Very nice,i like them all.I have a few i've been thinking about putting together like your last pot.I just have to check my pot collection to see if i have a big enough one to do it.TFS Kathi

I assume you're asking about mulch for the beds. Gravel and wood chips both have up-sides and down-sides. Wood chips will decompose and add nutrients to the soil. Grasses, of course, generally don't need a lot of nutrients, but they do need some, and hardwood chips decompose slowly, adding nutrients slowly. You'll need to replenish regularly. Gravel, especially if it's freely acquired on your property, is a more permanent weed blocker, and will still let sufficient water through. It probably should all be close to the same size and color, so you may have to do some sifting. A frame covered with hardware fabric, in 1/2" or 3/8" mesh, will give you a good size. Snakes won't necessarily be more attracted to either. Rattlesnakes will look for sun-warmed spots in cool weather, but Copperheads tend to avoid open areas, and are attracted to lots of moisture. Be careful when gathering gravel from your creeks. Undergrowth beside creeks would be a good spot for Copperheads. Make lots of noise and use a 6' long bamboo switch to rustle the growth. Copperheads generally will steer clear of you.

Speaking of birds, I just had quite an interesting encounter. I am trying to incorporate some very nice used carob bricks into my BBQ which is already built into some very large rocks adjacent to my pond. It is very challenging to try and meld the two materials together. I am totally engrossed trying to figure it out and out of nowhere comes a loud whoosh and a thud and an immature yet still very sizeable bald eagle flopping around at my feet. I'm not sure what attracted him, perhaps my koi but maybe he dove, saw me and tried to swoop out. He flew right into the glass rail of my deck and knocked himself cookoo. I calmly talked him through it until the cobwebs subsided and he was able to fly off to hunt another day. You talk about an adrenaline rush!!!!!! Here's a picture of the BBQ I was working on. I had just demo-ed the fake brick off the front when the eagle hit the glass panel on the deck stairs. Here is a link that might be useful:

YES they do. The grandmother spied on us the whole time my company was here. And she thinks we can not see her through or over the fence but we can. Sh would stand there and listen to what we were saying. Then yesterday grandson was hiding out in the little shed that has a window watching me. He is 20 years old. He has said some very sick things to me and should have been slapped silly but I am not that way I just told grandmother I do not want anything more to do with him and to keep him off my property. And I told her why. Grandmother has no idea what is really going on over here.Right after my husband died she saw men coming here and assumed I was already seeing new men. NOT NOT NOT. The men coming here were my investors and we were dealing with the death benefit . Thing is they wanted me to do one thing and I had a totally different idea so they kept coming here to try to talk me into their way putting more money in their pockets. OH NO!! but she thought I was having dates already. And she watches me like a hawk. I am 5 years older than she is and do not need her telling me what to do. Or making assumptions about my life. And see her kitchen window is just such she can see who comes and goes here and I have nothing to hide so I am not asking people that come to not park so she can not see them. And the really funny thing it I actually have several men friends that have come to help me do one thing or another. ALL of them are married and I totally respect a marriage. So now I try to bring them in the side door so they are really in full view just to frost her nosy self. I do not get mad I get even. Sorry rant over. LOL