Gardening grapevine (Oct. 31)
Home Remodeling & Decorating Expo this weekend
A 400-square-foot tiny house from Tulsa will be on display this weekend at the Fall Home Remodeling & Decorating Expo at Century II, 225 W. Douglas. DIY seminars by HGTV’s Jennifer Bertrand, antiques appraisals, healthy cooking demos with Chef Jeff and mushroom-hunting tips will be given among the remodeling and decorating products and services.
The expo is free. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Bertrand’s seminar schedule on Saturday: 11 a.m., cabinet refinishing; 1 p.m., furniture chalk paint; 2:30 p.m., holiday tablescapes. Two items can be brought for free antiques appraisals at the expo (early arrival recommended); antiques also will be bought and sold. More info: wichitahomeremodelingshow.com.
Dual-flush toilets
Q: Are dual-flushing toilets considered high-efficiency toilets? We are looking to save water but want to choose our own flushing options.
A: Installing a new high efficiency toilet (or HET) is one of the best ways to start saving water in your home. Standard toilets are rated at 1.6 gallons per flush, while a HET is rated about 1.28 gpf or lower.
The reason dual-flush toilets can be a popular choice is because they can deliver a full standard flush when needed. But, if you’re basically flushing liquids, a second flushing option is available at about 1 gpf.
In most cases, when you average in the amount of highly efficient water-saving flushes used, a dual-flush toilet can qualify as a high efficiency toilet. That is good news for anyone looking for a HET where you can choose your flushing options.
Speaking of flushing, some dual-flush toilets use buttons; others use a special lever, so you may have to duel over the flushing style of your new HET.
TNS
In bloom at Botanica
Mexican bush Sage (scientific name: Salvia leucantha), in the John Firsching Evergreen Collection.
This story was originally published October 29, 2015 at 10:33 PM with the headline "Gardening grapevine (Oct. 31)."