IT’S birthday party season again! Time to wrap up those little gifts you have carefully chosen for the lucky birth- day recipient. Here’s a gift wrap idea for a young girl or baby that is sure to please! It takes only minutes and the results will be well appreciated. :_” Materials coloured tulle (available at ,_.. fabric stores — the 6” rolls | - green guide .. TODAY: It’s the last day of «Park Royal Shopping “© Centre’s annual Spring Home and Garden Show in . both the North And South _ Malls. The emphasis for Sunday, March 12, 2000 - HOME AND GARDEN - of tulle are best) white or coloured tissue aper ennai wooden butterfly clips or other wood clips (available at craft stores) acrylic paints (available at craft stores) . small paint brush The gift is wrapped in the coloured tulle and tied at the top with a large bow. The painted clip is placed in the middie of the bow to give the impression of a but- terfly landing in the middle fa flower on top of the gift. To begin, wrap your pre- sent in the tissue paper. If you can, try to match the tissue paper to the color of the tulle. Once you have wrapped the gift in the tissue, wrap the gift in the tulle making large bows at the top of the home gardener a good grounding in the basics of tree maintenance. Lectures are free with admission For more. information on present. If your tulle came from a large bolt then wrap the present first and tie off with precut strips to make the bow. Paint your wooden clip with one or two different colors of acrylic paint. Let dry. When you are satisfied with the look of the flower bow at the top, clip your painted butterfly in the mid- die of the bow. — Barb Lunter is a West Vancouver resident. Her flo- ral products nre available at Avant Gardener, 1460 Marine Drive, West Vancouver. Send questions or ideas to Barb c/o the North Shore News, 1139 Lonsdale Ave., North Vancnaver, B.C., V7M 2114. You car: also check out her Web site at . VanDusen events, call the 24-hour information line: 878-9274, or visit the Web site at . From previous page Vines do not fall into an easy pattern for pruning. For clematis, there are three types — prune hard (cut to 30 cm), prune optional (trim or cut every two or three years) and no pruning required. In the first case, the flowers form on new wood, in the second the flowers form on semi-mature wood and the third the flow- ers form on mature wood. Check the tag to determine which variety you have. All clematis can be pruned, it just means you may have to wait 2 half season or a whole season before you get some flowers on the more mature woud. Once a wisteria vine has formed a suitable structure the long tendrils should be cut back to three or four buds. The first two buds should form short stubby bloom spurs and the third one will become the new growth bud. Do not let the wisteria wrap itself around pasts or sccuons of the trellis. Grapes can be pruned in a simiiar manner but it is now too late to prune vines as they will bleed and weaken the plant. The best time to prune roses is when you first sec the little red shoots emerging from the cane. Like hydrangea, it is best to prune roses for renewal by removing as much old wood as possible and encouraging new growth from the base of the plant WITH sprin spring ga (above the graft). As rose canes age, they change from a smooth green colour to maroon and then to a rough grey. The terminal bud that is left should be pointing out Morth Shore News ~ 35 NEWS photn Terry Feters on the way, it's time to schedule your ing chores — such as pruning. away from the centre of the plant. Inward pointing buds that will cause problems later in the season should be x rubbed off before they devel- op. WE ARE LIQUIDATING ALL OUR STOCK! ' High-end merchandise at low-end prices. Patio Sets, UMBRELLAS, CHAISE LOUNGES, END TABLES, BISTRO SETS,AND A LOT MORE! »-'2000 is on outdoor and gar- den ideas for the homcown- SALE NOW ON? er, Get inspired with new ain - . _— —-- ideas from more than 35° eae Boo : oa exhibitors. SATURDAY, MARCH 11: VanDusen holds its Spring Garden Forum, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in Floral Hall. This year’s theme is “Plant Passions.” Attend public lectures, an information clinic and plant sale (sale 8:30 to 9:30 a.m.) sponsored “by — the Guides of VanDusen. Tickets will be available for sale at the door. The garden is at 5251 Oak . St. in Vancouver. MARCH 18: Get “bark to basics” at VanDusen Botanical Garden’s first Tree “*: Care Day from 11] a.m. to 2 p.m. Hosted in conjunction with the — International Society of Arboriculture, the 4 event is intended to give the Let us send your old eyeglasses to the developing world. The Patio Furniture Specialists 1669 West 3rd (at Pine) 733-1669 Tues. - Thurs and Sat 10-5 & Fri. 10-6 & Sun 12-5 Monday Closed ; OPERATION EYESIGHT UNIVERSAL 1-800-585-8265 Charitable Registration # 11906 8955 RROOO!