There is a shortage of good glass here, too, not to mention forks and spoons at the thrift shops! Too much "garden junk" and Pinterest", lol! Everybody is snapping them up! Great ideas. I have seen silver plate and metal pieces that would work, tho. Guess that bandwagon hasn't come by for crafters, yet as they are still out there. Sandy

A link to other owls this seller has for sale (I do not know her personally...but maybe they will inspire ones creativity) the nose/beak is a corner of a dish...and raised off the plate. She must cut the glass somehow. She also drills a hold in the plate to attach a flattened spoon. Or...maybe an owl will speak to you...and you'll want one of hers. She has a another that really caught my eye. But I don't need two! This seller also sold me just the copper leafs and vine that mounts to a coppers pole. $17 I think per leaf maybe...but less in shipping when one can pick up a copper pipe at a lumberyard. http://www.etsy.com/shop/ARTfulSalvage/search?search_query=Owl&order=date_desc&view_type=gallery&ref=shop_search Here is a link that might be useful: http://www.etsy.com/shop/ARTfulSalvage/search?search_query=Owl&order=date_desc&view_type=gallery&ref=shop_search

Here are some that I grow that might fit the bill. However, I can't say much about their blackspot resistance because that is only rarely seen in my area. Polly Sunshine. A VERY cheerful bright yellow little polyantha bred by Ralph Moore. Mine is growing in a pot and flowers a lot. Lots of petals, old fashioned look. Little scent. http://www.helpmefind.com/gardening/l.php?l=2.23670.1&tab=36 Golden Border. Technically a floribunda but looks like a polyantha to me. Grows as a small, vase-shaped plant. Absolutely lovely mid to light yellow cupped flowers. Fragrant and nearly thornless. Prolific bloomer. Said to be disease resistant but it is new to the USA. Angel Gardens in Florida has recently imported it. Happy Child. A very pretty small Austin with intense yellow flowers. Excellent scent. No problems here, but my friend in Arkansas who has had it less than a year said it is highly susceptible to blackspot in her garden.:( http://www.helpmefind.com/gardening/l.php?l=2.1877&tab=36 Cassie/Snowbelt. Really a wonderful little rose here. A polyantha. Flowers look white but actually open a very pale yellow and rapidly turn white. Tiny flowers scented of honey. Few thorns. A blooming fool! Mine flowers here 12 months of the year with next to no feeding. Bushy, with leaves and flowers all the way to the ground. Flowers have a yellow eye, so the overall appearance from a distance is white but up close is of a yellow and white color combination, http://www.helpmefind.com/gardening/l.php?l=2.16752.1&tab=36 Others that you might want to consider that I don't have (yet!): Limoncello (http://www.helpmefind.com/gardening/l.php?l=2.58059) and Topaz (a rare yellow polyantha that is really hard to find--Greenmantle does grow it but I haven't been lucky enough to contact her when it's in stock). No pics of Topaz on HMF, sorry. Melissa Here is a link that might be useful: Golden Border on HMF

Hi, My husband and I adopted and older child who is cognitively challenged or developmentally delayed. These are the correct words but mentally retarded will work just fine also. He is going to hang out at the age of 8-12 for the rest of his life. What are the benefits of gardening to special needs children and adults... the same as for you and I. Granted the material must be presented in an "age" appropriate manner and reasonable accommodations must be made but these differently abled gardeners derive the same substantial benefits from gardening that you or I or any child does. Currently, Raymond (our oldest) is helping create habitat brush piles. I have helped him understand the need for habitat and have explained to him that animal houses need to be safe just like people houses. We have made terrariums, cacti planters, and have planted seeds in between glass so that he could see the roots grow. We talked about how his plants were using nutrients from the soil as energy. We talked about the sun. We have grown sweet potatoes by suspending them from toothpicks in glasses of water. We made a scarecrow and plant vegetables in a garden and he has learned how to pull weeds in rain. He has helped me burn buckthorn and he understands this is a plant that "cheats" native plants out of having a fair chance to live. we talked about God and how winter sowing seeds was the way to go as the plants were turned over to Him for better or for worse. He helped me prepare the soil and helped me place saran wrap over the winter sowing containers. When our tomatoes grew big and juicy last year, we set aside half to give to the food pantry for those less fortunate than us. And, he cut his own tomatoes and grilled his very first open faced cheese sandwich using slices of his own home grown produce. We use binoculars and regularly watch the birds who visit the birdfeeders we made and eat the berries off the trees we have planted. We have made our own suet to feed the birds using lard, peanut butter, and sunflower seeds from sunflowers we have grown. We have taken many walks and I have let him feel the difference between a conifer and a deciduous tree. We look for critters and it is a game to see who can spot the most as animals can camouflage themselves in foliage. He has containers of strawberries that he must remember to water or they will not survive. He now knows what goes into a composter and why. He has used the soil from our composter. He is going to help me pot up an aquatic plant for our fish pond this weekend and with a window box. Is he capable of doing any of these projects on his own- no. But half the fun of doing them is the togetherness. What has he learned? More than we could have ever imagined. He is making connections every day that we never dreamed possible. Gardening has helped him accept responsibility by enabling him to learn from natural consequences, ie: if you do not remember or take the time to water strawberries you will not have any to eat as the plants will die. It has allowed him to enjoy a sense of accomplishment. Many people commented on his terrarium and how nice it was and he did do the majority of it himself. He decided to try to cook so that he could use HIS own tomato. He had never expressed an interest before. Little steps toward independence and self sufficiency are so necessary as increasingly, these children are mainstreamed into society. Gardening is a phenomenal self esteem builder. There is pride associated with completing a task and doing your best. Granted, his best is different from yours or mine but it is his best and that in and of itself makes a statement. I hope you pursue that garden plot. I can see nothing but goodness growing up from it. My only suggestion would be to chose plants wisely. Sunflowers are a great choice. Tomatoes, beans, carrots, spinach, and French marigolds that repel insects around the perimeter might be something for you to consider. Who knows... you may even get a kid to try a spinach salad just because he/she grew it him/herself. The possibilities are endless. In addition to parenting the child mentioned above, I am also a Cub Scout Den leader for my 8 year old and his group comprises differently abled kids with disabilities ranging form legally blind, to hearing impaired, to ADHD, to oc disorder, to learning disabled. These kids can do everything other children can do they just need a little bit of extra assistance form time to time. Please feel free to contact me privately.