Janice if you damaged a deck using a power washer, it was your error in using the washer that caused the damage, or perhaps the deck was nearing the end of it's life any way. You can write your name in your concrete drive with a power washer if you don't adjust the fan and direct the water in one spot too long. It's obvious that you can rough up wood. Saying a power washer should not be used to clean a wood deck is rather like saying a power sander should not be used to refinish a wood floor, because you one used one and it ate right through the wood. Used correctly a power washer is the easiest thing to use and does the best job of cleaning a deck. And from all I know, pressure treated wood is harder then non pressure treated wood, less porous not more. Linda C

It is really nice to see what hostas you all love the look of. Harryshoe, I cannot tell you whether or not your Northern Halo is actually named correctly. It looks gorgeous though. I have a sneakin suspicion that if it were in my garden, I would be loving the look of that one! I am not clear though about what it is you would like a suggestion on. Rob_sneyers, I had never heard of a hosta named Eos. As for Queen of the Seas, I just got it last year and I am hoping to love it too. Bernd, those are a nice bunch of hosta you picked. Don B. I got Brother Stephan last year. It had 2 eyes. It is now emerging with 5 eyes. I agree that Babka's Brother Stefan is gorgeous. I am crossing my fingers that mine might look that good. Did you see McTavish's photo comparisons of Brother Stefan and Paradigm? I have attached a link. Here is a link that might be useful: Paradigm & Brother Stefan Photo Comparison

Thanks for the photos and the tips! I do have my Whirlwind in a spot where it will be mostly shaded all day with some sun in the early evening. Slp, we buy our hostas from some local people in Ramsey MN...we are so lucky to know them. Their yard is gorgeous ~ we enjoy strolling through it while we shop. Kristy :) Here is a link that might be useful: Hostas & More

It is raining right now, but when it stops, I will take a pic so you can see what kind of cedar it is. It does not seem to have much sap at all, I do not know if it is because of its type or not. I have actually had large potted above ground hostas under this tree for several years. They do not even get winter protection, and they have survived with no loses. But I have always had not too special types there. If I make the bed, I want to put some nice ones there. Like I said, they would be in their own large pots in the ground, so I think it would be hard for the tree roots to disturb the hostas. Since it is a raised bed, I was also going to lay down that black garden cloth (forget the real name of it) for added protection from root intrusion. So between them being in pots and the cloth under the bed, I think it should be ok. I am just at a loss for shade now and have many homeless hostas. And my addiction will not allow me to stop buying so I am desparate to find more shaded places! LOL! I live on a lake, and where it is not bulk-headed, is nice shade with trees that go up to the water line. I would LOVE to put hostas all through there,it would look so natural and beautiful. However, the ground there is too rocky and hard to dig through because of the waterline. So I cannot even really dig down enough to put pots in the ground. I could just put them in pots above ground and have them like that, but when it comes winter, I do not know how they would handle being in pots above ground. However, I have many hostas in pots that stay above ground all year long, and come back every year. Out of all of these years, I think I have only lost 1 or 2 in pots above ground. SO it probably can work. I have lost so much shade over the years here. Not only to storms, but for some reason, when trees here get to a certain age, they start to rot from the middle out, I assume because they are taking in too much water from the lake. I learned this the hard way when a 75 foot pine fell out of nowhere! It missed the house by a foot! I also just recently had to cut a nice huge Oak for the same reason. It was actually leaning towards the house, and the middle was rotting. Lost 3 oaks that way. Well, enough rambling. I will take pics when it stops raining so you can see the cedar. Thanks!