Organic - unless you live in a newly built house where the builders have removed the topsoil you already have 'topsoil' in your garden. It may be clay soil but it is probably absolutely fine as the basis for starting to garden. I have very heavy clay but with compost and muck added it grows good crops. There are not many places in Southern England that do not have soil which will make a reasonable garden. If you really want to be planting stuff out in a couple of weeks you are looking at a large outlay in bagged compost and loam to fill raised beds that fast. I really do believe the cheaper, and in the long run, better option would be to dig the ground you have. It's more work but will give you a good garden. However, if you are set on filling up raised beds about 2/3 potting compost to 1/3 garden soil or John Innes would be about right. Plus you will need some sort of retaining edging unless you are just going to mound the earth up. This is going to be very expensive.

Thanks everyone for your replies! Snooper, I called Concord Nurseries and they don't sell this tree anymore. He said the demand went down for it. He said that demand goes up and down for all trees and that the Globe Norway Maple is a great and hardy tree and good luck on finding it. Ken, I understand what you are saying about monocultures, but this is not a garden. I am lining one side of my property with the trees, not making a garden or anything close to it. This is our taste and just as I am sick and tired of seeing Crimson Kings and Red Maples up and down my road, i have to respect such property owner's taste. We happen to love the look of this tree and we also are happy it doesn't get too tall because of power line issues. I found a nursery in a nearby county who will be able to easily get the trees for me come spring. He said he sells the trees from time to time and that he personally likes them but their popularity waxes and wanes. I am very happy to be able to now put this tree searcg anxiety to rest. lol I am sorry to hear that you have had trouble locating items for so long. I am sure me griping about a few weeks must have come across as petulant and I apologize. I have never even planted a flower before so this is all knew to me. Just last week I planted grass seed and today saw some grass start to perk up through the grass seed. I felt like I had won the lottery. lol Hey, it's a start? Thank you for your link. I called them and they had 4 of them, but I need 5. One of the four was "bushier" than the other too she said. We want 5 from the same grower as I have heard that is better instead of buying one here and 3 from there.... Brandon, I will be babying these trees like you wouldn't believe; already looking at tree shelters and protectors for them. lol I won't let a pest issue even begin, but if it does I'll be on top of it so it won't get out of hand. I have been reading it is a pretty hardy tree.... rhizo, I can't believe more people don't love this tree, but people in Oregon and Canada (about 2 hours from here) are growing this tree all over the place so there IS demand somewhere, especially when the several places I called in Oregon only had a few left. We love the tree. It's the shape that makes it so beautiful imo. Everyone around here has the exact same thing so we look forward to providing a little variety for people. Misshenry, I called ForestFarm and yes they told me $39 for the tree and $85 for delivery for each tree. Considering the prices of some other trees we had earlier considered from nurseries around here, that were running $170-300 a tree, we considered FF's price, even with shipping, to be a bargain. Bboy, tell me how you really feel about the tree? lol You think it looks like the end result of mal pruning? Yikes. If you saw the moncoulture of all that is in my area you would long for something different. I think Crimson Kings and Red Maples, all Oaks, and Christmas trees grown for privacy, which is done all the time around here, one of the most yawn-inducing things you can do to your yard, but like in all things, your mileage may vary. Thanks again, everyone, for your replies and help. I was directed to nurseryguide.com by a grower which led me to a grower in OR which then they gave me a list of growers in my area that ordered from them and the rest is history. Now the hard part is the wait til spring....Have a good weekend everyone.

Both Lowe's and Home Depot should have white tile in stock. Daltile is an easy, inexpensive source (and will let you order a sample online, they have a couple of whites). Mixing sizes (maybe a border of mosaic size tiles) will add interest without adding much cost. You could also clip the occasional corner and add a few decorative tiles - with 65 sq feet, you would only need a handful. Its amazing what just s few interesting tiles can do!

I'm a huge Tobacco Road fan and I used it in my kitchen/hearth room. In the other areas, living room, dining room, entry I used a color that is one down from it on the color strip called Plantation Beige. It's a little crisper and brighter and good in areas that don't receive as much natural light. Not sure if it's what you're looking for or not, so here's a pic of my entry in Plantation Beige for reference. It's a Duron color too but I'm sure SW can mix it. For comparison, Tobacco Road is the color painted across the top of this paint brocure and Plantation Beige is the color on the bottom right. Good luck in your choices!