fouquieria, When you chose to highlight this, did you bother to read the responses I posted? Your comments seem a little disingenuous to me-are you really concerned about how to answer or did you want an opportunity to highlight your own skills over the OPs? The OP titled her post, "I need help with my rock garden" which indicated to me that she was sincerely looking for help. We went back and forth a little and she really does want ideas. She posted in the Hillside Garden forum, if anyone wants to pick up the thread. I think sunnyca and woodyoak are exactly right and I wish I had said more of some of what they suggested. This was my first response to her: "Is this a full-sun spot? Are you near the coast (sand?) I would put some natives in the garden. I would be sure to have a mix of sizes for variety. You could put a tree on the hill. Crape myrtle would be pretty, or a shrub that has a weeping shape to enhance the hill. Some grasses might be nice (if you are near the coast, sea oats are pretty). If the garden gets shade, hostas are always wonderful. Some evergreen plants are nice, too, so you have winter interest-do you get winter in zone 8??? Natives may do better for you, although maybe that is what you have-hard to tell from the photo and I'm no expert, anyway! You may also need to water a fair amount until everything is established. I would also partially cover some of those rocks, so they look as if they belong and aren't just dropped like marbles. Some look as if they are laid out in rows, but that could just be the camera angle. Maybe you could roll several closer to each other to make a threesome in a triangular shape (just not in a row) to mimic a larger boulder. I think it might have worked better if you had some really big stones in there, but you can still get that effect now if you want it. I think this will be lovely once your plants fill in and you did a great job with your steps. I need to do that on my hill, but I just can't lift and dig like I used to. Oh well Hope this helps. I am sure much wiser folks will give you even better ideas." I tried to give her some positive comments and to encourage her. Gardening is truly a learning experience and we all have strength and weaknesses-hers may be garden design, yours may be a lack of empathy or social skills, whatever-we all make mistakes, some more severe than others; some easier to fix than others. I know a lot of people don't appreciate the advice they get, but if I can, I will still try to help someone who asks for it. I know a lot of you are pros and your input is always terrific, but sometimes we amateurs can help some, too. Now I know she lives near Augusta GA, but in S.C., has sandy soil, etc., etc. I added a few ideas after my first follow-up. I had hoped someone would give her better advice than mine, but at least she got a response. Seems no one else was willing/able to help her and I wondered at the time if this was her first foray into posting on GW. It can be disappointing when someone gets no responses-not that any should feel obligated to answer. I think it is fine to pass when you don't feel you have anything you could say. Nonetheless, I do think it is unkind to post her pictures and then make the comments you did. Next time, just ask without showcasing someone else's weaknesses and without his/her permission. Cynthia

HI Everybody! Wow, was it warm here the last couple days! Just crazy, crazy for mid-March in New Hampshire...it was in the 70's. I peeked at some of my daylilies and can see some of them poking their little green heads up just a teensy bit. Of course it can still turn back to winter here at any given moment and we can still get snow even into late April and early May...but it was like fast-forwarding into June! Jean, I am so glad to hear your leg is feeling better. Goodness, you have had such a rough month. I have had a tough one too (which I won't get into here) but I will be glad to bid March farewell. I feel so bad for you because I know it must be so hard to go outside and Ms. Blackies not there. I would be devastated if I lost my Zeus. He is like a baby to me. Kathy, Sherry & Judy...thanks guys! If I cheered you up, then your comments cheered ME up. Mantis...the clematis are, from the top one down... 'Ville de Lyon' (with Baltimore Belle climbing rose) 'Perle d' Azur' 'Blue Angel' Thanks again to everyone who commented! Celeste

I have been going through a similar experience. I have been coming up with many of the same concerns. I saw a show on television a couple weeks ago that used recycled glass for the counter top and it showed how you can choose your shades of glass to get a solid color or mix it to get a look you like. I have not followed up on that process in person yet but it may be a process you might want to look into.. I also like quartz. It is a much more environmentally friendly product than granite and not busy like granite and I think you can get it with a less polished surface so it is not so shiny. One thing making my decision a challenge is that I currently have a marble look solid surface Corian countertop. It has been in my kitchen for over 35 years. 35 years ago a solid surface instead of a laminate surface was pretty cool and at the time a bit of a splurge. It is easy to work on, has no chips or cracks, all I have ever done is wash it with LOC and a sponge after cooking meals. There is one slightly darkened spot where my husband set a pan that was on fire directly on the surface.  I have always loved it because it has the look of an ivory marble without the high gloss. My kitchen is pretty classic. After 35 all I have to do to update my kitchen is put new handles on the cupboards and darken the countertops to create a slightly more dramatic look. I was considering real stone because of being older, that should one of us die, or we should decide to downsize  the current brainwashed mentality that a kitchen is not a kitchen without stone might make the house easier to sell. I want to be more green so I did not consider granite at all. I think with the green trend, granite will be way out of style in just a few years. I heard from a friend recently, who wondered why I was looking at counter material because there was nothing wrong with my current counters, that the color in Corian can be changed to a solid. So having read unhappy complaint after complaint about most counter products, changing my color would certainly save money and I would get to continue to live with a really easy to care for product. At my age I know that there are many more fun ways to spend time than cleaning the kitchen. Hope you find a product that works. IÂll keep checking back to see what answers you come up with.

Kay, glad to see you got Jelly Roll Morton posted it appears the new update is finally settling down. If I recall, every time Houzz does this it takes a few days and then things work. I wonder if our complaining helps? Sherry