AW darn. so sorry for you. BUT just think of the fun being able to collect it all again. Yes I have had to shed lots of stuff when we moved 11 times in about 20 years. Was so hard. BUT this last move was only 8 miles so I brought the good stuff with us. THEN I ended up getting rid of so much of it. Since this yard was a total blank slate I did bring lots of plants with us from the last house.. And the garden shed. LOL Do you have a way to put the things out to the curb with a for free sign? Hope your move goes well for you.

Just did some reassembling of this tonight, secured with different posts and previously used 6 lb test weight fishing line but it wasn't strong enough with wind. It is planted with pink wave petunias. Will be a matching on on the left but painted opposite colors (green on pot, purple on frame). All from junk. Junk window frames that I sanded and painted, this pot is from something my MIL threw in our shared dumpster, a bucket from her ice cream maker, other bucket same thing, thrown in dumpster but similar size and shape.

Rob, you sound like such a nice person and how nice of you to even want to help. That is sufficient. You have quite a full plate of your own. Oh, I'm right in the center of eastern Iowa on the Mississippi, quite a ways from you, would tell most people on this forum where but archives and privacy, etc. It's gratifying to see that such beautiful roses can be grown in WI plus you are choosing ones that work best in your climate. I jotted down what you said and am happy that beetles are not such a problem for you. I'm wondering if there is something about my soil or the way I'm doing things. I will keep trying to make healthier growing conditions, not in a giant leap but in small steps, and get a better ecological balance going here.

Moccasin, thank you so much for your profuse compliments. The "bones" of my gardens are perennials, filled out by various annuals each year. I mix in some Plant-tone and Osmacote when I prepare the soil before any plants have emerged. I stoop over and pull out any weeds that I see, as my plots are small enough to do that. It's very funny that you should mention smiles and hand waves from neighbors. I live down the street from one of the major city colleges. Not only do any and all neighbors nod and smile when they see me out watering my gardens (well, THAT'S not necessary tonight, major rainstorm going on right now and a floodwatch), but a great deal of the passing students compliment me as well. That makes me feel like I'm doing a community service. I was just thinking as I walked out this morning that since I started my elaborate gardens, more and more of the neighbors on my side of the street have taken the plunge. I am definitely seeing more garden plots being planted, both in front of the Obligatory Bushes, and in the soil squares located in the courtyards (some buildings are in courtyards here, some merely line the street like mine). I cannot say whether more people are gardening because they saw my gardens and got inspired, or if it was a case of convergent thinking. But my gardens do seem to be an epicenter, outward from which I see the newly planted gardens (even if it's just a row of petunias or such) up this year. If so, hurray! We all need more flowery beauty and the peace it brings in our lives. Gesila, the only heuchies I've had so far were Marmalade and Georgia Peach. As you can see, Marmalade is doing fabulously. The original Georgia Peach specimen wasn't the best one, it was the last one the local nursery had. This may well have contributed to its not making it through the winter. The nursery told me that since my new GP in its 12" pot is in a sheltered location, in the lee of the Obligatory Bushes, a bit of sheltering bubble wrap or such should be sufficient to get it through winters. I am thrilled that all my new baby heuchies are really growing apace, faster than my small hostas. I hope the baby heuchies continue in their robust health!! Maybe with Garden Cat watching over them, they will. Garden Cat's origin came from my spotting this adorable wire cat face on the 75% off table with other Halloween stuff. Finding just the right pot as a backdrop was quite a bit harder. I think I went to 4 stores/nurseries before luck drew my eye to the perfect white pot. All right, it wasn't on sale, but I bought it anyway because it was perfect for my Garden Cat.