Again, THANKS... now even more info in my head. (smile)... One final question, I have left a couple in pots I don't care about... the one question is I still have a larger Contorted Filber (Red- not that that matters)... I know when I got it the "Tree expert" as they call him at the "garden center"-voted highly, the place.. I asked him about root pruning as I know it was overwintered there from last year.. looking healthy as can be, but... I said, "he's been in that pot awhile", I voiced concerns. The boy claimed, assured I didn't realy need to do anything but plop it in a hole. I mentioned the losses long term from girdled roots. Again, he claimed.. a long speech that I lost track of. He said Biotone would help a lot, sucker that I was bought some.... IF IT DOESN'T WORK, let me know please and I'll return it..anyone who knows of it.. he recommended a root stimulator and that was his recommendation. So, I eyed the tree today, after reading the posts, it's not "technically" summer and I feel bad for that poor guy in that pot. I like the thoughts of burying the pot till dormant. I worry b/c some times brutal weather can cause late planted plants to die too. This time there is a supposed guarantee through Nov. on this as long as planted correctly, etc... which my god, it will be... BUT, being that I'll even have to cut it out of it's pot whenever it's truely planted, I can assure you there's some root issues. Opinions? Plant pot, wait? There's an ornamental weeping spruce that is struggling now that was planted maybe 4 weeks ago and eventually needs moved (fall) for better wind protection. It's not established yet, but would moving that guy back into a pot just shock it more... i.e,..let it alone.??? I thought I could try the filbert (then in autumn move the hydrangea tree) with the knowledge there is a supposed guarantee (be it true?)...Or wait... Problem is, physically my health isn't good and each month for awhile it's worse... I'm not old. That's what I meant about not around for that long. I can't predict how I'll be in fall.... in terms of planting, whatever... I'm young, not old. Brain's getting worse too. Opinions? Plant the pot? plant the plant? I'm home mostly 24/7 so watering isn't an issue, but there's the always too much factor or just STRESS Factor to the plant....I'll wait to hear from some of you. thanks again!!!! Amy

Yes, we are Sunset 3B here.... The sunshine on most days and temps in summer is the reason so much agriculture grows successfully here. Of course, they irrigate. I am surprised Wenatchee is the same zone as us, but I guess it doesn't take into account the amount of snowfall they get (They are probably the -15f extreme.. we are more like -5f.) RE: the suitability of the trees I listed, The Thornless Honeylocust seems to thrive here, it does well in alkaline soil and is drought tolerant. As a prairie tree, it thrives in full sun. I have noticed many honeylocusts in yards that do not irrigate, growing just fine... The list of negatives of the tree is pretty short, and it seems very adaptable to our conditions. Linden -- RE: irrigating, I don't know. We will have some lawn on the property, so a tree/trees in that area would get more water. Linden tolerates alkaline soil and has small leaves... Thus, it seemed to be an *option.* ash -- I still have to go to our local extension office.. I will ask them about borers here. Ash also tolerates alkaline soil and was another option for my lawn area. If the borers are that bad here, I won't consider it.

Not only do I have to get permission from the local government, but this server does not allow me to see photobucket, so I have not seen the drawing. I will check tonight when at home. Meanwhile, I really like your ideas! I took a stroll yesterday evening and tried to envision panels and cutting back the wild stuff. I have someone coming in today who can help me with the heavy work (for a price, of course). Then I modified my original idea and kept to the budget. Canvas! great idea! Also the end of the lot closest to the picnic table near the gate of the fence, well, I was thinking of putting a pyrimidal trellis and planting clematis, so great minds and all that. Now that the box seems to be crumbling, I have been looking at outdoor plant racks and large box containers for raised gardens and looking at everything from different angles. When all done I can I will post pics. Thanks again!

Was feeling a bit under the weather today (hope it's not another sinus infection brewing...), so spent time shopping on the web for prices and availability of my proposed hostas and heuchies. I have read and absorbed the lore here about itty bitty TC starters as a no-no, but the Advanced Starters a year or more old looked big enough to deal with. They looked as big as some of the hostas I've already received in previous years. I also researched prices and availability of my H & H's at some of the nurseries you good folk suggested, which I'd never heard of before. None of the hosta nurseries had ALL the varieties I wanted. Hosta Direct had "Advanced Starters" of Paradise Island, Rainforest Sunrise, and Remember Me, $9.95 apiece. They only seemed to offer Rainbows End as a teeny baby starter, so no thanks. They also had 4 of the 5 heuchies I wanted for $7.95-8.95. They currently have a 15% off sale and a flat shipping rate of $6.95 plus .75/plant. Free if you spend $85+. Wade & Gatton (one of the nurseries suggested here) wanted $11 for hosta Gypsy Rose vs. Hornbaker's $15 and Jim's Hostas $16. Hallson's had Paradise Island, Rainbows End and Rainforest Sunrise for $14, $16, and $14 respectively. So far, NH Hosta (which I've ordered from before successfully) and Hosta Direct seem to have the best prices on Hostas and Heuchies, minus Gypsy Rose. Hornbaker was second-highest across the board but had 4/5. Hallsons was a dollar or so higher than bottom and if they had all the varieties, I'd go with them in a NY second. But they only had 3/5. Jim's Hostas had 4/5 but much higher prices. In the Country had prices so high as to make me laugh. Obviously, I want to order from the least possible places to keep the shipping costs down. If anyone here has a better source, please let me know.