Will you be planting perennials soon?

The Spring planting season seems to pass so quickly. Before we know it, it's too hot and dry for many tender new plantings.

About now I start making a list of things I want to plant this fall. Since I am stuck with an abundance of shady spots, ferns have risen to the top this year.

But if you want to get a head start, there are tough, sun-loving plants that can go into the ground now.

Joanna Reed is a relatively new nepeta or catmint. The flowers are dark violet with a pink throat and grayish-green foliage, and it grows as tall as 3 feet. Wayside Gardens says after the spring bloom you should cut it back for a fall encore.

Butterflies give it a wing up while deer supposedly ignore it, and catmints are considered an easy-to-grow substitute for lavender.

You might want to skip the area code

Do you have a favorite number?

Maybe it's three because you have three children or your phone number or your birthday.

Eurotrend introduces the Number chairs. The back of each chair is a number between zero and nine. The chairs are available in a few shades of stained beech or 180 different colors of lacquer. Each chair is $585, and they are available through www.eurotrendusa.com.

You can mix and match. Everyone in your family could be No. 1 or you can determine your own pecking order. It could be a great conversation piece as guests try to figure out why you chose certain figures.

Start grilling before it's too late

Any way we paint it, summer is nearing an end.

The right attitude is to make the most of it. For example, if you have been pining for a high-end grill that will impress your friends at your next barbecue, it's probably not a good idea to put the purchase off much longer.

Dimplex suggests it PowerChef. This is an electric grill suitable for people whose backyard is a balcony or patio. While it looks like any upscale stainless steel grill, it doesn't operate on gas or charcoal.

The suggested retail price is $600, and stores are listed at www.dimplex.com