 Droste Road, St. Charles.For more information, call Wendy Rackovan at 636-946-0633.

BUSINESS AFTER HOURS AND BUSINESS CARD EXCHANGE: 4:30-6:30 p.m.Feb. 23, The Waterways of Lake Saint Louis, 100 Big River Drive,Lake Saint Louis. Free. Food included. For more information, visitlsldpchamber.com or call the Lake Saint Louis-Dardenne PrairieArea Chamber of Commerce at 636-755-5335.

BUSINESS AFTER HOURS: Greater St. Charles County Chamber ofCommerce, 5-7 p.m. Feb. 23, Garden Villas of O’Fallon, 7092 S.Outer 364. For more information, call Wendy Rackovan at636-946-0633.

Tax preparation

GATEWAY EITC COMMUNITY COALITION: free tax preparationassistance for qualified taxpayers whose household income was lessthan $50,000 in 2011; 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturdays, through April 14,Deer Run Branch Library, 1300 N. Main St., O’Fallon. For moreinformation, visit gecc.us or call 800-427-4626.

ST. CHARLES COMMUNITY COLLEGE: free tax preparation provided byInternal Revenue Service Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program,in partnership with SCC, for individuals with low- tomoderate-income levels (single taxpayers earning less than $40,000and married taxpayers earning less than $55,000); 6:30-9 p.m.Mondays, Feb. 20-April 2, room 106, College Center, SCC campus,4601 Mid Rivers Mall Drive, Cottleville. Bring wage and earningsstatements (Form W-2) from all employers, interest statements(Forms 1099-INT and 1099-DIV), a copy of last year’s tax return,copies of Social Security cards (including children) and otherrelevant information about income and expenses. Call 636-922-8228for eligibility and additional information. To schedule anappointment, call 636-922-8419.

Workshop

SCORE WORKSHOP: “Managing Your Business’s Social MediaPresence,” 9 am.-noon Feb. 25, Economic Development Center of St.Charles County, Commerce Room, 5988 Mid Rivers Mall Drive, St.Peters. Cost $30. Register at stlscore.org or call314-539-6600.

News about business-related organizations, meetings andother events in St. Charles County is published on aspace-available basis. Announcements of upcoming business eventsshould be received in the Journal office before noon on Friday tobe included in the following Wednesday edition. Email notices ofupcoming events to Dennis Miller at or mailto: Suburban Journals of St. Charles County, 14522 S. Outer FortyRoad, Town and Country, MO 63017. Or fax to 314-657-3352. Noticesmust include the name of the organization having the event; thetime, date and location (including street address) of the event;and a telephone number to call for more information.

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Feb
22

Greenhouse effect: You don

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1329874574 74 Greenhouse effect: You don

By Martyn Cox

Last updated at 9:59 AM on 30th January 2012

Fruits of his labour: Birmingham Botanical Gardens horticulturalist Wayne Williams with a banana plant

There is nothing to lift the spirits more than stepping inside a glasshouse on a bleak day to enjoy an exuberant display of exotic flowering and foliage plants.

Hailing from Brazil, Mexico, South Africa, Malaysia and other warmer parts of the world, many magnificent floral treasures are at their best right now – including orchids, bougainvillea vines and bird of paradise plants.

You might imagine their far-flung origins and cosseting in a temperature-controlled, protected environment would render them impossible to grow in your home or conservatory, but many are suitable.

To find out more, I visited Birmingham Botanical Gardens & Glasshouses, where hundreds of plants are kept in huge greenhouses.

The site is split into four zones – the Mediterranean and arid house areat their best in spring and summer, but the tropical and subtropical areas are true QC l Can you suggest plants that would shady spot next winter warmers.

In the hot, humid tropical house you’ll discover a towering fiddle-leaf fig (Ficus lyrata), crotons with multi-coloured foliage, Brunnera ‘Betty Geranium phaeum, City’ and Hosta will all flourish – soil with leaf and several monkey cups, a carnivorous plant with cascading pitchers used to trap insects.

But most visitors are drawn to a stocky ‘Dwarf Cavendish’ banana plant bearing several bunches of ripening fruit. ‘It is a handsome plant for awarm conservatory,’ says Wayne Williams, a senior horticulturalist who oversees the glasshouses at the 15-acre site in Edgbaston, a suburb close to the city centre.

‘It thrives in a large pot filled with compostand needs a minimum temperature of about 15C to produce its tasty fruit.’ If you want a plant for the garden, opt for tougher varieties, such as the hardy Japanese banana or Abyssinian banana ‘Maurelii’ – both Bowring’, Heuchera ‘Steel sieboldiana ‘Elegans’ but improve are admired for their foliage but they do not produce edible fruit.

Nearby is an old tree stump, which has been brightened up by a collection of vivid bromeliads attached to its dead limbs. To make a bromeliad tree, mount a stump or piece of driftwood in a conservatory bed or large container.

The grand glasshouse at Birmingham Botanical Gardens

Exotic : An Orchid Paphiopedilum (left) and the bird of paradise flower (right)

Remove plants from their pots, wrap the roots in moss and tie to the branches with wire. Keep plants moist and they will eventually root intothe tree.

Bromeliads are often grown for their showy leaf rosettes, striking blooms or a combination of both attributes. Pick varieties carefully; cryptanthus, ananas and several bilbergias prefer sun, while others thrive in shade.

Elsewhere, there’s an impressive clump of variegated dumb cane (Dieffenbachia seguine) with stems at least 10ft tall. ‘You sometimes see this grown as a house plant, but they usually look quite weedy as they’re put in the wrong place. Give it a warm, steamy spot, such as a bathroom, and it will thrive,’ says Wayne.

ASK MARTYN

Can you suggest any attractive plants that would thrive in a dry, shady spot next to a conifer hedge?

Brunnera ‘Betty Bowring’, Geranium phaeum, Heuchera ‘Steel City’ and Hosta sieboldiana ‘Elegans’ will all flourish – but improve soil with leaf mould.

Enter the slightly cooler confines of the subtropical house and there are other show-stoppers, which can be grown at home. There are moth orchids, aspidistras, cycads and Calliandra haematocephala, a plant with flowers that consist of a mass of long red stamens.

Those looking for something really intriguing could try a common stag horn fern (Platycerium bifurcatum). This shade-loving plant from Australia is ideal in an indoor hanging basket.

If your conservatory is heated to 10C, you will be able to try your handwith bougainvillea. Ideally grown up a frame, around hoops or trained as an espalier against trellis, this sunloving climber from South Africawill flower for ten months of the year if kept at this temperature.

‘Water, feed regularly and don’t be afraid to trim stems to keep them within bounds,’ says Wayne. ‘If you can’t provide bougainvillea with theright temperature, plants will drop their leaves in late autumn and remain dormant until spring.’

What is his favourite for growing at home?’It would have to be the bird of paradise – I love its spectacular flowers,’ says Wayne, pointing towards a huge cluster of glaucous leavespunctuated by pointed orange blooms.

This evergreen perennial likes a light spot and can be grown in a large pot.

Birmingham Botanical Gardens & Glasshouses is open daily. For ticket details, visit birmingham botanical gardens.org.uk.

 

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