Inside & Out

A bouquet of lilies, tulips and peonies

When a bride and groom select flowers for the big day, it's a good idea to choose some in their normal flowering period. This not only saves money, but provides better quality blooms.

Fortunately, there are a lot of choices.

They include:

Spring: Tulips, stargazer lilies, Casablanca lily, daffodils, lilacs, anemones, Bells of Ireland and peonies.

Summer: Tuberoses, gerbera daisies, sunflowers, English lavenders, hydrangeas, Queen Anne's lace and zinnias.

Autumn: Asters, chrysanthemums, dahlias, marigolds and zinnias.

Winter: Similar to spring except for peonies.

All year: Orchids, calla lilies, roses, gardenias and delphiniums.

This is from www.flora2000.com, which provides online delivery overseas.

Try playing green for St. Pat's Day

We found something that seems both fun and green in honor of St. Patrick's Day Monday.

You can charge this radio by Gaiam with solar energy or by hand cranking. You could also plug it in, but that's not as green.

And no, you're not going to work yourself to death. Thirty seconds' cranking equals 35 minutes of listening to the ballgame or music on the AM and FM player. It runs 25 hours when the battery is fully charged.

The price is $49.95, and it's available on www.amazon.com.

Did grandma or mom use Fiesta?

Fiesta is probably the most nostalgic dinnerware there is.

You might remember the bright colors and the simple Art Deco designs with impressions of concentric circles.

According to a history of the dinnerware on Replacements.com, it is also the best selling in American history with more than 500 million pieces sold.

Homer Laughlin started making the bright plates, pitchers, bowls and more in five colors in 1936. The whole concept flourished with new colors and items through the 1950s, but foreign competition caused Fiesta to be discontinued in 1973.

Fiesta made a comeback in 1986 when Bloomingdale's partnered with the manufacturer.

To celebrate Fiesta's 75th anniversary, the company will introduce two more collection pieces at different times over the next few years.

They will all be in a color it calls Marigold. The three baking bowls will be available for 75 weeks starting April 1. They were unveiled at the International Home & Housewares Show, a trade show in Chicago.

The bowls retail for $130. Check out www.hlchina.com.

-- Deborah Donovan