Martin Smith933 2

Castle blueprint plans are becoming very popular among people who want to live in grand style. There are several companies that sell plans for castle homes that look like those of your childhood dreams. Castle homes generally have four or more bedrooms. One such castle is Glenough Castle. Entrance is through a grand foyer which leads into the great room. To the left of the foyer is a formal parlor. Behind the parlor is a huge master bedroom suite with walk in closets, a full bath and access to the private deck.
From the foyer, you can access the kitchen, breakfast nook and den. There is a powder room off the foyer. A utility room and toilet are behind the kitchen. You can access the keeping from and rear deck from the kitchen. Glenough Castle plan blueprints are left to right flip mirror image of another castle home Kildare Castle.
The second floor of Glenough Castle is magnificent. The blueprints show three full-sized bedrooms each with a separate private bath and walk-in closet. There is a spare room which can be used as an extra bedroom, library, media center, study or rec room. There are castle blueprint plans available but Castle Glenough and Castle Kildare are two of the most luxurious castle plans. Do a web search for castle floor plans or castle home blueprints.
The castle style home is luxurious, enchanting, and unique. Fulfill the fantasies of your childhood and build your very own castle. Home with all the amenities of today.

Faith Williams and Ron Treister433 2

Imagine – you have just enjoyed a nice, hot, relaxing shower and the stresses of the day have seemingly melted away – until you take your first step onto your beautiful ceramic tile floor, the unbelievably cold ceramic tile floor.
There has to be another way, you say to yourself, and thankfully, there is: in-floor warming systems. The popularity of these systems has grown greatly in recent years.
“Homeowners are becoming more aware of the availability of this product on the market,” said John O’Brien, of Radiant Floor Warming, a company that has been warming America’s feet for the last eight years. “This market is growing by over 80 percent per year and is expected to grow by over 140 percent by 2005.”
Chris Ellmore, a homeowner in Boston, Massachusetts, is one of those who have installed electric radiant heat in his master bath. “It keeps the bathroom nice and warm.” Ellmore said the in-floor warming system has been an added feature now that he is in the process of selling his home. “It was one of those little extras, like granite countertops or stainless steel appliances, but those cost 15 times more than the floor warming system.” Ellmore said the last time the prospective buyers were at the home, he walked into the master bath and found the mother and daughter feeling the floor. “They couldn’t believe how warm the floor was,” said Ellmore.
While in-floor warming systems have always been popular in colder regions like northern New England or the upper Mid West, two things have made the systems more widespread. As the use of tile has increased, so has the use of these systems. As people decided to use tile not only in their bathrooms, but also in their kitchens, foyers, sunrooms and other areas, they wanted to keep the tile warm. The other reason for the systems’ increase in popularity is the long way the manufacturers have come to make the system easier and faster to install, therefore reducing the cost for installation.
Another major selling point is the installation of the in-floor warming system does not require any special installation procedures. The sub floor should be prepared as for any conventional tile installation in accordance with all applicable standards. It should be clean of all debris and sharp edges or objects that might damage the element. Loose boards should be repaired and all gaps should be filled to assure the mat will be installed over a smooth and even surface.
A hydronic system, which has hot water running through flexible tubing, is a total home heating system. It requires a boiler to heat the water and plumbing and is typically used in new construction only.
“Electric floor heating is designed to be installed directly under the tile or stone flooring,” said O’Brien. “We thinset this material down to the substrate and it will add virtually no height to the floor – only 1/8″ of an inch. This cannot be done with hydronic heating.”
“Radiant is for floor warming and does not replace the existing heat in your home. This material can be used in renovations or new construction, is UL approved and perfect for any room. We predict by 2007 40% of medium to high end tile or stone installations will have a warm floor associated with it.”
One common myth that exists is floor-warming systems are only popular in colder climates. This is not the case, O’Brien says. “Certainly, it is more evident in colder climates – yet a tremendous amount of material is sold in California and Florida as people typically have the A/C on and the tile is still ‘cold’. In fact, most people who buy heated floors in all climates use them throughout the summer as well.”
Basic Installation Instructions:

Measure and plan are to be covered.
Place unit and cut webbed mat (not wire heating element) to make turns and new runs. The flexible heating element bends as needed.
Connect wires to junction box/thermostat (to be done by licensed electrician). Test unit.
Spread the thinset mortar or self-leveling underlayment right over the mat. The thin profile makes for a smooth, flat finish.
Install Flooring product according to product and industry standards.

Electric radiant heat offers maintenance free comfort all year long, in any kind of climate. For further information, visit http://www.radiantfloorwarming.com or contact John O’Brien at Radiant Floor Warming, 888-FLR-WARM276).

Jay Dorman1186 2

While Grandma’s quilts showed off a sample of her pretty bits of fabric and her skill with many different fancy needle stitches – imagine what she could have done with a pot of glaze and a sponge. That’s right. As artistic and skilled as Grandma was she probably would be right at home with faux finish paints, too.
There are so many options available to today’s homeowner when it comes to choosing alternatives to traditional flat paint. There’s absolutely no reason to hang onto that boring tried-and-true white (or taupe, taupe, taupe) painted in every room throughout your home.
Explore the alternatives. Look in magazines for rooms that appeal to you. Architectural Digest, Southern Accents, Veranda and others all regularly feature homes that have faux finishes on everything from walls to furniture. Designers love to change the feel of a space with color and textures, painted faux finishes are an easy first step in that direction. You can do the same thing, too.
Faux finishes can be applied to almost any surface. From walls, ceilings, cabinetry in the kitchen and bath, floors, to all types of solid furniture as well. Styles of finishes can be extremely simple and subtle, to way, way over-the-top fantasy finishes, depending on your personal taste and pocketbook.
For your walls, here’s something to think about — a faux wall finish can provide a striking and seamless alternative to wallpaper. Seamless. No peeling or splitting. Just a beautiful hand-painted unique finish individually crafted for you alone.
A skilled faux finish artist can create a look just for you that the wallpaper manufacturers would love to copy and mass-market. Some of the more popular looks for walls include:
• Color washes – ragged, bushed, sponged single glazes over solid paint, the work-horse of faux finishes
• Multiple glazes – layered over solid paint, provides great depth
• Faux leather looks – terrific in a study
• Faux suede – stipple glaze over solid paint
• Stencil over-all patterns – antique damask or simple borders
• Venetian plasters – lustrous beautiful plasters
• Tuscan old-world plasters – troweled on plaster, chipped, cracked and aged to perfection
• Faux stone effects – limestone, fieldstone, slate, cut and fitted patterns
• Faux brick looks
• Faux wood – faux bois, antiqued, distressed, burled, bamboo
• Faux metal – brilliant metallic glazes, antique iron, verdigris
• Tissue paper – textured paper, paint and glaze
• Stripes – glazed or just painted, always classy
On columns, trim, doors, crown molding, fireplaces and art niches there are a number of cool faux finishes that can enhance the architecture of any room. Classic looks feature:
• Marble – from travertine to Rojo Viejo, the choices are wide open
• Granite – mimic your countertops
• Fantasy stones, such as lapis and malachite
• Gilding – any metal leafing, gold, silver, copper
• Strie – fine dragging of colored glaze over a solid paint
Antique or distressed faux finishes are wonderful choices on cabinetry and furniture. Adding a few worn edges and some crackled paint to those dated, tired kitchen cabinets can give them a fresh new “old” look. Think Provence.
It’s easy to expand your options. Change your mind about what’s acceptable for your sweet home space. Play a little with something fresh and new. Remember, changing the dynamics of your home is easy with the assistance of a skilled and experienced faux finish artist.
Always go to a pro who has a track record and samples and customers who love to tell you about the artist’s work that was created just for them. Then let him create a special room just for you.
He can guide you to faux finishes and colors that will be appropriate to your style, your furnishings, and your pocketbook. Consult with a trained professional artist and get the best look for your home today.
Oh. And keep in mind, if you are tired of that old chest-of-drawers and thinking about tossing it out, maybe all it needs a good old-fashioned antiquing. A dab of glaze here, another dab there. Just right. ma would approve, no doubt.

Ron King1560

The most important investment you will ever make is probably the purchase of a home. Finding the right home for you can be a long and arduous process, but there is no getting around that.
Know Your Wants And Needs
Before embarking on your journey of house hunting, you must know what you really want to find. Sit down with pen and paper and list all the features you care most about, such as:
- Location (in a particular city, school district or neighborhood)
- Size — how many bedrooms and bathrooms
- Parking — a 1-car garage or 2?
- Style — 2-story house or ranch style home?
- Heating — central heating and/or air conditioning?
Equally important, on a new sheet of paper list all the features you absolutely do not want in a house. For example:
- high-traffic area.
- high noise area (airport, train station or highway in close proximity)
- maintenance — major repairs needed
As you look at houses, keep both lists in mind. Your lists may change over time as you do more looking. You’ll want to add or remove features, or perhaps you’ll become willing to make compromises. Realize that you most likely will not find the “perfect” home. Experienced homebuyers will tell you, perfect homes are not found, they are made perfect through hard work.
Get Your Credit Report In Order
Prior to looking at properties, you must get your finances in order. This is the time to review your credit report and clean it up, if need be, to maximize your credit score. Many people do not realize how important it is to check your credit report periodically to make sure it is accurate. You should pay off any past due amounts, or negotiate a settlement price to close the debt. Get such agreements in writing, before paying any settlement. Keep all receipts for any settled items from your credit report since it may take months to get the debt actually removed.
Research Your Home-Buying Options
Decide what kind of property you are interested in. Do you want a HUD property, a foreclosure, real estate, or property for sale by owner?
A number of web sites list homes according to city, state, or price range. Visit these sites to see pictures of homes, many with virtual tours, and review the listing features.
Get Pre-Approved For A Loan
You’re ready now to find a lender and get yourself pre-approved for the loan. Being pre-approved offers a number of advantages. It will clarify the price range you can afford. Also, once you find the home you want, you can place an immediate offer. If you have to wait for pre-approval, someone could buy the house right out from under you.
Several special programs are often available from lenders, such as the FHA or Ameri-Dream, that can save you money in the closing. Ask the lender about any special programs before you decide on a loan.
Find A Good Real Estate Agent
It is wise for the first time homebuyer to work closely with a real estate agent, no matter what type of property you’re looking for. A knowledgeable real estate agent will make your house-hunting much easier. A good real estate agent is usually a good negotiator, and will be able to help you with the complicated paperwork involved in placing an offer on a house or in closing a deal.
It’s essential that you have a real estate agent working for you as the buyer, rather than relying on the seller’s agent for the house you want to buy. The latter can involve a conflict of interest, which usually works to your disadvantage.
To select a real estate agent, you should check with your friends and neighbors for recommendations. Find an agent you feel comfortable with and who is knowledgeable about the area you hope to buy in.
These are just the basics of home buying. You will find many details you need to master as you move through the buying process, but having these basics under your belt will give you a head start.

Tyrannus Rolle18 2

Did you get sticker shock when you opened your last utility bill? If you did, you’re not alone. People have reported huge increases in their energy bills. My gas bill went up about 40%, so I decided to make my home more energy efficient. You would be surprised just how much you can lower your utility bills by taking a few of these simple steps. Here are 20 quick and easy tips:
Close the heating vents.
Closing the heating vents or radiators in an unoccupied room can save 5-10% on your heating costs.
Close the fireplace flue.
Don’t let heat go up the chimney. Make sure the fireplace flue is closed when not in use.
Turn off the pilot light.
A pilot light typically costs $3-$5 per month to keep lit. If your heating system has a pilot light, turn it off during the summer.
Fix that leaking faucet.
A faucet leaking a single drip per second can waste 400 gallons of water a year. Besides being a tremendous environmental waste, if that water is heated it will cost you about $8 if you heat with electricity, $4 if you heat with natural gas – plus the cost of the water itself.
Replace old shower heads.
According to federal regulations, new shower heads can pass no more than 2.5 gallons per minute. By replacing old shower heads with new ones, a family of four can save around 15,000 gallons of water per year, which amounts to savings of over $150 and $60 for electric and gas heated water respectively.
Keep the refrigerator door closed.
Shut the fridge! Opening the refrigerator door accounts for $10 – $20 of a typical family’s electrical bill each year based on 40-60 openings per day.
Provide adequate circulation for the refrigerator.
Allow at least one inch of space on each side of the refrigerator for good circulation. Poor circulation can increase electricity consumption by 10%.
Keep your refrigerator cool.
A 5° F difference in air temperature can impact your refrigerator electricity consumption by 20%. To reduce your refrigerator’s work, keep spare refrigerators in the coolest part of the house, like the basement.
Turn your computer off.
You could be spending well over $100 per year on electricity by always leaving your computer on! Turn it off when it’s not in use.
Set your thermostat at 78° F.
The breeze from a fan can provide you with the comfort of temperature that is 6° F cooler. Also, during the summer, each degree that you raise the thermostat on your cooling system typically saves 2% on your cooling bill. Energy experts recommend setting your thermostat at 78° F or higher.
Keep your light fixtures clean.
Dirt can absorb as much as half of the light given off by fixtures, tubes and bulbs. Keep your light fixtures clean and use less electricity.
Use compact fluorescent light bulbs.
Use light bulbs that produce the most light using the least amount of electricity. Energy-efficient bulbs, such as compact fluorescent bulbs, use 75% less energy than typical incandescent bulbs.
Turn the lights off.
Don’t just leave the lights on. Lighting controls provide security lighting when you are not home – with clock timers you can turn lights in your home on and off automatically at preset times. Timers, motion sensors and photo sensors are all ways to save electricity use.
Plant some trees.
Deciduous trees, which lose their leaves in the winter, can help you reduce your energy costs during the summer because their foliage provides shade. And in the winter, after their leaves have fallen, the sun’s warmth passes unobstructed into your home. Strategically placed shrubs and vines can also reduce the effect of the sun’s heat.
Leave the thermostat alone.
If you must use air-conditioning, don’t turn the thermostat lower thinking it will cool your home faster. It won’t.
Keep your thermostat cool.
Keep appliances that give off heat, like stereos and televisions, away from your thermostat-the hot air will persuade your cooling system to work harder.
Insulate your attic.
Adding fiberglass insulation to your attic is one of the most effective and easy savings measures you can take yourself. Also, insulating air ducts or pipes can conserve up to 10% of their heat.
Keep your kitchen cool.
Use a fan to draw hot air out of your kitchen when cooking. The savings in your cooling costs far outweigh the electricity use of the fan.
Keep your dryer clean.
Don’t overload your clothes dryer. And make sure you clean the lint filter after every load. An overloaded dryer and a dirty filter, which reduces airflow, make the dryer work harder. Dry loads consecutively to take advantage of heat build-up. If possible, line dry clothes.
Run a full dishwasher.
Cut out pre-rinsing, load dishes according to the dishwasher manufacturer’s instructions, and use only recommended amounts of dish washing detergent. Only run the washer when it’s full – your dishwasher uses the same amount of water regardless of how many dishes are in it. Air-dry dishes when possible.
To find out what all those mysterious charges are on your gas bill visit http://www.energy.ca.gov/glossZZZ

We’ve all heard about Tibetan rugs, but are Tibetan rugs popular in our North American culture? The popularity of Tibetan rugs waxes and wanes from month to month. One minute there is interest in the North American market, the next there is none.
Tibetan rugs are a tribal tradition and their designs are pictorial and generally focus on the Buddhist element. There rugs will also include geometric patterns. Collectors can’t seem to decide if these unique rugs are worth their investment dollars or not.
Older Tibetan rugs in good condition are hard to find. Most never left Tibet and thus the only ones available in the North American market are the more current rugs. Few rug dealers provide an opportunity to purchase beautiful old Tibetan rugs. More often than not the rugs that have found their way to the western world are the checkerboard rugs which are a variety of the tsuktruk weavings. They are generally a single color pile weave made from narrow strips that are sewn together. These rugs do not have designs.
The Wangen rugs come from a village called Wangden in the village of Tsang. Wangden was always one of the traditional weaving centers were the warped face rugs originated from.
Variations in color and structure have emerged but from where no one is certain. Most have been assigned the Bokhara name which is given to all Tekke Turkmen rugs but there is suspicion that these rugs actually originated from the Wangden area which has emerged as a modern weaving center.
Tiger rugs wear also quite trendy for a period which has now waned. The interesting thing about Tibetan rugs is that there popularity is not dictated by availably. The tiger rugs have many of the expected Tibetan characteristics and they are sold as meditation rugs or mats. The older ones where a solid color of brown, black, or deep blue, while the modern ones have developed a wider color palette.
Any mat that is made in the shape of a square is considered a mediation mat in Tibet. But realistically if that was the case every Tibetan would be committed to dharma and meditation and no one would be doing anything else.
The checkerboard rugs appear to be the most popular rug from Tibet. It’s apparent that when it comes to Tibetan rugs an understanding of the pictographs is not appreciated in their rugs, unlike with other cultures. There appeal as a home decor piece is very understandable as they are distinct and unique but as a collectors rug it’s hard to comprehend what drives the market.
The market for Tibetan rugs is more of a decor market and less of a collectors market and even still the Tibetan rugs seem to have a difficult time penetrating the market with any strength. When it comes to interest in Tibetan rugs it appears to be tied to an understanding of dharma and Buddhism.
You are probably well aware that the Tibetan culture is seldom discussed and few people understand Buddhism or the Tibetan people including those in the Pamir Mountains which are located in north Pakistan. Perhaps the lacks of understanding of the Tibetan people is the reason that the Tibetan rugs can’t seem to grab a continuously comfortable market share.
The Tibetan rugs are unique, intriguing, and an excellent conversational piece. If you are looking for a rug you should certainly consider Tibetan rugs.

David Leonhardt145 2

We live in a self-cleaning oven. Not literally, of course. We would burn up if we did. Those things get really HOT!
In fact, self-cleaning ovens get so hot that they burn orange juice to a crisp. They get so hot that they melt thermometers. The produce enough hot air to replace the entire American Senate, the British Parliament and the Canadian PMO put together. Unfortunately, certain trade barriers and constitutional clauses impede the replacement of deadwood political assemblies by modern, efficient self-cleaning ovens.
The self-cleaning oven is part of the “oven” genus of machines. Households these days also boast a microwave oven, a toaster, a toaster oven, a waffle maker, a bread maker, a popcorn cooker, an auto-shut kettle and several other specialty “ovens”. The combined hot air form all these cooking machines could turn any ordinary home into an instant Parliament.
Like the self-cleaning oven, everything is automated these days. It makes life so easy. In fact, the machines could almost run the world without us. Almost.
The ovens practically clean themselves. My great, great, great uncle, Caveman Jack, had to clean his oven with a stick. The hardest part was trying to figure out which rock was the oven.
Automated doors at the grocery store open and close even when nobody walks through…except for those few that still function properly.
Lights turn on an off on their own, as long as there is somebody there to applaud, which brings me to question the self-esteem of lighting fixtures.
Lint gets caught in the lint trap. Caveman Jack had to trap his own lint, but then somebody invented the clothes dryer, and people have not had to hunt for lint ever since.
Planes fly on autopilot these days. Gone are the days when Caveman Jack had to pedal over a cliff to take flight. Now pilots can sit back, sip a drink and snooze while airplanes fly themselves. Word is that Al Qaeda has developed a self-hijacking plane, but they can’t seem to develop a customer base.
Television remote controls, officially called “doodadders”, have made legs virtually redundant, except for bathroom breaks. In Caveman Jack’s days, they had to get up off their rocks to change the channels. If Caveman Jack had had a doodadder, he might still be sitting on his rock praying that somebody will soon invent a bathroom.
To be frank, I think the Office of Modern Conveniences has misguided priorities. My oven doesn’t need cleaning all that badly. But my office does. And so does my kitchen. And my laundry room. And my bathroom. Why doesn’t somebody invent a self cleaning bathroom?
Oops. I forgot. Somebody did invent a self-cleaning bathroom. On our honeymoon in Rome, we used the bathroom in a Roman Metro station. As soon as we left the bathroom the automatic door shut and the bathroom was rinsed from sprinklers all around.
Did I mention that Caveman Jack was a sugar sculptor? He carved lovely sculptures of rocks out of sugar. What if one day, while riding the Roman Metro to a sugar sculpture showing, Caveman Jack suddenly had to rush to the washroom?
Leaving the washroom, he remembers his prize sculpture entitled “Rock” sitting on the bathroom floor. Too late. The automatic doors close. The water flushes the bathroom clean.
Later that day at the sugar sculpture exhibit, everyone gathers ’round and marvels at the latest offering by Caveman Jack: “Little Rock”.
Caveman Jack is probably happy that he doesn’t have a self-cleaning oven. Too much convenience is not always good for the soul. Besides, there’s nothing like an open fire to cook a juicy mammoth steak.
Saaaay…how about a self-cleaning fire pit?

Bob Benson1853

Have you ever just had to have a certain piece of furniture right then – you won’t leave the store without it? If you have ever had such an experience, you have probably been offered the displayed floor model. If you have not had a similar experience, be aware of these issues that might arise when buying a demo, displayed piece of furniture.
Most stores can order furniture for you unless the particular model you want is being discontinued. Or, unless you absolutely, positively plan to walk out of the store with the sofa, recliner, or other piece of furniture that very day.
If you find yourself in either of the above situations, you should be aware of the pros and cons of buying a demo or displayed piece of furniture.
The biggest pro, obviously, is being able to have the instant gratification of immediate ownership. If really, really want a piece of furniture that is on display, try to hold your enthusiasm for the piece until you can talk with the sales person. Ask if there is a discount for buying the floor model. That would be a second pro. If a commissioned sales person can see how desperate you are to own that piece of furniture, he or she might be more likely to hold you to the original price. The best way to proceed is to ask the sales person what kind of price he can give you for that piece. Then, ask what price he can give you on the floor model. With any luck, the prices will show a decrease each time you ask!
If there is no discount for buying the floor model, proceed with caution. Don’t let your urge for immediate ownership of the furniture to keep you from getting the best deal. Back away and think about it. Can you wait another two weeks for a brand new piece of furniture to be shipped to your house? If the answer is no, go back and look at the furniture. Prepare to give it a good inspection.
If it is a sofa or chair, chances are that many of people have tried it out by sitting in it. Look at the seat. Is it worn or showing any signs of wear? Check out the back. Sometimes the natural oils from hair or the back side of necks can rub off on furniture cushions. Look for oily spots on the cushions.
Take a look at the arms. Are they worn? Pay special attention to the cording on the arms and cushions. As people get up or lean back to get comfortable, the cording gets extra friction against it and shows signs of wearing sooner.
Next, check the seams. Are any of the seams pulling apart? This might happen if a number of people have tried out the furniture. As people sit on the cushions, the seams tend to pull. They generally go back in place when the person gets up, but continued use could cause seams to separate permanently.
If you spot any signs of wear, point them out to the sales person. If he still won’t come down off the price, walk on by. Place your order and wait for a perfect model to arrive just for you!

News Canada61 2

(NC)-How well do you know your soil? It’s an important question for the health of the plants in and around your house. Good soil does more than provide a foundation for roots to grab on to. Well-structured soil lets the roots breathe easily, provides the right amount of nutrients and water to the plant, and has the right pH balance for the kind of plants you’re trying to grow.
Poor soil can inhibit plant growth in a number of ways. If it has too high a clay content, it will compact easily, drain poorly, prevent air from getting to the roots, and dry into hard clumps. If it’s too sandy, it will drain too quickly, erode easily and have difficulty holding nutrients for the plants to use. Good soil strikes a balance between these two extremes. When you pick up a handful, it feels moist and loose without falling through your fingers, has a fresh, clean smell, and a rich dark colour.
To find out what your soil structure is like, stir a handful into a clear glass of water and let it sit for several hours, until the water clears. The coarse, heavier sand particles will eventually settle to the bottom, with silt layering the top. The finer clay particles will eventually settle on top, and some humus (organic matter) will likely float on top of the clear water. Looking at the side of the glass, you can tell what your soil is primarily made of.
If it’s mostly sand, digging in lots of organic matter such as Hillview Triple Mix will improve it a great deal. If it’s mostly silt and clay, it will benefit from the addition of washed sand to help it drain and aerate well.
All soils will benefit from liberal applications of compost. If you don’t have your own compost, try Green Earth Premium Compost. Work the soil by turning it over and mixing it well to a depth of at least one foot, before planting.
SOIL pH LEVELS
Acidity or alkalinity in the soil is measured by pH values, on a scale of 1 (most acid) to 14 (most alkaline) with a level of 7 considered “neutral” Each level is ten times more or less than the next, ie. 5 is a ten times more acidic than 6 and 100 x more acidic than 7. A pH level of 8 is ten times more alkaline than 7, and so on.
The pH level influences the availability of nutrients for you plants, and the type of plants you can grow. For example, azaleas and rhododendrons like a lot of iron, a micronutrient that becomes less available to plants as soil alkalinity increases. These plants prefer a more acid soil, where iron is freely available…otherwise, their leaves become yellow between the veins. Unavailability of many other nutrients can have widely ranging, but equally damaging effects.
Most plants will grow well in a pH range of 6.5 to 7.2, where nutrients are readily available to them and this is a good area to strive for. But to start, it helps to know what your present soil pH value is.
You can buy a simple, inexpensive soil test kit from your garden centre, or ask them for local res for testing soil samples.
Alkaline soils can be neutralized by adding Green Earth Peat Moss, or small amounts of C-I-L® Aluminium Sulphate. Acid soils can be neutralized by adding Green Earth Dolomitic Lime. Be sure to read the label and change the soil pH slowly and carefully, to ensure you don’t upset the balance too far in the opposite direction. Compost will also help neutralize soil pH and add nutrients at the same time.
SOIL NUTRIENTS
All plants need a good balance of the major nutrients (Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potash), as well as minor or “micro” nutrients such as magnesium, copper, iron, calcium, manganese and many others in minute quantities. You can test your soil for the presence of these nutrients, and add those that are needed in the form of fertilizer. They will quickly become available to the plants (providing your soil pH is fairly neutral) and promote healthy growth. Regardless of pH level, the absence of any key nutrient can cause growth problems. Using a good quality general purpose fertilizer like PINK All Purpose Garden Food 8-12-6 will help to ensure plants get the balanced nutrition they need.

News Canada25 2

(NC)-Windows are such an important part of any room, that it’s amazing the number of times we ignore their many possibilities for creating or complementing a room’s entire mood and theme. They are the of light, air and sunshine, which are direct and integral s of our feelings of comfort. Therefore, the task of how to dress them should become a focal point.
Even if the windows themselves are not attractive, some sort of treatment on them (if only to disguise them) will change their appearance, but even more importantly will beautify the entire room. In this way, windows can greatly influence a room. They can be the focal point of an entire scheme in which you build the room around them because of a fabulous view, or just because the window itself is impressive.
Alternatively, you may choose to let them blend into the overall theme, because a piece of artwork is of specific interest and so needs to stand out. If you have a small living space or office, you may decide to keep things simple and neutral to maximize the room’s dimensions.
Sometimes, however, even this rule must be ignored, because you may want to maximize the feeling of intimacy within the room.
According to Yasmin Siboldi, Manager Visual Merchandising at Blinds To Go, the country’s leading manufacturer and retailer of custom made blinds and shades, it is best to begin, as with all décor choices, thinking of what you need with regards to function.
“Window treatments have so many variations, that they will probably be some of the most challenging, but also the most interesting decisions you will make about the look of your room,” Siboldi said.
But finally, she says, the one issue that has no bearing on needs, is simply aesthetics. That is to say the “need” to create a mood, a theme, a way of beautifying the appearance of a room, even if the treatment is unnecessary.
“Once you have determined the mood and theme you want to create for your room, selecting a window treatment can be easy,” Siboldi added. “Just remember decorating is supposed to be enjoyable and creative, so there really is no wrong answers. What’s important is that you created a look that you are pleased with.”
For more home décor and window covering ideas, visit a Blinds To Go superstore (1-800-blinds-7 for store locations) or its Web site at www.blindstogo.com.

Joel Walsh1152 2

Furniture sales have historically been a major area of consumer complaints. Luckily, there are a number of reasons why buying furniture online may be safer than offline.
No Fast-Talking Salesmen
Many complaints say the furniture salesperson made promises that were not kept. In reality, furniture salespeople don’t always know what they’re talking about. The actual fulfillment of furniture orders is often handled by a different department, or even a different company.
Not having salespeople hanging around makes online furniture shopping lower-pressure.
It’s All in Writing
By their very nature, online furniture stores have to put a lot of information in writing. The written policies regarding shipping, warranties (if any), and customer service will almost always be easy to access. (Hint: look for links to written policies at the bottom of each web page.) The fact that everything is written down gives the online furniture store much less wiggle room to change the terms of the deal.
Tips:
* Save or print out the web pages that describe the furniture you have ordered and the web pages for important policies and guarantees (which may change after you order), along with any confirmation pages or emails. That way, if you ever have a dispute, you have a firm basis to make your case.
* If the web page describing the product does not have a model name or product number, make sure you get those at checkout or at some other point before paying. Make absolutely sure you are ordering the furniture you want to order. As with an offline furniture store, you will have to pay to return any merchandise you ordered by mistake.
* If you do speak with a salesperson on the phone, don’t undermine the paper trail by accepting promises over the phone. Ask the web address for the written policy, or for a follow-up email outlining any promises made.
Photographic Evidence
Almost as good as online furniture stores’ paper trail is their photograph trail. A common consumer furniture complaint against offline stores is that the furniture that was delivered did not look like the model in the showroom. With online furniture stores, you are buying based on a photograph. You can save the picture onto your computer in case the delivered furniture does not meet expectations. If you make sure the model name or number is included on the order form at checkout, you can also double-check what the model looks like by going to the manufacturer’s website.
Less Delivery Wiggle Room
Late shipments are another common complaint against offline furniture stores. Furniture frequently arrives as much as one to two months later than salespeople indicated.
Online furniture stores will generally ship directly from the warehouse within a few days to a week of your order. Once again, you can easily check the written shipping policy for more exact information.
Another great thing about online furniture stores is that they are generally using third-party delivery companies. If you get the name of the delivery company while ordering, you may at least be able to check with the delivery company itself in the event of a late order. A third-party delivery company makes it a little more difficult for the store to claim the furniture is in transit when it never shipped.
Credit and Finance: Fewer Traps
According to the website consumeraffairs.com, furniture stores’ financing deals are notorious for breaking laws regulating credit and loans. That 0% interest deal might not be as great as you thought if it comes packed with expensive penalty charges. Or you might find that the qualification requirements are too high for most people to get the low rate. Worst, since it’s the furniture store that’s making you the loan, you’ve essentially already paid them before taking delivery of the furniture. If you later find out your furniture is going to be delivered unacceptably late, you may have a hard time canceling your order. The situation is no better for cash.
Online furniture stores generally do not offer financing. Instead, they accept credit cards. If a furniture store does not deliver the merchandise as promised and will not resolve your complaint, your credit card issuer may be able to help you in your dispute. In an extreme case where the furniture does not arrive or arrives in bad shape, your credit card provider may be able to force a refund.
Better Business Bureau’s Convenient BBBOnline
Many consumers who have complaints with a furniture store turn to the Better Business Bureau. But if the store is not a member of the Better Business Bureau, the Bureau can do little to help. Contrary to common belief, the Better Business Bureau is not a government agency and cannot enforce judgments. The Bureau primarily works to resolve disputes between consumers and its member businesses.
With online furniture stores, it’s easy to check for Better Business Bureau membership. The store should have the BBBOnline logo displayed prominently on the order page. Click on the logo to be taken to the BBB.org web page for that store. The web page should say that the store is a member in good standing.
With the BBBOnline, the Bureau’s ecommerce program, you can dispute a sale without having to go to the local Bureau where the store is headquartered, anywhere in the US.
Of course, if you’re too trusting and don’t look for written policies, Better Business Bureau membership, or save receipts, you can still be snookered by online furniture stores. But you could also be taken in by offline furniture stores. For a careful shopper, online furniture stores make it much easier to dot all the I’s than it would be offline. The experience is straightforward, low-pressure, and mostly in writing.
In short, while you should always be careful, online furniture stores make being careful a lot easier.

Janeth Duque1434 2

One of the best things you can do to save money on your landscape is to properly care for your plants. This is very important to keeping a healthy yard and an attractive landscape. If you properly care for your plants, you will save money in maintenance costs, and you will save money in having to replace plants that succumb to disease or other problems associated with poor care. Caring for your plants is not only good for the plants, but it is also good for you. You can get good exercise, escape from the stale air of your home, and get a little bit closer to nature. Not only do these things have positive physical benefits, but they have mental and emotional benefits as well. When you care for your plants you are saving money, helping your over all well being, and preserving a beautiful landscape.
Keeping your soil in good condition is essential for the care of your plants, whether the plants are part of the lawn, or whether they are trees or flowers. Having good soil is essential, as good soil provides nutrients to the plants and also offers moisture, as good soil preserves water and can act as a reservoir of moisture. Keeping your soil healthy is the beginning of caring for your plants. You can keep the soil healthy in a number of ways. Check the acid and alkali contents and make sure that they remain at levels that are good for your plants.
Also, it is a good idea to add organic material to your soil at least once a year. Using organic mulch is a good way to keep your soil in good shape. In shrub and flowerbeds, and around trees, wood chips can help the soil retain moisture and they will break own and provide nutrients as well. Reducing compaction is also important, as it allows air down into the soil and frees up room for beneficial organisms like earthworms. There is also more room for the roots to grow (any kind of roots – grass, tree, flower, etc.), giving them a firmer foundation and better health. Annual aeration will help your grass and the trees and shrubs that you have planted on your lawn. Turning the soil each year and adding special potting soil to the garden and flowerbeds at fall planting can also help.
Efficient watering techniques are also very helpful with plant care. These techniques include things like watering deeply and not terribly often. For the most part, people water their lawns too frequently. This keeps the roots shallow (shallow roots mean less healthy grass) and much of the water either runs off or evaporates. Watering in the early morning (before 10) and in the evening (after 6) can reduce losses to evaporation and increase the amount of water that is actually absorbed into the soil. When watering flowerbeds and trees and shrubs, make sure that rather than simply letting a sprinkler run, you take care to use the hose to water deeply. For established plants, there is no need to water more than once a week. Even the lawn does not need to be watered more than once or twice a week. This type of watering schedule forces the roots to go deeper into the soil, looking for moisture and creating healthier plants that are more tolerant of drought conditions.
Other good care practices include pruning woody plants and inspecting for pests and diseases. Not only does this help with the health of the plants, but it also contributes to their attractiveness. You can help your plants look fuller (especially evergreen shrubs) by pruning yearly. Blossoming plants also benefit from such care, as they will have more blooms when properly pruned. Additionally, when you inspect regularly for pests and diseases, you can catch problems before they get out of hand. You can properly treat the issue as needed, and save time and money in replacing the plants later.
While many people make use of fertilizers, pesticides, and weed killers, these are not necessarily essential for good plant care. It is true that these chemicals can contribute to the health and the look of your landscape, but if they are used improperly they can also cause damage. Make sure that you carefully read the instructions in full before applying any such product. Then, make sure you fallow the directions exactly. Too much of these chemicals can actually harm your plants.

Sara Jenkins691 2

Many do-it-yourselfers pride themselves in their handiwork, you can just see their garages filled to the brim with tools for those all around jobs. But ask any of them, installing roofs or repairing them is an unexciting and trying job, but someone has got to do it. When it comes to home protection against nature’s elements, the roof is one of the most important aspects. A roof with a leak or a hole can cause irreparable and immeasurable damage and harm to your furniture and appliances and don’t forget your carpeting and paint, all of these in just a matter of a short time.
The roof of your house is an essential part of your home; they provide protection from the rain, snow, sleet, hail, and the sun’s light and heat. To fully do this, the roof must be sealed tight against water and such. Roofs should be tough and durable, yet they must be versatile enough to handle all kinds of weather and any factor brought upon by the location of your home. It is ideal that the roof be fire resistant. There are many kinds of roof, differentiating in design, materials used and others. Usually, a roof consists of the roofing material used for the main cover, the frame where the will be attached, and other aspects and components. Building or repairing a roof can be very simple or very complex task, this will depend on the design and finish of your roof.
Now here comes the question, can you afford to do it on your own? Yes it’s cheaper when you slash the labor costs but if you don’t have the necessary skills and know how, it might just cost you more in the end. There are many factors to consider when deciding upon it. Take a deep good look on your skills, tools and the time you can afford, a roof needs to be finished right away, you don’t want your house exposed to extreme weather conditions and to burglars. Be sensible and reasonable about your skills, it is better to downgrade it than upgrade it then soon regret your decision. Building or repairing a roof needs special tools, you can buy some but that would be impractical, you may also rent them but if you damage them you’ll still have to pay for them, remember if your not familiar with the tools don’t use them or at least be cautious.
When it comes to building or repairing things, always be careful. You are using dangerous tools and you may hurt yourself, this is especially considered when doing roofs since your high above the ground. Be patient when building or repairing the roof. If you go too fast you may get confused and end up with more mistakes, which may cost you more. Be wary of your tools, follow the directions provided and make sure that you unplug them when not in use or when changing blades or drill bits. Wear eyes and ears protection always; wear protective clothing and gears such as heavy soled boots. Make sure that when you work on the roof, it is water free and not slippery, clean up scraps and dirt so as not to slip on them. Do not force yourself; in case a material is too heavy or slippery get some assistance. Remember; plan ahead so you can be ready for anything and everything.
Building something by yourself provides great pride and joy after its completion, but take everything into consideration for your own sake. When you have done your roof you could stand back and admire it because you have just provided a roof for your family.

Martin Smith1454 2

An architect design floor plan can be found on the internet and in architectural magazines. One set of plans located on the web, Sage Springs Club and Spa, show a luxuriously appointed club and spa. The first floor of this spa/gym has a large luxurious lobby and reception area., a spa and fitness store that sells exercise clothing and various other spa products. Also on level one of this spa are a relaxation lounge, massage therapy rooms, wet room with vicy shower and a pedicure/manicure room.
The second floor of this architectural design spa floor plan has a conditioning room with a glass wall overlooking the tennis court below. This room also has Precor cardio equipment, cybex strength circuit, four screen television theater music channels with wireless headphones. There is also a movement studio for aerobics, yoga and stretch and toning exercises. At every station in this spa, you are treated like royalty. Membership in spas like this are costly, but well wroth the expense.
On the ground level the floor plans show five full size regulation Tennis courts and 3 lane indoor lap pools and spa.
There are lots of floor plans for different spas and gyms available on the internet. Almost all have some of the amenities of Sage Spring Spa and Club but this one had the most interesting floor plan of them all. Before joining an expensive spa or gym, check the ones you are interested in. Compare services, amenities, and prices before you sign anything.
Floor plans for detached condos are laid out similar to a ‘home’ not part of a condo complex. One floor plan for a detached condo in Michigan has a large family room,/dining room area, master bedroom with private bath, small kitchen area with an island, a powder room, and second-floor bedroom. There is also a garage on the first floor. A basement which can be finished has the potential for at least two more bedrooms. Detached condos are ideal for people who don’t have the time or inclination for yard work. It would also be good for elderly people no longer capable of cutting grass or shoveling snow.

Darryl Power977 2

If you want the quickest, easiest way to sell your own products then you need to do it the ‘lazy’ way. You need to convince other people to sell your products for a cut of the profits. Having your own affiliate program is the ‘lazy’ way of marketing and getting maximum returns.
Here are 4 ways to encourage affiliates to promote your products.
1. Have a common affiliate program.
There is nothing worse then having to signup for a separate affiliate program every time you want to promote a certain product. It is a real put off to affiliates. So if you have just one or two products I recommend that you use a large market place such as Clickbank or PayDotCom to get lots of affiliates to promote your products.
2. Pay a big commission.
When selling digital products online it is recommended that you give the largest percentage you can. A minimum of 50% should be offered, 60% is nice but 70% or 75% is a generous commission. You might be thinking to yourself, “75%! That is crazy… I want to make ’some’ money as well, why should they get more than me?”. Quite simply, the more you give affiliates the more likely they are willing to spend their money to promote your products so you will make more sales and get the potential for more repeat products in the long run.
3. Pay them quickly and reliably.
Affiliates always have an inbuilt fear that the product owner will run off with their money so the sooner you pay them the more comfortable they are and the more willing they are to promote your products. Plus if you pay them reliably at the agreed time each month then this will have the same effect.
4. Make it easy for them to promote you.
The last thing you want to do is make it hard or complicated for your affiliates to promote your products. So you have to make it dead easy for them to promote you by providing them with easy to brand solo ads, articles and ezine ads.

Muriel Linton1034 2

Eating will never go out of fashion. We will always need a place in the home where we can easily and safely prepare our food. We call that place the kitchen. Here are a few tips to help make your kitchen a better, safer and more efficient place to work in.
1. Lighting is probably the most important thing to get right. Strip or spotlights located under wall units work best to provide good, unobtrusive lighting.
2. Hard wearing flooring that’s easy to clean is another essential. Carpeting on floors surrounding kitchen worktops is a big mistake.
3. Electric sockets in abundance will make life so much easier. But remember to keep them at least a metre from any of water.
4. Have all your regularly used utensils stored close to the areas where they will be used. This increases efficiency and reduces accidents.
5. Choose the type of kitchen sink that’s best suited for you. They come in all shapes, double or single, and in a variety of materials. Think before you buy.
6. The type of taps on your sink is important too. Get taps with plenty of height. The swivelling type adds flexibility, but you may prefer the look of double taps. Again, think about what you want.
7. Keep children out of your kitchen. Toddlers have greater ingenuity than you give them credit for. Fit any cupboard or drawer they can reach with childproof catches. Store all sharp objects, knives, etc, high up in a locked drawer.

Jay Moncliff1657

People buy and sell homes every day, so you might think applying for your first mortgage is easy. Unfortunately it’s a little more involved than buying a new bicycle, and can be quite a protracted process. You can reduce the stress associated with obtaining your first mortgage – the following suggestions will help you know what to expect in advance, and help you find the right mortgage for your situation
Home Mortgage tip #1 Shop for interest rates
Don’t take the first interest rate you come across – shop around and discover the market average rate. Even easier than making phone calls is shopping online, which has the added benefit of being the place you are more likely to find discount interest rates. The loan and interest rate you choose governs your repayments, so the lower the interest rate you can find, the better.
Home Mortgage Tip #2 Choosing Fixed or Variable Interest Rate loans
Home loans have changed, and are no longer just a matter of paying a fixed amount over a set number of years. Fixed interest mortgages are still available, but there are other choices like variable interest rate mortgages. This choice allows you to choose the loan that best fits you situation, both now, and in the future. Researching the difference between fixed or variable rate home loans will help you decide what will work best for you.
Home Mortgage Tip #3 Down payment requirements
Many first home buyers are unaware of down payment requirements, which are usually between 10 and 20% of the amount financed. With a good credit history you may even be able to negotiate a lower deposit and a lower interest rate as you present as a lower risk to the lender. Again, this depends on the home mortgage lender, and it pays to shop around

Pat Capozzi1580

A recent study found that over 80% of the public felt the need to improve their nutrition. This is not surprising considering the amount of news time devoted to the ‘obesity crisis’ and the concerns over spiraling health care costs arising out of chronic diseases such as diabetes. The study went on to say that most people did not have a clear understanding of what to do to improve their nutrition. NutritionInteracive.com has recently launched a dynamic website as a response to this need.
The NutritionInteractive ‘food finder’ is a food search engine that uses advanced internet technology to make it easy and fast to find foods that meet desired nutrition criteria. The website uses the ‘AJAX’ web technologies popularized by Google to supply amazing speed for the various steps required in building a new nutrition plan.
NutritionInteractive.com uses the USDA’s food nutrient database as the basis for our nutrition information. As well, we have added popular foods that are not in the USDA database such as ‘Splenda’. The key to the success of the NutritionInteractive nutrition system is the speed and ease of use. We have carefully arranged the foods in a logical hierarchy. The use of a hierarchy helps us present lists of foods in the way people generally look for things. A simple example would be if you wanted to serve fish for dinner but couldn’t decide what kind of fish. We give you the option to look for general categories eg. ‘fish’ or more specific searches eg ’salmon’. In this way we make it easy and fast to find foods and combine them into meals and nutrition plans.
For NutritionInteractive the challenge of achieving better nutrition is viewed as a challenge of information and time. Our users need to be able to get the necessary information to make sound nutrition choices in a very short time. We felt a large component of the nutrition challenge was one of convenience. We wanted a time challenged homemaker to be able to arrive at our site and within five minutes have a delicious and nutritious one week nutrition plan. This was, however, a considerable goal. The average meal has eight ingredients. If you are planning twenty-one meals (3/day for a week) you need to find and combine more than one hundred and fifty foods.
To achieve the necessary speed and convenience we built a food ’search engine’ with the design goal of being able to find any food in just five keystrokes. This makes building recipes and meals very fast. We also added a revolutionary feature called ‘versioning’. With versioning you can make personal copies of any recipe or nutrition plan and make it the basis for your own version. Once you have your version, you are free to make any changes. The original remains unchanged. We keep track of the versions and so you can see the changes that other users make to ‘improve’ the base recipe.
The real power of the NutritionInteractive nutrition improvement system comes when you start building nutrition plans. A nutrition plan is one week of meal ideas. The theory behind a meal plan is that to effectively improve our nutrition we need to find a way to reorganize our eating habits. The nutrition plan does just that. Using the incredible speed of the ‘AJAX’ powered interface, you can build a nutrition plan with one full week of meals for an entire household in just a few minutes. Once you have built a nutrition plan, NutritionInteracive.com will automatically produce a shopping list so you can be sure to be able to purchase all the necessary food items in one shopping trip. You can also start with one of already built nutrition plans and modify to fit your nutrition profile.
NutritionInteractive.com adds revolutionary new capabilities to the potential of the Internet to improve our nutrition.

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Nancy Dalton989 2

So, you have decided to remodel your bathroom and you have also decided to replace those old, worn out cabinets which have seen better days. Bathroom cabinets play a major role in maintaining an organized bathroom. Besides being of maximum utility, they are one of the most eye catching fixtures of the bathroom. They also consume most amount of the bathroom remodeling budget.
Since cabinets take a huge chunk from your budget, decide how much you want to spend on cabinets, in advance. You can do this by first deciding where you want your cabinets. Then take measurements of the area. Decide whether you want stock cabinets, semi-custom or custom cabinets. Stock cabinets are the most inexpensive ones followed by semi-custom and then custom cabinets. When you meet the expert with these rough ideas and figures in mind, he can give you a more accurate picture.
As mentioned earlier, there are three types of cabinets available in the market. You have to choose from them according to your budget and your specific requirements. They are Stock, Semi-custom and Custom cabinets.
Stock cabinets are inexpensive and most popular. They are mass produced and built in standard sizes and shapes. The choice of color, design and style is limited.
Semi-custom cabinets are basically stock cabinets which can be changed in some ways to meet individual requirements. They offer more choice of color, finish, design and size. They are more expensive than stock cabinets.
Custom cabinets are the most expensive cabinets. They are made to order cabinets. They are made to suit your specific, individual requirements. They offer the widest range of color, design, style and size.
According to the method of assembling, there are Framed and Frameless cabinets. Framed cabinets are American cabinets and frameless cabinets are European style.
In framed cabinet, a frame is placed around the front of the cabinet opening. It is also called face frame. It is used to secure the door to the cabinet. Framed cabinets are more expensive than frameless cabinets because they use more material.
In frameless cabinets, there is no face frame and door is hung directly on the cabinet box. Frameless cabinets occupy lesser space than framed ones.
While selecting cabinets for your bathroom, keep in mind that your cabinets should match the rest of your bathroom.
Doors and drawers of the cabinets should operate smoothly.
Don’t just go by the looks of the doors of the cabinets because it’s the quality and construction of the whole boxes that counts.

Lee Dobbins448 2

We all know that flowers love sunshine, but did you realize that there are perennials that love the shade?
You can create a beautiful garden in the shade that can act as a cooling retreat on those hot summer days. By using perennials, your flowers will come up year after year for a lifetime of enjoyment.
Shade gardens offer much more than gardens that sit in the blazing sun all day. You can actually sit in them and enjoy them. Pull up a nice lounge chair or have a beautiful granite bench installed. Sit and read on a hot day, or just sip a drink and enjoy the birds and butterflies.
Like any other garden the best shade gardens will have taller plants in the back against the house or woods, medium growing plants in the middle and the shorter or ground cover plants on the inner edge. Since most perennials bloom for a short time, you ‘ll want to plant them so that you always have color in the garden. Stage the planting so that each area has a blooming plant at all times of the season.
Here’s a list of some perennials that thrive in the shade:
Astibe – This plant comes in 3 “sizes” which grow to 20″, 30″ and 40″ in a variety of colors. You can make a whole garden just with this 1 flower! It looks best planted in groups and has clumps of fluffy flower spikes.
Foxglove – This is a great plant for the back row of the garden as it can grow to 5 feet tall. It comes in a variety of colors and has large spikes filled with bell shaped flowers. This beautiful flower is highly toxic if ingested so be careful with it around animals and small children.
Lily Of The valley – This wonderfully fragrant plant has dainty white bell shaped flowers. It is great for a ground cover or the front of the garden as it grows to only about 6″ tall.
Lousiana Iris – This beautiful velvety purple black flower produces 4″ blooms that last well into June. Plant in groups for best effect. Grows about 2 feet tall.
Virginia Blue Bells – This medium sized plant has lavender bell shaped clusters. It grows to about 2 feet in height and is very hardy and easy to grow despite it’s fragile appearance.