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Olympian staff, news services

Originally published Saturday, March 30, 2002

College offers spring horticulture courses

South Puget Sound Community College's horticulture program will offer three courses just in time for the upcoming growing season.

These for-credit classes include: Turfgrass Management, which explores techniques for establishing and renovating turfgrass; Native Plants in the Landscape, which explores the use, selection and propagation of plants, trees and shrubs native to the Pacific Northwest; and Plant Identification -- Annual and Herbaceous Perennials, which focuses on the use, maintenance and needs of flowering plants, bulbs and more.

While Spring Quarter classes begin Monday, South Puget Sound Community College is offering open registration now through Friday. Call 360-754-7711, Ext. 5219.

Tips for tackling those hard-water stains

Hard water leaves its mark on shower walls and glass shower enclosures in the form of crusty little white lime deposits that sometimes seem as though they're going to be impossible to remove.

Sodium carbonate is the chemical you'll want to use. It's the base for many cleaners and is the primary ingredient in washing soda. If a strong solution of sodium carbonate doesn't do the trick, try a squirt of liquid toilet-bowl cleaner.

Bowl cleaners are strong, dangerous chemicals, so use them with eye-and-skin protection and plenty of ventilation. Once the water stains are gone, apply a coat of car wax to all the surfaces in the shower. Doing so will make cleaning a breeze the next time.

Create a glow in your garden

Looking for a way to light up your life? Lark Books' new "Garden Lighting for Outdoor Entertaining" ($17.95) by craft maven Chris Rankin offers 40 festive projects to brighten the night and lift your spirits.

Easy projects range from flower vase candle shades to flourless cake pan sconces to rubber-stamped luminarias and tiki torches. The book is available this month at major book dealers, online at Amazon.com and barnes andnoble.com, or by calling (800) 805-5489.

The Olympian Copyright 2002

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