home + garden

DO IT NOW

If guests are on their way, do a last-minute check to make sure you extend a warm welcome. Sweep the sidewalk and clear the front entry of toys, junk mail and stray umbrellas. Pick up a pot of mums and set it by the front door. In the foyer, fill a vase with cut mums, display some squash and gourds in a rustic bowl or arrange some pillar candles and pine cones on a tray. For other ideas on how to make a quick-and-easy Thanksgiving display, go to startribune.com/homegarden.

WE SPOTTED IT

This Christmas tree won't leak sap or drop needles. The PossibiliTree, made in Northfield, Minn., and designed by late Twin Cities architect Dick Babcock, is made of slatted branches in wild cherry, butternut, walnut, maple, birch and, when available, reclaimed deadwood. The suspended, 6-foot version, pictured, is designed to float a foot and a half above the ground; it has a bronze-colored wire from which 10 rows of slats unfold to a 52-inch diameter at its widest spot. It weighs 13 pounds. Tabletop versions are 2 and 3 feet high; they have wooden bases and center rods into which the user inserts color-coded branches. The three versions are $290, $160 and $195, respectively. Available online at www.possibilitree.com.

STORE NEWS

• Here's one way to shop without leaving your car: The Container Store has started its Go Shop! Click & Pickup service. Customers can shop online (by entering your ZIP code, you get offerings tailored to the closest store; in Minnesota, there's just one, in Edina), designate a date and time for pickup in the store. If you want curbside pickup, call 952-831-3780 15 minutes ahead of time and when you park in the loading space across from the side of the store, your package will be delivered to you. Details at www.containerstore.com.

• A 16,000-square-foot tile showroom has opened at Hwys. 7 and 101 in Minnetonka. Great Tile Co., which imports and retails ceramic, metal, natural stone, glass and porcelain products, said it carries more than 1,000 in-stock brands and designs of wall tile, flooring, tools and supplies. The shop is owned by Rod Sill, who co-founded the first Tile Shop in Rochester in 1985. Open 7 a.m.-8 p.m. Mon.-Fri., 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat, noon-5 p.m. Sun.; 4900 S. County Rd. 101, Minnetonka; 952-401-1001. Details at www.great-tile.com.

• Laurel Street Flowers in St. Paul has relocated from Grand Avenue to 488 S. Hamline Av. Owner Paula Flom said the new spot has more space dedicated to retail items and includes vintage furniture, lamps, ornaments and other goods and handcrafted gifts, purses, jewelry and cards by local artists. 651-221-9700; www.laurelstreetflowers.com.

STARTRIBUNE.COM

The Greengirls garden bloggers have put their gardens and their blog to bed. But our freewheeling conversation hasn't ended; it's just moved indoors with the Homegirls. We're posting fresh new items every day on everything from entertaining to homekeeping to home improvement. If you want to know where to get hostess gifts for under $10, how to set a killer holiday table or you want to share your best tip for getting guests to leave when the party's over, go to www.startribune.com/homegirls.

LET US KNOW

How do you set the stage for the holidays? Whether you trim a tree, spin a dreidel or light Kwanzaa candles, Home + Garden would like to hear from you. Tell us about your favorite, most meaningful, funniest or most unusual holiday decoration. Send a brief description and photo, if possible, to: kim.palmer@startribune.com. Or mail a description and snapshot to: Kim Palmer -- Newsroom, Star Tribune, 425 Portland Av. S., Minneapolis, MN 55488.

ON TV

SATED FROM ALL THOSE L-TRYPTOPHANS IN YOUR THANKSGIVING TURKEY? THE NETWORKS HAVE PLANNED AHEAD, SO ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS PLOP YOUR CARCASS IN FRONT OF THE TV SET. AMONG THEIR OFFERINGS FOR holiday TV coverage, starting this week:

DIY Network

"Cool Tools Inventor's Challenge" 7 p.m. Thursday.

"Holiday Wish Week" Dec. 7-12 will include holiday programming on several regular programs, including "Yard Crashers," "Man Caves," "Garage Mahal," "Sweat Equity," "Bathtastic!," "Cool Tools" and "Kitchen Impossible."

HGTV

"Carter Comes Home," Carter Oosterhouse and firehouse staff help a family in need, 4 p.m. Friday.

"Divine Design" remodels a home for a large family with varied holiday traditions, 7 p.m. Friday.

"Sandra Lee Celebrates: Holiday Homecoming" 7 p.m. Saturday.

"Behind the Magic: The Holidays at Disney" with David Bromstad, 7 p.m. Sunday.

"Sandra Lee Celebrates: Magical Merry Christmas" 7 p.m. Dec. 5.

"Celebrity Holiday Homes" 7 p.m Dec. 6.

"Sandra Lee Celebrates: Season of Surprise" 7 p.m. Dec. 12.

"Sandra Lee Celebrates: Winter Wonderland Party" 7 p.m. Dec. 19.

NEXT WEEK

With the help of a local florist, we show you how to take a simple grocery store bouquet and turn it into perfect plate-side decorations or a single, stunning centerpiece.

KIM YEAGER, CONNIE NELSON