HELOISE: Florists usually include plant-care instructions

Dear Heloise: We received several beautiful basket arrangements following a death in the family. There were no instructions on how to care for the plants or even what kind of plants they were. There are several types of plants in each basket. Florists should include a little information with them so we could know how to treat these lovely plant groupings.

Kathy, Terre Haute, Ind.

You are correct, and most florists do include instructions. Call them and ask what plants are in the basket and how to care for them. The instructions may have been removed by mistake when someone was collecting the message cards.

Heloise

Dear Readers: Here are a few more uses for old ashtrays — see if one will work for you:

A soap dish by the sink.

Put a hot-glue gun in one while working on art projects.

A catchall for jewelry.

A travel pet-food dish.

A water dish for a gerbil or a pet bird.

Heloise

Dear Heloise: I had one of those huge bottles of hand sanitizer sitting around from the flu season. So, I use it for a good foot rub before bed because it’s cooling and refreshing.

Wanda, via e-mail

An interesting hint. However, you can use this product year-round, not just during flu season. Germs are not limited to winter!

Heloise

Dear Heloise: We have a very small piece of property and don’t have enough room for the fruit trees and large garden that we would like. A few years ago, my husband and I determined that we needed a hedge between our driveway and our neighbor’s. We decided that the traditional hedge was not our style, and instead planted a row of blueberry bushes. They are not as formal, but create the needed border, and we get wonderful fresh berries.

Deb N., Raymond, N.H.

Dear Heloise: The plastic clasp on the back of my new two-piece bathing suit broke in half. After searching unsuccessfully for a replacement, I had a brainstorm!

A plain, round key ring did the trick. I threaded both ends of the bra onto the ring, as you would thread a key onto it. It is comfortable and more durable than the plastic.

Without this replacement, my new top would have remained useless. Hope this comes in handy for someone else!

Lorrie in Florida

Dear Heloise: One of your readers wrote about the mess people make in the bathroom by getting water all over the counter. At work, someone does the same thing. We had been hanging notes on the mirror, hoping that person would be a little more thoughtful. The cleaning staff would always take the note down at night.

When I saw your column, I clipped it out and taped it to the soap dispenser. That was a week ago, and there is no more mess!

A Reader, via e-mail

King Features Syndicate