Thanks alygal. WIth how many ridiculous laws there are regulating ridiculous things, certainly, a law requiring the removal of weed saplings under power lines in a residential area would NOT be nearly as ridiculous as some already on the books. I'm sure Asphlundh (or however it's spelled) are obligated by their contract to investigate every consumer request about branches and powerlines. if the remaining maple reaches the power lines (hopefully roundup finishes off the one that is dying) I'm going to start calling the utility once a year to complain about it. If they have to come back enough times hopefully they will just cut it down to grease the squeaky wheel and leave him an _official_ notice of his idiocy on his front door or however they handle it. I had complained about the Sassafras when I moved here because it was so obviously an accident waiting to happen, with the trunk right next to the power lines, but they left me a note on my door saying "tree currently doesn't pose a threat". As I said its trunk split and fell into my yard, had it fallen the other way it would have taken out all the lines. (power, phone, cable) If these stupid companies would just come through once a year and remove all such saplings using their right of easement, they'd save themselves huge problems later. But that would be planning ahead, which isn't a part of American capitalism anymore, apparently. What's so galling is I surely could have spotted this thing 5 years ago when it was 12" high, and removed it without him ever being the wiser. I would NEVER have done what I did to something that was actually planted, even if it was a POS tree purchased at Kmart. Of course I kick myself for now for not having done that, even though it would have been doing his weeding work for him. Apparently, after they get 3' high, "the lawd done blessed up with a tree" and it must be allowed to grow up...the sky's the limit.

I live in the Florida panhandle, but know Indiana 231, because we (I, now) have a cabin in Indiana, and we have been going there since 1986. I have seen a lot of interesting things when there. I miss going, because at my (advanced) age, I don't like to drive there by myself! LOL I will have to look up your town and see how far away from me you are. Welcome to garden junk and thanks for the mental pictures you shared with us. Love the Finland picture!

Arlene, It was your pic that inspired me!!!!!! Yours is so much more vintage looking!!! We bought our bike to decorate for a 4th of July parade. The seat was painfull to sit on!!! There was no way I was going to ride that thing in a parade. The seats are original so I didn't want to rob it of it's humble vintage look. When I saw yours and others on the web I knew that I had to cancel the parade idea and make a planter. We have decided not to decorate this Christmas (First time ever). What are your ideas to decorate the bike/planter for Christmas? Next year I hope to go all out as usual. Susie

Hi folks - I started this original post back in early November, shortly after Hurrican Sandy toppled over tall Crepe Myrtle tree that I just finished transplanting from a different location on my property. It was probably only in the ground for 2 weeks or so prior to Sandy. Anyway as I described in the other posts on this thread, I replanted the tree back in the same hole, but secured it down a little better with stake and also rested sandbags on top of the root ball do deter it from toppling over during this past winter. Now that we're in May now, I have since removed the sandbags, and the twine and stakes. My concern however is that the tree has not begun leafing out yet. I have another healhthy Crepe Myrtle on my property that has begun leafing out nicely already. So I'm naturally concerned about whether the other tree survived the winter. Any opinions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks! bobby