Thank you, greenfingers. A question: how did you attach the metal poles to the trough? Did you secure them with screws, or simply stick them in the dirt inside the trough? My garden has now begun. I bought several bags of professional growers' potting mix and mixed it with topsoil and composted manure, adding Plant Tone organic amendment to the mix, topped with bark mulch. Found a nursery nearby with very reasonable prices. Went looking for cypress but decided I wanted traditional Southern plants that I couldn't grow before in the colder climate in the mountains, and I wanted perennials that I could 'harvest' for natural materials when I decorate for the holiday season. So far I've planted containers with 'Heavenly Bamboo' nandina (amazing winter color and berries), gardenia radicans (blooms and fragrance right now), acorus (sweet flag, gorgeous variegated foliage, strong vertical accent), and camellia sasanqua 'Setsugekka'(evergreen, fragrant, midwinter bloom, elegant semidouble white flowers). I'm aiming for garden additions that are visually beautiful and also attract wildlife and/or are fragrant. But my real splurge was a 4x4 'Little Gem' magnolia, in bloom, espaliered on a trellis. It looks absolutely perfect against one of the privacy fences lining the deck, and I can see it from wherever I sit in my living room. I plan to plant annual vines at the base next spring and let them intertwine: purple hyacinth bean, maybe moonflower. I hope birds will nest in it next year. The garden already has hummingbirds zooming in and out (I put up a feeder) and a praying mantis has taken up residence too. The deck is already getting full, so I really must figure out something, like baker's racks. to hold more pots. The only way to go is up. I'm sure that's a common problem on this forum.

Here's some of my favorits so far this year Mystical rainbow, first year for this one, and its just amazing Same for this one, im really impressed, just love it so far Oh- it's Raptor Rap Baracuda Bay very pretty flowers, just not many of them yet. Caprician Fiesta -always out does it's self At first Blush - I think this is my absoulte favorite pink that I have. Just so elegant and pretty. Pumpkin Perfect- the color of orange sherbert mouth watering! Trahlyta- Very pretty bloom, low bud count this year Watchyl Digital Scream - still only a double fan, but has been blooming for two weeks already-sorry this one's sideways. Last flight out- beautiful, beautiful plant Big kiss- i love doubles Well ill take a break, enjoy -Jessica

Garden and new wall looks nice. I am originally from MD (Baltimore City). I need you to do me a favor though. Please, please send me some of that heat yall got. Not alot just 15*. I'll pay ya back this December with some of our warm winter temps.

I'm in Millington,TN. Me and the wife are trying to get things really established before fall and winter set in. The only kind of seeds I have at the moment are some real hot pepper seeds from the USDA in Griffin,GA. I plan on having 4 plants of NewMex Twillight Peppers along with 5-6 varities of flowers. Anyway-there is a elderly woman that lives accross the street from me and she gets into doing trades. If you would like more info on my neighbor just e-mail me at: giamawake@aol.com