Fertilize your lawn. A late fall application of traditional fertilizer or corn gluten meal will give your grass a boost in spring. Plant spring bulbs as soon as you can. Bulbs need to have a little warm weather to establish roots. Rake those leaves. Bag them up and save them to use as winter mulch. Oh, and don't forget the gutters. Give them a good clean-out once the leaves have fallen.

HOT TICKETs

• In an unusual mix of arts, A La Carte Soloists (including several members of the Minnesota Orchestra) will play accompaniment while guests view Japanese flower arrangements. The music will span the globe, from Mozart and Handel to Irish and Brazilian folk tunes, but all of the 25 floral arrangements will be in the traditional ikebana style. The free, flower-fueled event is from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday at the University Club, 420 Summit Av., St. Paul. 651-222-1751.

• Check out the Remodeling & Design Expo Nov. 1-2 at the Minneapolis Convention Center, with free home improvement seminars and more than 160 contractors and exhibitors on hand. 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Sat., 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sun; $6 admission with partial proceeds going to the Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity chapter.

we spotted it

You can't buy this yet; it's a concept. But why didn't we think of that? Austrian Stefan Buchberger's design for "Flatshare" earned top honors in a student design contest in which students were invited to design future products. This customizable fridge, with a base and as many as four stackable modules, was designed to alleviate the shared living problem. Under this scenario, each and every roommate is responsible for his or her own malodorous comestibles. We can only hope contest sponsor Electrolux opts to manufacture.

STARTRIBUNE.COM

Tour the home of Timberwolves star Al Jefferson at noon tomorrow at www.startribune.com/ homegarden. (And check out the feature on Al Jefferson in today's Sports section.)

WEB WATCH

www.macys.com/betterworld

Expanding on its previous Path to Peace program, selling baskets made by Rwandan craftswomen to aid survivors of genocide, Macy's has launched this site to sell home decor items, gifts and crafts handmade by rural female artisans in the additional countries of Cambodia, Indonesia and Zanzibar; the retailer said about 30 percent of the sale of each item goes directly to the artisan who created it.

ON TV

Public television's "Antiques Roadshow" promises to combine "two great American traditions" -- electing and collecting -- in "Politically Collect," its Nov. 3 show at 7 p.m. Among the highlights: the chair in which John Quincy Adams died and a folk art carving of Ulysses S. Grant on horseback made during a campaign bid in 1868 (or 1872). A more modern bit: a court affidavit submitted by Jimmy Carter on the eve of the 1976 election, appealing the state of Maine's decision to list him on the ballot as James Earl Carter.

contest of the week

Want to be a video star and winterize your house at the same time? Then enter Home Depot's energy-savings video contest. Submit a short video demonstrating how you saved money and helped the environment by making your home more energy-efficient. Enter at www.homedepot.com/youtube by Nov. 9. Videos will be judged on originality and creativity. The grand-prize winner will receive a $5,000 Home Depot gift card and up to $2,000 of products, while second- and third-place winners will receive $1,500 and $500 gift cards.

KIM YEAGER, CONNIE NELSON