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Garden

Cuttings

Briefs and news of note for the gardener.

By JUDY STARK
Published July 1, 2006

Bite-sized blooms

If it looks good enough to eat, please help yourself. Edible Arrangements are just that, fresh fruit on skewers arranged to look like flowers. (We like the pineapple cut to look like daisies.) Order locally or send as a gift to friends elsewhere; there are franchises across the country. The arrangement shown here, $53, came from the store at 5165 34th St. S in St. Petersburg. Visit www.ediblearrangements.com to find one close to you.

Adding plants pays off

Greenery can deliver the green, according to the American Nursery and Landscape Association. Research it sponsored indicates that landscaping can increase a home's value by 5 percent to 11 percent. Bigger is better, the survey showed: The largest affordable plants consistently provide a higher perceived value.

Ousting uninvited guests

Looking ahead to cookouts and parties on July 4, we offer this swat-'em advice: Wasps are attracted by fruits and juices, so keep those items covered, don't set out food and drink until people are ready to eat, and clean up soda and juice spills right away. The advice is similar for ants, and don't forget to take food, plates and utensils inside as soon as dinner is over. Mosquitoes: Get rid of standing water. Check unlikely places: gutters, flying discs, dishes under flower pots. Mosquitoes will develop in a puddle that lasts more than four days. Skip the perfumes, hair sprays and lotions, which attract mosquitoes, and use personal repellents that contain DEET.

Where to find it

The Axcess Trimmer featured in this column last week is available at Home Depot, Ace and True Value stores. The last line of the column was inadvertently deleted.

- Compiled by Homes editor JUDY STARK

[Last modified June 30, 2006, 10:12:51]