Did they tell you how the root the plant from cuttings? Viburnums are generally not too tricky to propagate from cuttings but there are techniques that will definitely enhance your chances of success. Timing. Ideally you want cuttings in the softwood stage - the tip of the branch bendable but not so bendy that it does not snap off. So any time from late spring through summer. You want a tip cutting that has at least two sets of leaves - about 3-5" in length. And preferrably no flowers (if any, cut off). Make the cut about 1" below the second set of leaves - strip these off. Dip in rooting hormone then plant in a well draining starting medium with the lower leaf nodes below the soil. Cut the remaining leaves in half to reduce transipration. It helps a lot if you place the starts in their pots inside a clear plastic bag to prevent evaporation, keeping the plastic off the leaves. Bottom heat, if you can provide it, will hasten root development. Provide room temperatures - right around 70F is good - and keep out of direct sunlight. Keep the potting medium moist but not wet. Rooting should occur in about 4-6 weeks. Once firm rooting has been established, the cuttings can be planted up into a larger pot. But it will take time for a proper root system to develop and you may not be able to plant them out in the garden without protection for a couple of growing seasons. A greenhouse or cold frame would be helpful. Can't say how likely your cuttings are to take this late in the season but it is always suggested to expect a fair percentage of failure at any time. IOW, take a whole lot more cuttings than you think you need :-)

Kandy, please take this as just an initial shot at attempting to find the cause of your situation: Do be aware-it is possible to overwater plants. Some of the visual cues that this is happening include chlorosis(Yellowing of foliage that is supposed to be green) wilting stems and foliage (I know-sounds wrong, but is true), other off-color effects, and lack of vigor. And yes, all of these symptoms can be caused by numerous other causal agents! Wouldn't you know it! So, it seems like you know what you're about with gardening, etc. Perhaps you can provide additional info for us. Finally, while it is too early for "fall color", some plants each year do seem to show early color change. We don't always necessarily find out the reason(s) for this effect. Are you seeing something beyond just the odd coloration here and there....to a more general. systemic situation? +oM

Lyfia, all great points you brought up, it really helps me plan and think. Honestly we have no set time frame for having this project done, since we have an up and running kitchen in the other part of the house and we are working on the new kitchen as time allows. I spent part of this week filling every little brad hole with putty and sanding everything. This weekend we should get a primer on and if dry time allows the walls and ceilings painted. I think we are at the point we are going to put in the cabinet order too. We still have the floor to put down, sand and seal. Tile the whole range wall, put up shelves. The wiring is done, we still need to run plumbing .. which means going under the house in the Summer .. YIKES! We live in copperhead country, not a fun prospect. Last year my DH got bit, we were very fortunate it was a 'dry bite' though! Valinsv, thanks for the help and suggestions, they are very helpful! Les, I love those 50's dinette chairs and if I was going to do a booth, I'd be all over them. I honestly don't think with a very rustic table I'd be happy with them ... even though they look super cushy to sit on. :) If I do go with these chairs I'd have seat pads made for them. I still haven't put my chair order in, I was all ready to go, now I'm hemming and hawing over details again. Part of me wants to go this way, part can really see everyone sacked out in a comfy booth and chairs playing board games and drinking coco. I know that everyone brought up very valid reasons to stay away from a booth, like people being inconvenienced by having to move to let the inside people out, etc. The thing is though we don't have those types of sit down and eat parties where I see it being a problem. When we entertain adults it's normally in a relaxed, casual setting outside on the deck or around the pool area, where we have large tables in each area. When it's just the five of us here, there would be plenty of seating that we could all spread out. I'm lucky that my girls really do get along, there is not alot of she's looking at me, touching me, breathing my air problems. *LOL* I grew up with 3 siblings, I know how that goes, we spent a lot of time bickering. ;) When it's the kids and their friends having snacks, I don't see it being a problem where the kids would feel inconvenienced. So in short I'm still stuck, I think! *LOL* Sometimes I can see right away the path I want to follow, sometimes I start second guessing myself. *sigh* Normally my Husband will chime in with his feeling on the matter and we'll work it out in a way that we are both relatively happy .. this time he really doesn't seem to care, well other than wanting me to make a plan so we know how to finish the room. ;)

The one in the first two pics looks like Crassula arborescens undulatifolia. Not sure about the ID for the other two photos, but the plant on the left looks dead. Does it still have some life in it that's not readily apparent in the pics?