I wish I could help you, but I'm not familiar with those roses and whatever else you have in your pot ghetto. It's a nice bed, and I like the rock border, wish I had the time and energy to finish things off like that. If it were mine, I'd put a cascading rose in it that repeat blooms, can't think of any offhand. Then finish it off with some little plant that spills over the rocks but not too far like dichondra would, can't think of what plant would work. The only thing is that you've got some nice-sounding things behind the peony if I read it right, and they're all obscured by the main event. The peony is beautiful, and I'm not sure why you want to move it, but it's a one-time per year event and then just sits there not doing anything worth looking at. I do love peonies though. I've got a photo of a tree peony, I've looked everywhere, even asked Klehm's Song Sparrow to have a look at it. Nobody knows exactly what it is. I've seen a lot of beautiful ones, but none I like as well as that. Sorry I drifted OT. I just get to thinking and never know what's going to spill off my keyboard after I make my main comment.

I use plastic shade cloth, because I have scraps of it, or stainless steel mesh with 1/8" holes, because I have scraps of that, too. On the subject of things in the bottom of pots, one of the the funniest stories I remember reading on Gardenweb was the lady who absentmindedly stuck her finger through the drain hole to hold onto the pot, got distracted by something else for a while, then looked back into the pot and screamed because she saw what she thought was a piece of someone's finger in her pot.

You need to watch for putting too much of the design in the actual contract. You'll be bound to that decision which could end up being a problem if you later change your mind. On the other hand, if you're exactly positive then it could be a good thing. I hired an architect first (or a KD could do the same) who specified high-level what was needed, for purposes of a quote. That included preliminary decisions around appliances, just for pricing purposes (they weren't what we picked in the end.) The estimate came in based on that document. I then attached my initial spec in as an Appendix, then had some wording talking about how to negotiate changes to the preliminary scope. To me things like where to put electrical wall switches, etc. shouldn't go in without some proviso saying you're free to make final determinations later. Do you want to be bound now to the decision you make in these cases before you start the work? It's important to work though changes in scope and impact on cost. Unless your design is really complete or unless you've done this before a few times, it's unlikely your final price will be what you're quoted now unless they come in with a fixed bid (which I'd argue isn't in your best interest unless you have no ability at all to go beyond your set price limit). If your planned interaction with the GC will be minimal (e.g. you won't be in the building or need to rely on specs to communicate decisions) then I'd put the specificity in specs and refer to the spec documents. Permitting, code compliance, etc. are all very good things to have in the contract -- for me they were drawn up in my architect (or KD) initial drawing / spec. Payment plan is also important (at what milestones do you release portions of payment). Also, I'd include the prime / sub contractor relationship (or say that all payments go only to the prime) and ensure that you'll have lien waivers to protect you in the future. This post was edited by calumin on Mon, Jun 24, 13 at 16:10

I’ve actually been reading & paying attention, so I have some of that covered. I use drywall tape to cover my holes. I use Lechuza Pon because attempting to find proper gritty mix materials here was an exercise in frustration. I do like the idea of a wick, though. If it is outside, would the wick have to be replaced often? What material is the wick? I assume cotton, but if I’m not sure what to call it in English, I know I won’t manage it in Spanish. I’m curious of how I’ll get the wick through the drywall tape. Would putting the wick in first & the drywall tape over that be ok? Maybe I’ll just cut a few of the cells in the tape to enable it to pass through. Any plant suggestions? With moving & buying all new furniture & appliances, I’m suffering from a lack of inspiration & decision-overload.