Kim said... >My original obsession was outrageously out of hand and I loved it. [...] I'm keeping to the level area as much as possible. Weeding that slope is offensive enough without having to traipse up and down, sliding on every other step, to maintain anything down there. I know I will resent the ones which go on the slope and will eventually allow them to go the way of the Dodo, so I'm choosing to rid myself of them, instead. That's a LOT of roses, quite a few of which are seedlings either generated through my obsession or those shared with me by other "obsessives", but that is what it is going to take to keep this "fun", doable and prevent the water requirements from eating me out of house, home and desire. Weeding through them to maintain those which are just happier to be here with me and those which are endangered, has been a real chore. Now, if there was a ton of level land with high ground water. Hi Kim, Back in the Dark Ages we lived in California in just the sort of spot you are conjuring up as a high ground water fix. But native trees really like spots like that too... and our house had lots of shade, too much shade for most roses. Still, we wouldn't have dreamed of cutting down a tree. We didn't own the house, we like trees, and anyway, removing a tree was illegal without a good reason for a permit where we lived (a Monarch Butterfly preserve). Anyway, we were relative youngsters at the time and didn't know just how wet that property was until our vegetable garden was swimming in water during the winter months. It was fine, fine black silty sand that held on to the water pretty well too. Your post made me think about what we'd do if confronted with your lack of water problems back in California again. What you're doing makes a lot of sense. But I also am wondering whether a bank full of Renaes rambling around might not survive and also keep the weeds down once they proliferated and established themselves? They might take over the other remaining roses, but if you weren't still trying hard to keep those... A bunch of Renaes might not require so much watering once established? I don't think a big crowd of them would look bad at all, depending on personal tastes, of course. In fact, I prefer that kind of look. We've done that crowded thing in a pretty good sized area with azaleas and rhododendrons here; they all grow together and if there's a weed under there somewhere, well, you can't easily penetrate to find or see it. Once in awhile there's a tree sneaking in that will have to be pulled up, but basically it's too shady under all the plant thickness for most weeds to grow. And I adore the looks of those crowded plants! No, we don't have big problems with fungal diseases, even with the crowd. Maybe fewer than average problems, though phytopthera wilt sometimes does require some cutting back of rhododendron limbs. You know a big problem with azaleas and rhododendrons is that they aren't drought tolerant. Well, we have lost huge numbers since our drought problems began big time here around 2001. It's been wonderfully rainy most of the time during the last couple of years, but the next drought period is probably just around the corner... and if we lose some more azaleas and rhododendrons then, well, I'm thinking of trying to establish some Renaes and Annie Laurie McDowells in their place in the relatively sunnier spots... along with some more camellias, which are drought tolerant after the first year. (Though blooming is less than ideal if August and September are dry.) We lost our Annie Laurie McDowell to Rose Rosette Disease last year, but I am figuring that if it's anything like our Renae here, well, it's as no-care, no-worry a plant as any other plant of any kind we've ever had in our yard. Not a touch of blackspot or any other disease here thus far (though that may well change just a bit as we get more shade as the sun angle changes during the fall). Anyway, I'm hoping for another Annie Laurie McDowell eventually too. Ours is a no-spray all-organic yard for everything we grow and Renae fits well into that way of doing things. I think Annie Laurie McDowell will too. I know it hurts to cut back some on what you are able to continue doing, Kim. But I keep thinking mostly about your achievements and how much you have helped so many others in what you have already contributed. Thank you! Best wishes, Mary

I build things, and I am planting groundcovers, trees and shrubs so they don't totally fry trying to establish in summer. I am in San Jose, zone 15-also without rain but all winter long. I have been nursing my frost-hit citrus tree babies, and I am still harvesting raspberries from these crazy Italian bred ever-bearers! I built lovely wood cages to support these berries, five foot long rectangular boxes with cross members to support the canes, and stuck some finials on top of the uprights. Also filled out the under planting of alpine strawberries. I am making a grape arbor next weekend to span my driveway. I am installing solar powered light strings to give nighttime enjoyment- this garden is surrounding the kitchen door entry yard where all friends and neighbors sneak in to help us eat dinner, so I may as well make it pretty :) I am planting apple trees in a cordon along the driveway- opposite the berries- and considering chamomile and creeping thyme to carpet the ground- it's all wood chips from previous owner and I have to go slow as I want to install some stone pavers but only can afford two at a time . I am trying to make the garden areas look established and formal, my house turns 100 this year and is in a very visible urban neighborhood on a busy street so I can't have a tangle of dead tomatoes or blue tarp shade structure showing . My potager surrounds my driveway and side entrance and is very visible from the street. Hundreds of people walk by daily and I gotta show off! Anyhow, that's my winter, happy to read of others actions for more inspiration! Pea

Such a hot dry summer here in Austin. I live on a creek that has dried up for the first time since we moved here 10 years ago. It's not so much my beautiful St. Augustine and annuals I'm worried about, but my trees are looking very bad. I've already lost a couple of young pecan trees. We have a huge elm tree that is shedding a lot of leaves now. I just don't know if I can water enough to keep them alive. Evidently I made some good choices in perennials because they are doing fairly good. The bed is heavily mulched and every well established. I have hardy hibiscus that are really showing off this summer. I have put off any kind of summer pruning or thinning. Anything to give them a little more shade. We havenÂt mowed in 3 weeks, IÂm kinda afraid to, it might cut all the green off the top and leave us with hay. I have noticed that people who mow their yards weekly are having a harder time keeping them green. I really donÂt want to start all over on lawn grass. If I do I will replace it with something more drought resistant. Although I do love that beautiful St. Augustine. I have double potted all of my hanging baskets and still had to set them on the ground in shade to keep from watering them every day, cause frankly folks it's just to dang hot out there for me. I also started bringing plants back in the house to save them. It's just so sad to have to decide on who lives and who dies. They say we are supposed to have a wet fall. If not, I think we are going to lose a lot of trees around here.

I replaced my old Neptune FL with a new set of Samsung's this week. My old Neptune set on the floor for almost 10 years. I love the pedestals. I debated between just making a stand or buying the actual pedestals. I was concerned I wouldn't like the height and then would be tearing out the built in. I don't have a problem with the detergent height and I'm 5'3". The only thing I've noticed is the pump is a little noisier with it being on a metal pedestal opposed to the floor. The noise is obviously carrying through the metal box. I'm comparing it to my old Maytag FL. However, the new Samsung doesn't make the "airplane noise" that the old Maytag did. Even when the Maytag was new it was a different sound than the new Samsung is making. Also, since they are so light weight, I would also be concerned with certain brands walking the floor. As far as folding, I always take it upstairs and fold or hang. The only thing I fold, in the laundry room, are the towels. Today I just stacked them on top of the units. No problem. We always come through the garage, so you can see the laundry room. So all dirty clothes are behind cabinets or in the chute. All the clean clothes are taken upstairs and either folded or hung up. Making a platform would not be difficult, especially if you don't put drawers in the front.