Everett, Wash.
Published: Thursday, June 12, 2008

Nuts and bolts: Mukilteo Garden Club anniversary program

 Tree history talk: The Mukilteo Way Garden Club is celebrating its 75th anniversary with a gift to the public, a free lecture by author and local plant expert Arthur Lee Jacobson. The event is set for noon Tuesday at the Mukilteo Public Library, 4675 Harbour Pointe Blvd. He'll talk about native trees, shade trees, evergreens, and fruit and nut varieties. Jacobson's book "Trees of Seattle," first published in 1990, is a guide to local trees. He documented the species growing in the area and the spots you could find those trees around the town. He'll bring copies of the updated version of his book to sell and autograph. He'll also sketch your favorite tree on the inside of the jacket. For more information, contact Olivia Getz of the club at 425-355-1481.



Rocks rock: We've all toted home an interesting stone or two from a good walk. We appreciate the eons it took to shape them; we admire the composition, the shading. Perhaps as a nod to environmental interest, designers and retailers are adding pebble and rock motifs to their home collections. Accessories, rugs, wall coverings and even lamps are fashioned from the real thing, or so cleverly imitative that you have to touch them to know the difference.

Gigantic, soft floor pebbles make a cushion. Wrap a wall in stone-printed paper, or cover bathroom walls with natural pebbles. Luminescent boulders shine indoors or out, and stacked rocks make a lamp.

Thomas Ward of Skipping Stones Studio makes knobs, pulls and lamps from glacial and river rocks. See his creations at www.stonehardware.com.

Other rock resources online:

Merino wool rocks are hand dyed, carded and felted by South African women in a successful job creation program and sell for $360 to $650, www.besweetproducts.com.

Pebbles rugs and floor mats, www.chiasso.com.

Plage Rock Cairn wall decals, www.acaciacatalog.com.

Split Marble wallcovering, www.designyourwall.com.



Red reads: Here are six ways to display and decorate with books:

Decorate with old flea market books and encyclopedias.

Pick out a few books in a striking color to add dimension to your room.

Stacks of books can be end tables, coffee tables and pedestals.

Hang books over the rungs of a ladder, or line the edges of a room with them.

Herald staff and news services
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