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Beautiful Gardens contest winner Jim Smith discovered a dirty secret about his garden - the soil contained high levels of arsenic. The fix? A whole new garden.
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Photo gallery: Saving tomato seeds..

Start holiday amaryllis now

Last update: November 10, 2009

DO IT NOW

It may seem early, but if you want new amaryllis to be in bloom for the holidays, you need to get them started now. Other holiday favorites, such as paperwhites, bloom quickly. But most amaryllis take four to six weeks to fully flower. To save a few dollars, buy a bare bulb (rather than a potted one) and plant it in a container of your choice that's slightly bigger than the bulb itself. Water well and place the container in a sunny window.

HOT TICKET

• Looking for a way to shop for the holidays and do good at the same time? Presence of the Holidays brings together the work of 35 mostly Minnesota-area designers, crafters and artisans Saturday at the Suburban World Theatre in Uptown Minneapolis. Shoppers can browse the free event, accompanied by music, and see wooden boxes, iron and mosaic works, decorative pillows, baskets, jewelry, chocolates and other foodstuffs from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Additionally, each artist has donated a piece for a silent auction to benefit the restoration of the 1927-built theater. Jewelry artist and organizer Karla Haugen said food and drinks, including wine, will be available for purchase throughout the day. 3022 Hennepin Av. S., 612-743-6417.

• Gabbert's has seminars scheduled Friday and Sunday to help get you thinking about your holiday decor and entertaining; see the calendar on page E3 for details.

SHOWROOM NEWS

A Hickory Chair showroom, featuring handmade custom wood and upholstered furnishings, opened last week at International Market Square in Minneapolis. Managed by Fran Kraft, the 3,500-square-foot showroom features upholstery and case goods, including those from design partners Thomas O'Brien, Mariette Himes Gomez, Alexa Hampton and Suzanne Kasler. Although purchases are to the trade, the shop encourages public browsing; purchases can be made through the IMS Design Connection. 612-330-9448. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays; Suite 363, 275 Market St.

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Outside, the frenzy of planting and nurturing the yard and garden is done. Inside, we warm up our spaces with rich fabrics and substantial foods.

Five things you really need to do to put your garden to bed

Five quick honey-do's to get your garden ready for winter.

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Saving seeds

Seed saving is a way to grow locally and preserve memories as well as plant diversity.

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More from this series:

Videos: Fall and winter in home and garden

  • Winterizing your garden
    Fall means one thing in Minnesota: garden chores. Home and Garden Editor Connie Nelson walks you through putting your garden to bed.
  • Create a winter arrangement
    Martin Stern, of Squire House Gardens, shows how to create an attractive, durable winter arrangement.
  • Winter window box
    Scott Endres, co-owner of Tangletown Gardens, shows Connie how to change a window box for the winter season.
  • Plant spring bulbs
    Home and Garden Editor Connie Nelson demonstrates the best way to plant bulbs in the fall to guarantee lovely flowers in the spring.