and the link Here is a link that might be useful: gardening by the seat of my pants

I pasted it into the optional link url below the message window. -Ed Here is a link that might be useful: try this

Cindy: AB-SO-LUTE-LY loved your pictures. I am now officially jealous! ;) Our little GH is only 11X11 with a pond inside that takes up about 1/2 of that. So, there's room for the plants (it's tight) but no real room to have a chair and table. I too am a sufferer of Seasonal Affective Disorder, although, I think up here it's called something else, but it's the same. I have been using Full Spectrum lights for years and they really do help. But like you, when I'm really feeling the effects of the winter, even without a seat, it's unbelievable how going out to the GH and taking in the plants and flowers, really make one feel much better. I don't even want to get into the heater thing! LOL I've been rather *cough* LAZY this year and have not completed all of the insulating that I have to do. I even forgot a few things that need to be done. So I check the temps the other day and almost paniced when the temps where down to 7C (45F)! The one little heater, which usually has no problem keep above that temp, just wasn't doing it. So, I put another heater out in the GH and set it to only come on if temps drop. So last night, I went out to check on it and accidentally found out why the GH seems colder than it should be. While standing there, picking up the heater, I got a freezing cold breeze over my legs! The wind was blowing and coming in under the bottom of the door! I FORGOT TO PUT THE RUBBER STOPPER DOWN! hehehehee oh god, it ain't easy being blond! LOL Needless to say, this weekend we'll be doing the last little bits. Anyway, enjoy your nice GH and please, have a coffee or whatever beverage for me in your GH! :) Oh yeah, and please don't be afraid to post more pix throughout the winter. Perhaps we sufferers can all enjoy each others' havens. :)

Hi Donna, those are Air Pots, some call them super pots. They are expensive. They do an excellent job providing more air to the roots. The roots grow outward throughout the pot towards the holes. These pots provides more air to the roots making the tree grow faster. The pot has indentations and holes all around it. The pots in the picture are 1 1/2 gallon size. You do have to water these more than others because the soil is exposed to more air due to the holes. I have to water these trees every 2 days plus my soil is fast draining. So I have watch the trees daily. The bottom of the pot has a disk and it also has long holes. Some say you loose more soil with these pots but I don't. I add a piece of weed guard at the bottom of each pot. The weed guard is very breatheable and allows air. By fast draining I mean my soil mix only has UPM, water saver (pine bark fines), cow manure, mushroom manure, perlite, turface and lime. I use to use MG but it was too dense and held too much water. Now, I just make my own soil. The pot is held together with the blue/green screws at the top and bottom. I also have some 3 gallon pots that are not shown in these pictures. I use these pots for small trees that I want to grow fast. I also use these pots for hard to grow cultivars like Black Madiera, Malta Black and others. I like these pots. They store well and are reuseable. My Black Madeiras are growing faster than last year and it is only March! Thanks, Dennis