I recommend the smothering/lasagne method too. I've done this before on areas of traditional lawn that I wanted to convert to native wildflower patches, and it works well. Then you could either direct-sow native wildflower seeds, or winter-sow the native seeds in containers and transplant them into your wildflower area (see post from Sue/Chemocurl above). Winter-sowing in containers helps prevent the seeds from being eaten or washed away over the fall and winter. I just started winter-sowing native seeds in containers & transplanting this past year and have been amazed how well it's worked so far. Seedlings are all growing nicely. Just keep in mind you may not get much flowering the first year from native perennials grown from seed. Also, if you winter-sow in containers, you will have to dig holes for the transplanted seedlings. Not always easy on the back or the knees... Whether you direct-sow or winter-sow in containers, those "wildflower mixes" from the bigger stores are notorious for containing non-native wildflower and non-native grass seeds. You might want to try purchasing the seeds of the native wildflowers you would like in individual packets. Some native wildflower seeds need a period of cold, moist stratification to germinate, so they are best direct-sown in the fall, or winter-sown in containers. Some will germinate best when sowed in the spring. Most native seed companies will tell you the best time of year to sow each kind of seed. I got my native seeds from Prairie Moon Nursery, and Bowman's Hill Wildflower Preserve in PA. North Carolina State University has info on growing natives on their website: http://www.ncsu.edu/goingnative/index.html If you're not sure what kind of seeds to get, check out the information sheets (see link below) from N.C. State University that you can download. These sheets list N.C. native plants and wildflowers and what kind of growing conditions they need. Good luck! Here is a link that might be useful: NC State University: Going Native

Amanda, you're not the only one. Shame on us, but as long as you aren't killing or damaging the plant, taking from someone elses yard without asking first, I don't see the harm in doing it. I've been doing it for years and don't feel bad about it either. Never damaged the plant etc. never taken from someone's home. Sure have "helped out home depot, walmart, kmart, lowes in pruning their plants, dead heading all kinds of plants. In july actually had someone in walmart thank me for cleaning up the "ugly plants" by dead heading them, right into about 10 different baggies. Looked the woman in the face, smiled and said, "my pleasure, anytime I can help, glad to do so." She kind of looked at me like a sprouted another head. Got caught collecting dianthis firewitch seeds from a local garden center and was told "you realize those seeds will take a couple of years to grow and bloom, don't you?" I smiled and said "that's ok I'm young and can wait." Got in the car and couldn't stop laughing long enough to drive. couple of years, ya right, mister. My WS dianthis firewitch where blooming in my yard when he said that, the WS ones I transplanted in June 2005. Oh yes, he thanked me for doing some of his work, deadheading the plants for him. sometimes you wonder about these places don't you. and in August I went to a nursery, wanted this beautiful huge coleus, new breed called black night. This one was in a huge 15 inch pot. Marked down to half price they wanted $20 for it. Spent lots of time talking to the guys there about it and they said it is for outside and will not survive the winter indoors. A coleus that won't grow in the house all winter. They kept saying it and I kept thinking "you guys are nuts." almost bought it, put it in the cart, figured I could get cuttings and all. then spotted the seed heads on tons of coreopsis sunray. You know the rest, while I was busy, my friend got very rough, nicely rough with that huge coleus. cleaned up the six small pieces that had the "poor accident", put the injured parties in her purse to "nurse back to health" and yes she's a nurse and returned the monster to it's rightfull place. We have 10 small plants well rooted, planted in pots and growing well. (Yes, she's a great nurse, isn't she?). They look nothing like the original plant, but in the spring out in full light, they should be right back to what they are supposed to look like. don't feel guilty, I don't see where we did or do anything wrong. Just don't post on the aroid forum about it. Fran

**Follow up - Okay, it's been one day since I posted. (Practically) and the neighbors started up again with their music. This time, rap, with their bass so high it was shaking my son's bedroom door. So, I opened my door, and knocked to tell them to just please turn it down. Of course, no answer. Called my hubby, he told me to scream out in the hallway to tell them to turn it down or I'd call police and they would make them turn it down. So, I followed his advice. And before I could even shut my door, Mr #4 screamed at me, (with beer in hand) And said he could do whatever the *^ he wants, and if I give him any more problems he will see me in jail and hurt my son. So, I said bring it &!!hole and locked my door. (Hubby, heard the whole thing, over the telephone) So, with that said, I called the police. Of course, as I dialed, I had a panic attack - and fianlly the police showed up. I had them come to my door FIRST (or at least one officer) Because for some reason I just did not feel safe anymore. Told the police what had happened, they actually called me down - So, I made an incident report. I asked for an order of protection or something, they told me no - I guess it's only used for couples, boyfriend girlfriend type things ect. BUT - I made an incident report. Then they asked me about my landlord. I told them about the Landlord, and they said to tell him one more time, and if he doesn't listen to call them back and THEY will talk to him. So, they knocked on their door and of course no answer. So, like usual. The cops left. Twenty minutes later someone pounded on my door. I figured it was Mr #4 so I ignored it. My brother was over, and he took a peek out of my kitchen window (It faces out to the front where their bicycles are 'parked') and seen them scurry off down the street. I figured good. Now I can take me and my son out of here. I got him dressed, and as I eft, the stupid idiots put a note on my door. This is EXACTLY what they put. I have the letter right here. "Well, since you have become a problem, Harrassing me, I am telling "Landlord" & DCFS that you and "Hubby" have other people living with you and also MARIJUANA smoking in the house with a child present and all the traffic coming and going! Drug dealing - and aslo have DCFS give "Hubby" a Drug test screening. Also - it is a FELONY for filing a FALSE POLICE REPORT - I will file ANOTHER complaint with DCFS since you have a case already. =] It's not 10:30PM. I can play music ^$@^$!!!!" I have never touched a drug in my life. Ever. My hubby was a dumb teenager back in the day, but ever since he graduated hiughschool he left it in the past. As for 'traffic' coming and going, sure. I have company. But never really on a regualr basis. SOmetimes a babysitter here, a friend there. My mother-in-law shows up..That's it... As for "Other people living with me" There is none. Just me, hubby a toddler. Sometimes my brother comes to spend the night (He lives in wisconsin, comes down for visits for a week, and leaves). Filing a "False" police report is a felony. But it wasn't false. I just don't understand these people. I took the letter to the police station, and they said it's enough evidence to book him in jail. But, the cop told me (It was the same guy that was over earlier) "Fine. We can put him in jail. But his bond is $100, He'll be there overnight, get out on bond...and slash your tires, or burn the place down or worse..." So, he basically gave me a choice. I didn't know what to do. So I chose not to. I want to move so bad... I guess for the meantime my landlord can eat crap - My life is in danger, as well as my son. I already paid November month's rent, I'm leaving tonight. I'm putting everything in storage, and staying with a friend a few blocks down until I can save up and move out. As for my neighbors, I hope they rot in hell. I live in Kankakee County, Illinois. I live in Bradley.

0.06" of rain in the last month is all we've gotten, and I tend to balance grasses at the edge of highly stressed to minimize the amount of potable water being tossed on the lawn. I did have to manually cut the edge of the garden as it was approaching eight inches tall (one time I break the one-third rule), and the second mow started late afternoon as the weather is cool and cloudy. It's continuing right now, actually, as the robot doesn't need to see in visible light, she sees by magnetic lines, inertial compass, and a radio signal. Mowing right now under sunny skies and warmer weather would risk a severe burn.