Earth smart

Rose list: Delhi Flower and Garden Centers are sending out the word that the new rose list is available. The All-America Rose Selections roses for 2003 sport luscious sounding names, including Hot Cocoa, Whisper, Cherry Parfait and Eureka. Preseason orders are being taken at the Delhi Township store, 451-5222, and the Springdale store, 771-7117.

History underfoot: How can a lumber company succeed without cutting down trees? The Mountain Lumber Co. in Ruckersville, Va., has been rolling out new wood flooring for almost 30 years using reclaimed wood from factories, mills, warehouses, barns, piers, cider vats and other structures scheduled for a meeting with a wrecking ball. Its Guinness "harvest" comes from the Dublin brewery's 27-foot-high ale vats, being put to rest in preference for stainless steel. The vats were disassembled, re-sawn, kiln-dried and milled into new flooring. Like the company's other historic flooring, the Guinness comes with an illustrated history of its source. Product booklet: (800) 555-2671.

By design

Regal chamber: There are toilets. And there are thrones. This French Merovingian 8th century-styled wooden flusher tops off at 63 3/4 inches and has a candle holder, ashtray, a gothic arch top, armrests and a poem by the French poet Alfred de Musset inscribed on the seat. When the lid is raised a chime sounds and the poem is played. A bell rings with the flush for a royal send-off. Princely priced at $4,238 at www.homeclick.com.

On the web

Counter tips: With all the new countertops at a cook's fingertips, from granite to Corian to marble and Formica, clean-up can be confusing. A click on www.countertopcare.com gives a brief lesson on the history of your countertop and how to care for it with an ask-the-expert forum and tip of the month. The site, powered by Stone Care International, is a good starting point for those considering new countertops or kitchen remodeling who need a primer on stone, solid surface, laminate and engineered stone surfaces.

Wise buys

Dishwasher gel packs: Electrasol takes dishwashing gels up a notch by removing the messy factor from liquid dishwasher soaps. The new Gelpacs are premeasured capsules that pop in the washer and dissolve with no measuring or waste from a goopy squeeze bottle. Twenty individual packs equal a 75-ounce bottle of gel. $3.79.

Contact Joy Kraft by phone: 768-8467; fax: 768-8330; e-mail: jkraft@enquirer.com.