Long before they knew the size, location or style of their new home, Jim and Courtney Saunders knew that it would be green.

The two-story house they plan to build in Upper Arlington will be “green“ in the sense that it will be more friendly to the environment than most new houses, using less energy for heating and cooling.

» Savings come from clever, tested methods

» Tankless water heater

When you're broke and spend your free time dreaming about buying a home, the prospect seems like an oasis in the desert. So you daydream while wasting money decorating your rental, buying nice clothes and eating out several times a week.

One day, granite countertops will be out. Salad-bowl sinks will seem so yesterday. Faux-painted walls will look like flocking from the 1950s. Choosing decor that won't read like a fad in five years is a challenge.

The tangy scent of cedar mingling with wool can bring back memories of Grandma's house or seaside cottages. Cedar closets are becoming more common again in homes of the wealthy.

Dear Jane: I have a shady patio and used to grow impatiens. Amur maples shade it, and the ground has gotten so full of roots that the impatiens just don't grow. What could I plant that would add some color but also could tolerate the root problem?

Last week I wrote about fourseason plants. Some other plants to consider include one of my favorites, Persian parrotia, a small pyramidal tree that grows 20 to 30 feet tall with a spread of 15 to 20 feet.