Anurag - the thread about container soils and water retention was written with the hope that those reading it would come away with an understanding of how water behaves in soils, & particularly how particle size and other physical characteristics impact perched water retention and o/a water retention. It's up to the grower to decide what he/she wants to do - how diligently they want to work at reducing the amount of excess water their soils hold. 1:1:1, screened bark:screened Turface:grit is the most productive soil I've used, but I don't use it for everything. Veggies & plants I know are only going to live a year of go 1 year between repots, usually go in the 5:1:1 mix. All of my woody plants, housep0lants including succulents, and other plants I know will be in the same soil for 2 growth cycles or longer, go in the gritty 1:1:1 mix. The 1:1:1 and 5:1:1 ratios are guidelines, but they're good ones. They minimize the amount of perched water a soil holds, and the gritty mix makes a good run at maximizing the volume of water held inside soil particles while still offering additional adjustability. If you live in a rainy climate and you're using the gritty mix, you might want to increase the amount of grit and decrease the amount of Turface commensurately. If it's dry where you live, increase the Turface and decrease the grit - but make sure that the soil holds enough water to carry you through the dry days, but not so much your plant suffers during periods of prolonged rain. Shading the pots when it's hot is very helpful. High soil/root temps is one of the primary limiting factors for container growers. I like soluble synthetic fertilizers. There is no more efficient way to ensure your plants get what they need, when they need it, at the right ratio, and in a favorable o/a concentration. How you fertilize is up to you, but soluble synthetics make fertilizing almost foolproof, as long as the grower holds up his/her end of the deal. When you root prune, the object is to eliminate large roots that aren't attached to the trunk and are in unfavorable positions to make room for and increase the number of fine roots, which do all the work except anchoring and transport. You'll need to develop a feel for root pruning because all plants don't get the same treatment. Reread the thread about water movement in soil, and the one about trees in containers. Make sure you understand what's in those threads. If you do gain that understanding, it should make a significant difference in what you get back for your efforts. Best luck. Al

Oh, thank you, Cynthia--you're a great cheer-leader and I appreciate the encouragement! :o) Hangeth thou in there--it really is amazing how quickly a garden evolves into an exciting place to be!!! Patann--how did I overlook your post?? I'm so sorry! You too, have ALWAYS been a HUGE encouragement to me and I've loved so much your excitement that so often rivals my own!! :o) The hosta in question, I believe you are referring to is one of my very first that I got excited about! It's 'Francee'!!! It can look very dark or medium green--depending on lighting! Mine get no direct sunlight so they tend to be a rather dark green which really makes the margins 'pop'!!! Here's a shot of scanning right with the same plant more in view: And, from last years archives this from the other end: Thank you, again, Kristy---now I can get the tune out of my head!! LOL Good thing I love it!!!! "I got a girl and Ruby is her name I'd give the world just to set her heart aflame... Ruby Baby when will you be mine..Ruby Baby..Ruby Baby.." And so it goes--and it'll keep me awake for hours, no doubt! LOL Maybe not!!! hehehe

By controlling where the sitter is looking, you define the space. Put a sofa parallel to the TV wall, facing the TV, with a sofa table or low bookcase backed up to it to define the TV area. Define the fireplace chat area with a rug. A pair of loveseats, or a loveseat and two chairs, one slightly angled with its back to the doors and the other (or pair of chairs) matching with a nice couple of chairside tables would define the fireplace part. People sitting here should be facing each other, at a comfortable conversation distance. There will be the blank corners outside the fireplace conversation area. Good for a potted plant, maybe a small writing table in front of a window looking out ... a solitary activity. Maybe a bookcase And If you are having a big get-tpgether, just turn the sofa around so it's part of the conversation area.

Yes! I think you're right. I just googled "campanula rapunculoides," and the photos look identical. According to the interwebs, it isn't native to the US, and it is considered an invasive weed by some. I'd like a rustic woodland garden with native plants, so this has got to go. Thanks for the help!