A very hot August with way below or nearly no rain is unusual. Only time will tell if it's a trend but it will take several years of normal or better rainfall to replenish groundwater supplies. I was just getting ready to post a water related question here so your question caught my attention. You're absolutely right that your neighbors are penny wise and pound foolish worrying about their lawns when your entire water source relies upon a community well. If you have a homeowners association I would call the president and make your thoughts known. Most municipalities in my area are already under some of the strictest water restrictions and we have city water.

I built a Peter Rabbit Garden in 2001 for my Granddaughter & me. We even had the scarecrow and little blue slippers with the Tamashanter hat. We grew: Marvel Peas French Breakfast Radishes French Beans Bib Lettuces Italian Flat Parsley Carrots Cabbages Some Sweet 100s tomatoes Blackberries (served with cream & scones for supper) Chamomile (for tea) Munstead Lavender (rabbit tobacco) Strawberries Muskmelons (Hale's Best) grown upon the back fence... and a Cucumber frame (grown on a wire arch at the back) With fern-like Dill and Calendula flowers planted round about. I set a 1/2 whiskey barrel in the center for our Mr. McGregor's pond with hardy water lilies and some goldfish. :) I used rocks for bed borders and twigs for wattle edging. It was very quaint and tasty! For Inspiration to create your very own Peter Rabbit Garden (er...Mr.. McGregor's Garden), see the Link below. We even had a picnic one afternoon with cucumber sandwiches and Earl Grey tea (my favorite tea). What fun. She loved it! ~Annie

Happy New Year Swappers! It's going to be a good one :) Drippy, that compost can be used to fill in any holes you make from the plants you can't part with! I would have to sell in the winter when my yard is covered with snow. I think most would be scared off when they realized I prefer to weed than mow lol! Plantaholics - those pics are beautiful! I initially wanted an all blue garden but ended up with purples. I had many, many disappointments in the beginning because as we know, so many things are labeled blue but bloom purple! I picked a poppy to share with everyone this year for the wish swaps just as a "thank you" to all. I know a lot of time and thought goes into these (and frustration when you can't find a match for someone!). I certainly appreciate everyone's efforts because it takes all of us to make this work for the whole group. Much thanks to Drippy for making it all happen! I'll link the poppy picture below. It's the Papaver paeoniflorum "White Cloud" peony poppy. It's white so should fit in most anywhere. I haven't seen it distributed in any of the group robins I've joined. With the way they seed, they should be in circulation next year and then on to the newbies! Some of you were in susie's swap so you've already gotten a little packet. Be on the lookout for Toad Flax, Linaria reticulata "flamenco". Write that down 'cause that's a lot to copy on all of the packets! It's more common but quite a eye catcher. It will certainly brighten up the garden! Here is a link that might be useful: white cloud

A dear friend's daughter had a western theme reception and all the guests were instructed to wear western attire. However, the bride wanted a formal church wedding. So, the groom and grooms men wore long tail tuxes. For the reception, the bride had a detachable train & changed to white lace up ropers and the grooms men kept the tails and changed to black Levis and boots and hats. The tables were decorated with old cowboy boots (the mother of the bride had a friend who collects them) and mason jars with wildflowers. Barbeque was served. While we were waiting, a slide show o fthe bride and groom from childhood through courtship played. Bales of hay ringed the dance floor. The dancing began with a family tradition - a grand march. They are so much fun, but someone has to know how to lead them. The bride and groom first dance was, "May I have this dance for the rest of my life?" and father/daughter dance was "I'll waltz across Texas with you."