Email  Print  del.icio.us  digg  yahoo!

Design Directions

Iron-Rich Pour

Celebrate the earth at the Earth Day Iron Pour at the Tamarack Nature Center—and put the finishing touches on your own iron garden art. Carve a garden sculpture or sand tiles into personalized designs, and then watch them get covered in hot melted iron. Garden sculptures are $215 each, which includes three Saturday sculpture classes; 10-by-10-inch sand tiles are $75, which includes one two-hour carving workshop. The Earth Day Iron Pour will be held April 22 from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Tamarack Nature Center, 5287 Otter Lake Rd., White Bear Township. To reserve your spot to carve a sand tile or sculpture, call 651-407-0597.

La Vita Italiana

Sopra Sotto, the “Italian Living Store” that opened early this year in Rochester, features tempting Italian merchandise, cooking classes, travel tours to Italy, and an espresso bar. Unique items include handmade table linens, porcelain dishes from artisans north of Rome, and hand-bound leather journals made in Tuscany. One percent of all proceeds are donated to breast cancer research, says shop owner Maureen McNally, a survivor of the disease. Sopra Sotto is located at 111 S. Broadway, Rochester, 507-252-5522, www.sopra-sotto.com.

Slipper Savers

When Minnesota wildflowers and plants are in danger, only one company is licensed to come to the rescue: Woods’ End Plants, based in Northfield. Since 2003, this three-person plant rescue squad has been digging up and selling native lady’s slippers and other hardy orchids that would otherwise end up under a bulldozer. Find Minnesota’s state flower (shown) and other orchids at the newest retail location, Winsome Orchids in Independence. A one-day seminar on caring for native orchids will be held there on May 13. Winsome Orchids is located at 7978 County Rd. 11, Independence, 763-972-9708,

www.winsomeorchids.com

.