Hi everybody, Just got finished reading this book of a thread. I would say I have learned a lot in here and appreciate EVERY single bit of advice.....the good, the bad and the ugly. Inkognito-I did enjoy the sing-a-long, it was just soooo beautiful!!!! ( and yes saypoint, I heard you singing too). I'd have to agree with everyone who said your advice was perfect. I need to close my eyes and invision what I would like there, it's hard to do but my brain sure could use the exercise. Nippersdad, you nailed my thought process perfectly, especially with the " I think it is rather unfair to paint the solicitation of ADVICE (particularly when accompanied with a smiley face) as a demand for free services." comment. First I LMAO at the smiley face remark :) but I really did think that this would just be a fun discussion for those of us who like to give our 2 cents worth on these forums. Somebody mentioned to do your homework first. For a lot of us out here, THIS is our homework. I have learned more in these forums than I have ever learned in a magazine or book. The ideas I've gotten from these types of discussions are priceless. Oh, I almost forgot - Nipper, you have me really wanting a screened in area under the deck, it's only money right? I would like to clarify that I never complained about posters and their responses. I got the impression that some of you think I did. I don't get my panties in a wad over internet remarks.

If you come through Spartanburg, check out Hatcher Garden & Woodland Preserve. It's not that big, so it doesn't take that long to tour, but has several picnic areas, so is a nice place to have lunch and only 2 miles off I-26 after taking I-26-East off I-85 (Follow I26-East about 5miles to the 3rd exit, Reidville Rd., S.C. 296), then you turn left, and it's 2.2 miles on the left. If you're taking 85 to Clemson, anyway, I see no reason to not make the little sidetrip and see where I spend some time volunteering. The only sad part is the streams aren't running right now as they're doing some water-garden renovation over the winter and I had a tour there Sunday and it looked nowhere near finished, but it's still nice, with winter jasmine, winter honeysuckle, Peggy Clarke flowering apricot and witch hazel all in bloom there right now (all four of those are in bloom in my yard, only about a 1.5 miles from Hatcher, right now, too, but only one of the four came from there, lol). I'll post the link to make it easier, if you're interested. Hope you enjoy your trip! Jeff Here is a link that might be useful: Hatcher Garden & Woodland Preserve

Welcome to SC, Stephanie. Where is it exactly are you relocating to? I notice you have a zone 8/9 listed which makes me think you may be near Charleston. Me too! If so, Zone 8/9 is a unique little gardening area. You'll enjoy gardening here more if you don't try to recreate what you are familiar with but embrace what is unique to the area. Instead of lilacs, peonies, and hostas think palms, camellias, cycads, aroids, even some citrus. My favorites by category: Perennial: Katie Ruellia (NOT the tall ones which are invasive) Cuphea micropetela (giant cigar plant) Brugmansia (comes back from the root every year) "Bright Eyes" Phlox(not all the tall ones thrive here) Plumbago auriculata (marginally hardy) rehmannia glutinosa (Chinese foxglove) Indigo Spires salvia Evergreen Shrubs: Banana shrub Pittosporum (there is a tall and a dwarf variety) Gardenias Cleyera Lorapetalum Roses: Knockouts Belinda's Dream (most other roses are a pain in the heinie around here) Summer Annuals: Blue Daze or evolvulus glomeratus Profusion series zinnias pentas cosmos (especially sturdy are the orange, red, yellow ones) Torenia Summer Wave series Ceratotheca tribloba (african foxglove) Tropicals that may work: Satsuma tangerines Meyer Lemon Tropical hibiscus Ferns: Holly fern Tassel fern Christmas fern Autumn fern A friend (who is an absolute gardening genius and I (who parasitically sucks knowledge out of him) have a blog that is really focused on what works in the Charleston area, check it out if you are interested. Here is a link that might be useful: My blog

Activity slowed down from last week (rainy weather) but yesterday and today saw the first females. This past week though we think we had a first. For years every spring/summer we Orioles in the tree tops. Been trying for years to attract down too the feeders. Finally saw the first one coming regularly this week too a feeder! (Bad zoomed cellphone photo...lol)