Edible flowers are all the rage in cooking right now, but be wary of the types of bouquets you buy. Many flowers are considered edible -- like pansies and lavender -- but if they aren’t grown organically, they can be harmful to eat. When buying edible petals, look for USDA-certified organically grown varieties to use in your salads, drinks and pastries. Or better yet, grow your own. When you grow from seed, you know exactly what was used (or, in this case, not used) to grow them.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Solar lights are both an eco-friendly and easy way to add illumination to your garden or yard. The lights have built-in solar panels that soak up the sun’s rays and illuminate at night using the power of recharged batteries. To maximize their efficiency, be sure to place them where there is full sun during the day. And at night, make sure they are away from lamp posts and other outdoor lights, because any residual lighting can prevent them from turning on.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

If you’re having a celebratory event that normally involves guests bringing presents (like a birthday party) and you really don’t want any gifts, ask your invitees to bring items for a charity instead. Choose a local charity like a food bank, animal shelter or family services organization and ask what items they desperately need. Then ask everyone to bring those items as a way to facilitate gift-giving and charitable giving at the same time. Do the math: Twenty guests who each bring a large bag of pet food can be a big help for a small animal welfare organization.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION