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A successful Spokane architect who specializes in residential design, Thomas Angell seems an unlikely candidate for engineering a chicken coop. "I did a lot of research," Angell says of the sleek, modern-looking structure occupying one corner of his family's front yard near Whittier Park west of downtown.

"If you're going to have a garden, you should know something about weeds and how to handle them." That's Don McCandless' philosophy. A Master Gardener for nine years, and owner of Don's Greenhouse in Cheney, McCandless has plenty of weed experience.

Dear Collector, The enclosed pictures are of a small ceramic coffee server that I purchased for $1.98 from a thrift store. The only identifying marks are numbers on the bottom. Maybe it's worth nothing but it looks like it is an old piece.

Water is almost a magical element when put into a garden. It catches and bounces light in different directions, adding an unpredictable element. When it is in motion, it adds excitement and serves to direct the garden walker's view to other points of interest along its route. The sound of water falling over a waterfall or rocks is instinctively relaxing to humans. And it's important to remember that a garden pond will draw all kinds of wildlife to your garden. For Jim Walsh of Coeur d'Alene, this means both a simple tickling fountain in a large pot and a small pond that he says the raccoons have way too much fun in. According to Walsh, talking to people who have built water features and ponds is one of the best ways to learn what you really want. They can tell you what worked and probably more importantly, what didn't work for them. To help with this, Walsh and members of the Inland Empire Water Garden and Koi Society are opening their ponds and gardens this Sunday so you can learn from their experiences. They will even have a few ideas about selecting plants and fish and keeping raccoons and herons from treating them like a private salad and sushi bar.

As hobbies go, interest in the ancient Japanese art of bonsai has been growing rapidly. The idea of having a miniaturized bit of nature seems to fascinate people. "(A bonsai) is an artistically designed tree that is trained to look like an old tree in miniature," says Roger Snipes, a Spokane bonsai enthusiast and member of the Inland Empire Bonsai Society. Its sole purpose is to characterize a tree found in nature on a mountaintop or in a forest. Bent and battered by the elements; sometimes growing among rocks or in groves; no two are alike.

Seated in the sunroom of her Rathdrum farmhouse, Rolane Hopper places a hand on a well-worn table covered in peeling paint. "I love a piece just like this because it tells what it's been through," says the thirty-something physical therapist who has turned an eye for vintage finds into a burgeoning antiques empire.

Good timing brought Bob Adolfson home to Spokane. Three years ago, the Spokane native and his family came over from Seattle to run Bloomsday. Perusing a community newspaper, he came across an article about historical sites that discussed the Glover Mansion's future. At the time, Adolfson faced a career crossroads – his employer wanted him to move to the East Coast, he wanted to stay in the Northwest.

For 07-03-2007

A drive along Woodstone Avenue, in Hayden's Forrest Hills neighborhood, reveals a number of stately homes with impressive gardens. Dan and Lezlee Mattison have what is likely the pinkest.

Chamaecyparis obtusa may sound like a mouthful, but this species of Japanese evergreens produces some of the daintiest and best kept forms in the modern landscape garden. I started collecting them about six years ago after a landscape designer urged me to include these evergreens among my seasonal perennial plants. The idea was to give the landscape year-around structure.

Most companies that deal with weddings have flowery names. And that's true of Pistil Packin' Posies. But it's flowery with a twist. "It took me probably a good two months to think of the name," says Angela Hagedorn of her wedding floristry business. "I brainstormed with words that are associated with flowers and horticulture. I didn't want anything conventional. I wanted something completely different. And there was a day when Pistil Packin' Posies came to mind. So I asked a few friends and they all loved it."

Dear Collector, The 10-inch high Pinocchio doll in this photo has "Made by Ideal Novelty & Toy Co." on its stomach. I would appreciate knowing his value. Pinocchio, whose name in Italian means pine head or pine eyes, is the marionette turned boy that learns life's lessons through wondrous travels and encounters. Your circa 1939 doll, which looks to be in very good condition, could be worth more than$250.

Looking is fun too Cheryl-Anne Milsap finds just browsing collectibles an enjoyable pastime.

The Pend Oreille Lavender Festival, with its rich mixture of culture, community and nature, attracts locals and visitors from all over the Inland Northwest and beyond. The festival takes place this weekend.

The teens who step across the threshold of the Volunteers of America Crosswalk at 525 W. Second Ave., don't notice the cracks in the floors and windows, the worn linoleum, the stained ceiling tiles, or the dingy, torn carpeting. They are more concerned about coming to a place that provides them with warm clothes, a hot shower, food, and a bed for the night — or many nights as the case may be. Although the teens who call Crosswalk – an emergency shelter for ages 13 to 17 – home didn't really notice the building's run-down appearance, Debi Moon of downtown Spokane's highly acclaimed restaurant, Clinkerdaggers, did. And she decided to do something about it.