I collect antique crystal and find a lot of decanters have marks on the bottles or cloudy bottoms. Can these be cleaned? “Diane McCartney, Dallas
Cloudy or sick glass is a normal part of the aging process. To clean, mix two tablespoons of boric acid to each cup of water (enough to fill the container you’re cleaning) and let stand overnight, then gently scrub with a bottlebrush. Bachendorf’s Dorothy Hagey suggests cleaning with hot vinegar water to which a splash of ammonia and a dash of Dawn have been added. However you wash glassware, use the spray nozzle to rinse, and then hand dry. When handling good glassware, line your sink with a cushy towel and push the faucet out of harm’s way.
Peggy, why can’t I grow rosemary? I’ve tried watering, not watering, shade, full sun, and everything in between. Nothing works! I asked the advice of a friend whose rosemary plant is the size of a Volkswagen beetle. She says don’t do anything. Another friend told me the problem is our cats. We have three. What do you say? “Ann Forsyth-Smith, Dallas
Your cats are getting a bad rap. Fragrant rosemary, of remembrance fame, is a mint-family herb of the Mediterranean; it loves to sunbathe but hates to get its feet wet. The trick is to grow it in well-composted soil, in full sun (at least six hours a day), out of doors. As Kitsie Warren of Nicholson-Hardie says, I’ve never met a rosemary that liked to grow indoors. Make sure you plant a hardy variety to begin with, like Hills Hardy, Prostrate rosemary (a trailing type), or Tuscan Blue, available at N-H and other garden centers.
As an associate of Ashton Woods Homes, I’m constantly asked, What kind of soil does Dallas have? What are the best plantings for the landscape? Any ideas for these new home shoppers? “Vicky Boysen, McKinney
New and longtime homeowners should have their soil analyzed. The best bet is through Texas A&M Extension Service. The soil lab tests for pH, salinity, and NPK (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium) ratios. Download the Soil Test Form from their web site (http://soilcrop.tamu.edu) or pick one up from your county agent. A&M’s Sam Feagley says you’ll need to gather up representative samples from each section of your yard “lawn, flower bed, vegetable garden, back 40. (The form tells you how.) There’s a $10 charge per sample, but Sam swears you’ll save money in the long run. Test results come with a report recommending soil amendments.
