I'm sure I'll be full of questions when I actually start the work on my new rock garden. I'm still thinking and planning and reading everything I can get my hands on. I still haven't found my book by Linc Foster:-(

I put a few of my potted plants beneath a tall outdoor table, which creates a bit of protection for them. Consequently I still have a few petunias and chrysanthemums in bloom. I planted six pansies in the fall. They are not protected, and are doing well. I sure am enjoying their pretty flower faces. I got my indoor bulbs started late, in spite of having purchased them early. Darn it! The amaryllis has been planted as well as a few hyacinths. I have a bunch of tulips and paperwhites still needing to be put into pots for indoor blooms. I'll probably put that off until January because Christmas decorations will take up all available space. I usually start putting up Christmas stuff on Thanksgiving evening, after dinner has been cleaned up. That's tomorrow! Lorna

Mwheel, they have the those devices in many states. They have it in Wisconsin at the 2nd & 3rd OWI or DUI (whatever you call it where you are from). While the devices sound like a great idea (and they are) there are a few problems with them and the main one is that the device can be started by anyone that is sober. It is not hard for a drunk to talk someone into blowing into the device for them. The other problem is that they often borrow vehicles from their friends and families that do not have the devices. In Wisconsin, the person has to have all vehicles that they have in their possession. That doesn't stop them from borrowing a vehicle from someone else and hiding it on their property. While I'm with you about giving someone heavy jail time, I know that there are more dangerous people out there and I also know that we can't really afford to put even more people in prison. It really does cost a lot of money to house a criminal. Maybe instead they could institute the device on the vehicles and another device that is hooked to their telephones that is set up so that when the device calls, they have to prove their sobriety and progressive discipline for those that decide not to follow the rules.

Is there something unique about Tilia that allows it to maintain this low branching more so than other trees? I attended a wedding just outside Ballina, Ireland, a few years ago and there was a massive old Linden fully branched to the ground. I couldn't help myself and had to crawl inside to get a look. Embo is right, there was a lot of "stuff" under the tree hidden from the public. No garbage to speak of, but a lot of plant material -- dead and alive.