WINTER seems to have come to its usual wet end, and it seems we can all rejoice in the knowledge that it was one of the mildest on record. Once again we can begin to en- joy our gardens rather than just worrying and working for ‘‘better days ahead’’. I thought I might talk about some shrubs which I believe to be of particular interest at this time of year. The plants of the Pieris family are just beginning their annual, multi-faceted show. It ail starts with panicles (chains) of white through red, bell-shaped, fragrant flowers somewhat reminiscent of * the lily-of-the-valley plant (Con- vallaria Majalis) hence the com- mon name, lily-of-the-valley shrub. : Immediately after the blossoms fall, act Il begins with the emergence of the. colorful new -growth. Arriving in tones of cop- per, bronze, dark red, crimson and pink, then slowly aging through shades of bright yellow, golden green, and emerald green. The common Pieris Japonica is a medium sized, broad-leaved evergreen shrub with an abundance of creamy white flowers in March and coppery growth in April. The variegated form P.J. ‘Variegata’ has white and green foliage and is much slower growing. P. Taiwanensis clasely resembles P. Japonica but has a more spreading habit and its slightly broader leaf has more of a bronzy hue. This slightly spreading habit makes this the best of the pieris for massing as ground cover. The two big sellers in the garden centres are P, ‘Mountain Fire’ and _P. ‘Mountain Flame’ and both deserve their popularity. P. ‘Mountain Fire’ tends to’ produce less flower than its rela- tives but tries very hard to. make up for it with the fabulous show of INFORMED SHOPPING deep red April growth on the dark green foliage. Pieris ‘Forest Fiame’ is consid- ered by many to be the loveliest form with its profusion of white flowers in March and rich crimson new growth in April which fades through shades of golden yellow to . emerald green. : The best varieties of pink flowering pieris are P. ‘Valley Rose’ which is light pink and P, ‘Flamingo’, almost rose red. Choose the best sota-bed IF YOU are in the market for a sofa-bed, but are not sure what features to look for, here are some buying tips. mo . ‘They will help you to ask the right questions, be an ‘informed shopper, and make the right choice for your needs: : . : © If the sofa-bed is going to be used for sleeping on a regular basis it is particularly important to make sure it comes ‘with a gocd quality mattress. A good mattress means-a good night’s sleep, so look for a sofa-bed that’s made by a manufacturer with a good reputation for the quality of its mat- tresses. © Does the sofa-bed offer you a choice of mat- ‘tresses? If it is going to be slept on only occasionally, a standard good-quality mattress may suit you. If, however, the sofa-bed is to be used regularly for sleeping, it is nice to know you have the citoice of upgrading. So check with the dealer to see if the sofa-beds you are considering have that option. © As with buying any mattress, you should lie on the sofa-bed mattress for several minutes, in different positions, to make sure you find it comfortable. © It is important to consider the seating as well as _ the sleeping comfort of a sofa-bed. So make sure you sit on it before buying. A quality convertible should not betray the fact that it has a mattress underneath the cushions. It should feel just as comfortable as a stationary couch. *® Remember, your sofa-bed will probably be closed more often than it’s open, so make sure it looks as good as it feels. : . Gone are the days when convertibles looked like relics resurrected from the basement. There’s now a wide range of both fabrics and styles to choose from — everything from traditional through early American to the latest in contemporary. SPRING HOME AND GARDEN DISPLAYS see what’s new at show 17 - Friday, March 20, 1987 - North Shore News Both of these are beautiful while in bloom but the lack of strong color in the new growth and their rather loose habit tends to make these painied Jadies a little less desirable. Two new introductions to keep over the | garden gate | by Geoff Tobiasson an eye out for are P. ‘Valley Fire’ which is much like P. ‘Forest Flame’ except the new growth is an unusual shade of pink, and P. ‘Valley Valentine’ a red flowering variety with good habit. Zo No matter which variety you choose, you will enjoy these plants anywhere in the garden, given rea- sonable consideration to growing conditions. Although the pieris prefer a location which has filtered shade, our proximity to the cooling in- fluence of the ocean enables us to grow it in full sun. The one requirement which should be adhered to is the quality of the soil in which you are trying to grow this shrub. Too often | have seen these plants struggling to survive in ‘topsoil’ which previous- ly resided eight feet underground. The preferred soil is rich and well drained; if you are one of these unlucky people that tried to ‘save’ some money on topsoil, try adding one to two inches of well composted manure and working it in lightly. Lightly because, as with other members of the Ericaceae family they are relatively shallow rooted. APRIL MARKS the beginning of ‘spring when thoughts turn to ‘planning and planting.the garden, renovating and remodelling your house or apartment -~ shedding the winter blues and brightening yourself and your surroundings with major or minor touches of new colors or bright, modern designs.. NEW IDEAS The Spring Home and Garden Show will feature new ideas for home and garden, from April 10 to 19, at the Pacific National Exhib- ition. The show will be open on weeknights from 5:30 to 10:30 p.m., Saturdays and Good Friday from 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. and on Sundays from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m, In addition to exhibitors show- ing new and modern ideas and techniques for all components of renovating houses and redesigning the interiors, this year’s show will have floral and landscaping exhib- its with experts on hand to discuss flora and fauna, and different designing techniques for all sizes and shapes of gardens and patios. Many prizes will be drawn in- cluding a 1987 Plymeuth Sundance car, a $1,300 Mantleworks fireplace facing and many more daily door prizes. FASHION SHOWS There will be 24 fashion shows throughout the 10-day show, pro- duced and presented by Rob Haynes and sponsored by Chrysler, with the latest in designer fashions from The Bay. Another fashion show will be presented by Vancouver's firefighters of Local 18 who will ‘struct a fully landscaped, model specialized suits and show the public some of the lesser known life-saving duties perform- ed by the VFD. COOKING DEMOS The Kahlua Celebrity Kitchen will be shared by two of Canada’s best known culinary personalities — Pierre Dubrulle and Pau! War- wick. Also joining Dubrulle and Warwick will be Audrey Shutiak and Romi Reimann. An Agassiz-based company, Manco Homes Limited will con- two bedroom house and exhibit it at The Spring Home and Garden Show. This energy efficient home will be totally fueled by satural gas appliances, with experts on. hand to answer all consumer ques- tions. ‘ ALL FABRICS & LABOUR and on our custom made DRAPERIES, UPHOLSTERY, SLIP COVERS, BEDSPREADS