Showroom Fertile Soil for Excellent Artificial Plants

When it comes to artificial plants, a bad fake ficus is almost as bad as a bad toupee.

A place that specializes in custom furniture and holiday decorations is a good place to start a search for quality artificial plants. When we spoke to the people at M-H Fantasy Designs recently, we learned they have enlarged the facility to 6,000 square feet to accommodate the manufacture of more silk flowers and plants.

The quality is tops at this furniture showroom and the prices more reasonable than most places. The silk plants and flowers are made on the premises.

A 10-foot fishtail palm that would run at least $600 anywhere else was $300. But it was the 8-foot wisteria with blossoms dripping that won our hearts with a tag that read $250 instead of a comparable $500.

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So what about the ficus trees? For a 10-foot Oriental ficus, figure $250 (retail $500). When you see it you’ll know what a quality ficus should look like.

Owner Marty Helpman and designer Jeannie Jesse take their tree designs seriously and will work with you on creating something specifically for your decor. They do custom floral arrangements and treat each one like a piece of furniture.

M-H Fantasy Designs, 21 W. Easy St., Simi Valley. (805) 584-2600. Hours: Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

Weekend Supersale: The number of stores for doll houses and the miniatures that furnish them have dwindled to very few in the Los Angeles area, but the Doll House Lady continues to offer a wide selection. Its once-a-year spring sale is going on until March 5 with at least 20% off everything. Some of the houses are reduced by 40%, and a selection of miniature furniture is half off retail. For anyone considering this hobby, now is the time to begin.

The Doll House Lady, 8964 Huntington Drive, San Gabriel. (626) 793-7433.

Seymour Fashions, a local manufacturer of casual apparel for women, is clearing out its merchandise at 50% to 80% off. This manufacturer makes jeans, blouses and jackets to mix and match in sizes that run from extra small to extra large. The sale runs through March.

Seymour Fashions, 7040 Darby Avenue, Reseda. (818) 705-1911.

For more bargains, visit www.bargainsla.com.