Although not very clearly articulated, I'm sure Maro's intention was to stimulate the OP in perusing through the older threads to see how this same issue was approached. No need to get your knickers in a twist, sweetrain, and your response was even less helpful. There are many ways to approach this. If carefully done, just extending with the shape you desire out of the same material can work. I designed something similar for my stepson's garden, uniting two separate concrete pads with a free form shape - it turned out very well. Sometimes it helps to tie both the old and new patio surfaces together with a second material, like bricks or cobbles or even treated wood to define expansion joints. Or surfacing both the old and new areas with a tiling or flagstone to disguise the transition. Ripping it up is not out of the question, either. A concrete saw can be borrowed from equipment rental companies or it can be done with a pry bar and sledge. Then you can design the space in whatever shape you want and use whatever material suits your budget to surface. If the depth allows, you could deck over it with a wood material, although this is trickier to form into a more organic shape. Sometimes I wish builders would simply stop providing these square patio pads. They are inevitably too small to be very functional and always the same boring rectangular shape. Too often they remain in place simply because they are there and given no consideration to how they blend in to the landscape or add to the aesthetics

Kathi- Your Gloriosa Lily is showing a lot of reds. Do you have it in a lower light situation? Mine gets full sun this year in the afternoon rather than the morning so that is why I think it is more close to the purple and yellow side. Rock Oak Deer: Thanks for looking at my pics. Asiatics are great here in VA. The temps typically stay cool enough for some great long lasting blooms here. I was very surprised at how well Asiatics and Orientals grow in a shade garden. I have no direct light but it is still bright. I know they say on the box Full Sun but maybe in TX try indirect light only(you may already do that but I figured that I would suggest it). I think you would get the longest lasting blooms in that type of lighting condition. Why I like Crinums... :-) They have a fragrance... some smell good but some smell great They are super durable. I have yet to kill one and I think if you do kill one you are supposed to be embarassed and never mention it. lol Most are rebloomers. Most bloom a couple times a season and some bloom several times(after heavy rains). They are heirloom plants and more often than not they will live longer than the person who planted them. I also find it interesting that these plants hybridize in the wild creating new interesting varieties, and new "old" varieties are being rediscovered. I also like to push zone hardiness to the brink with the use of microclimates and other techniques, so these being Z8-11... I am right at home with these here in Z7. I am currently testing hardiness of different plants including crinums, palms, brugs, and others in Fredericksburg, VA. -------------------------------------------------------- This is what I was planning on posting today... I have new leaf growth on 2 of my 3 F4 Whites and 1 of the Jean Pasko. The 2 P&C seem to be the ones that I am most worried about since I noticed a lot of people mention that this one is difficult and I have not noticed any progress yet. Some of the others do not seem to be forming leaves but are forming what looks like branching a super tiny leave(which the leaflets were there when I received the cuttings) I am curious... Do any of the varieties that I received require to be Air Layered when rooting cuttings or the usual way should be fine. Also to those of you that root your Brugs in water only... How often do you change the water? Thanks again, David

Venomous snakes have a triangular shaped head (from ears to nose) and non venomous snakes have a more rounded (or spoon shaped) head. Your construction snake looks like a black king snake. They eat rats. They are your friends. We had one living in a tree hole next to our porta potty during construction. Black king snake, non venomous, rounded head: Timber rattlesnake, venomous, triangular head: Rattlesnake that got in my way (54", 9 rattles). My sister told me how to skin it. My DH would not even touch it. He's hanging in the den now (the snake, not DH...although.... ;) ) Really ticks me off when he kills the non venomous snakes in our yard. We have a large garter snake living near our front veranda. He is eating my frogs, which is bothering me, but I told DH not to kill him. 15yo boy down the street shot/killed a 13 rattlers snake taller than he is a few weeks ago.

I remember reading that...but it's still just as funny.... I am completely surprised that I didn't find a post from me on there...My DH has done a few things during our 42 years that I tell on him every now and then. patti