Home and Garden Briefs: Expert’s furniture, art on the block
Antique furniture and artwork collected by dealer Vernon Regal will be auctioned today and tomorrow at Dargate Auction Galleries in Point Breeze.
The Valencia man, who died on Oct. 13 at age 97, was an expert in 19th-century American, British, Italian and French classical furniture and mirrors, porcelain and clocks from the 18th and 19th centuries. Among the notable pieces are a mahogany and stenciled pier table made in New York and monumental French Opaline urns, both made in the 1820s, and a King George III settee, English William & Mary chest and Northern Italian giltwood console, all made in the 1700s.
Auction hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days. Dargate is at 214 N. Lexington St. Information: 412-362-3558 or www.dargate.com.
‘Extreme Makeover’ in W.Va.
At 8 p.m. tomorrow, ABC will air the episode of “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” featuring the Turner family of Fairmont, W.Va. In December, the “Makeover” crew and volunteers tore down the family’s 600-square-foot house and built a 2,800-square-foot dream home.
Richard and Angie Turner share the house with her children — Theresa, Desmond and Tyron Lodge — his daughter, Layton, and his cousin, Michael Jones. Levin Furniture and painters A.J. Vater & Co. of McKees Rocks were among the retailers and contractors who contributed to the project.
Phipps spring show
The Spring Flower Show at Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens will open next Saturday and run through April 13 in Oakland.
In addition to hundreds of tulips, visitors will see snapdragons, cineraria, hydrangea, cyclamen, delphinium and other spring-flowering plants. Other features include fountains in the Palm Court and Victoria Room, cascading waterfalls, a chess board of snappy color combinations, and Greek-inspired columns, urns and statuary.
Admission is $10 for adults, $9 for seniors (62 and over) and students with ID, and $7 for children ages 2 to 18. Phipps members and children under 2 are admitted free. Information: 412-622-6914 or www.phipps.conservatory.org.
Orchid show
The Orchid Society of Western Pennsylvania will hold its annual show, “Orchid Party in the Park,” next weekend at Phipps Garden Center, 1059 Shady Ave., Shadyside. As part of the free show, there will be several lectures on orchid growing and plants and products for sale. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. next Saturday and until 5 p.m. March 16. Information: 412-441-4442 or www.oswp.org.
Composting classes
The Pennsylvania Resources Council, Allegheny County Health Department, Giant Eagle and the City of Pittsburgh will hold composting classes. The workshop discusses how to set up and use a compost pile. Participants will receive an Earth Machine compost bin (one per family). The fee is $30 individuals, $40 per couple. The schedule:
Wednesday: Whole Foods Market, East Liberty, 6:30 p.m.
March 25: Mt. Lebanon Public Library, 7 p.m.
April 2: East End Food Co-op, Point Breeze, 6 p.m.
April 8: Marshall Township Community Center, 6:30 p.m.
April 15: Union Project (Highland Park), 6 p.m.
May 3: Boyd Community Center (O’Hara), 11 a.m.
May 6: Castle Shannon Library, 7 p.m.
For information or to sign up, call 412-431-4449, ext. 325.
Dahlia sales
The Greater Pittsburgh Dahlia Society has announced two big spring events: the tuber auction April 20 and plant and tuber auction May 18. Both events will begin at 1:30 p.m. on the second floor of the Munhall Borough Building, 1900 West St.
