I can't get this Salvia to survive in my zone seven garden. If you buy the plant now you can grow it in a window this winter and pinch it back a bit at the end of March, give it some food then. Start hardening it off by early May and you should be able to put it oncve you're frost free at night. T

You probably have the perfect climate for Sanguineas that like cooler temps. I think that you would probably be ok with most brugs. I'm not sure if they would do well inground or would be better off container grown. I also don't know if they'd need winter protection in your climate. Brugs can be grown inground year round in zone 8 as long as the soil is well draining. I would try full sun since it doesn't seem that strong in your area. You could start with some inexpensive brugs to see how they do.

i think you ought to live there for a period of time... and decide if the investment will repay itself .... it looks like you want to put a very expensive kitchen in a two bedroom house ... when you will need a 3 bedroom house in the future ... unless there is a second level i am unaware of ... you clearly stated: We will not put in this new kitchen unless we do decide to make this our forever home. until you make that decision.. its not worth putting 10 or 20 thousand dollars into remaking this a 2 bedroom house.. with a designer kitchen ... you may never recoup your investment .... my best suggestion... first.. keep dreaming .. if nothing else.. this little dream kitchen.. is part of the next house ... but right now ... figure out if the neighborhood is kid friendly.. including schools.. traffic.. neighbors .... etc ... if in a year or two... you decide to stay.. that is when you decide to gut half the house.. and build your dream kitchen ... you dont mention if the 2 kids are of the same gender ... but mine finally made the teens.. i can not contemplate such in one bedroom ... even if they were of the same species ... think about it... boy/girl.. i dont think so ... teen girl/girl ... good luck with that. .. two boys.. hmmmm... depends on the boys ... try not to get caught up.. in the possibilities of peeps who have 4000 sq foot houses.. and unlimited budgets ... been there.. done that ... its wasnt my reality .... live there.. enjoy life.. dream about that kitchen.. and when you can move.. make sure the next place.. has a better kitchen to start with ... i wish you luck with the babe ... the toddler.. and the new house ... and never lose your dreams [which sorta happened when mine turned teenagers.. lol] ken ps: maybe in a few years you can bump up.. for a master bedroom up.. and that kitchen out back ...[you dont mention if there is a basement either].... but not if the neighborhood cant handle it.. you NEVER want to end up.. with the best house on the block ... you will never be able to sell it ... in the sense of recouping your investment ...

A properly designed curbless shower DOES contain the water! The important part is "properly designed". The best waterproofing that exists can be all for nothing if the shower underneath it is improperly built. That goes for curbed or curbless. Be sure the pre-slope is correct, and correct for the materials chosen. Be sure the interface with the drain is correct, and no weep holes are blocked. Be sure the curb is built correctly, and detailed correctly. The details Behind the waterproofing are just as important as the waterproofing. And the framing behind those details is included in those things that not enough people pay attention to, until it is too late, and they have a wavy tile installation because the walls were framed poorly. You won't be using any contrasting grout with wavy walls!