When a call shows private or out of area or some odd thing that does not tell who is calling it is usually a survey, political or telemarketer. If it is a telemarketer I will get their company name and then tell them all our numbers are on the do not call list and their company will be paying a $1000 fine when I turn them in for calling and not being identified on caller ID. I am nice and congenial since the worker is just trying to make a living at the worst job in the world but it gets them to think about who they are working for. The survey and political I talk to but give no info and ask silly impertinent questions till they get exasperated and hang up. They should always show up for who they are on caller ID or no way do they get any info. Never give info unless you know who you are talking to and even then be wary.

Another option would be to take cuttings from your current plants and root them to keep them going. I recommend rooting them in your growing medium that is kept fairly moist until the cuttings have established roots, usually 3 - 5 days. They will wilt at first, but when they perk up again, they have made roots. I've done this to keep some going that were getting too big indoors when we had weather that turned cold for longer than usual in the spring, and I have propagated extra plants by taking cuttings. (Faster than restarting from seed.) Betsy

Meryl had emailed me yesterday with this question. In case there are others facing similar situation here is my reply to her. I have one bed that is much the same shape as yours. The others much less so. I'll be working on that bed intensely this spring. First I wouldn't put plastic down. It will cause more problems than solve. The soil needs to breathe and it needs water. Plastic will prevent that from happening and it will breed all kinds of bugs, snakes and mosquitoes! I'm sure you don't want that on top of everything else you have to deal with. Up north some put black plastic over garden beds in the early spring to quickly warm them up. But its temporary. Down here its not necessary to do that. Our ground doesn't get that cold and warms quickly enough with out the plastic treatment. I have read that some have used black plastic to kill off grass and weeds.. but its only a temporary fix... It all comes back with that method and it looks terrible in the mean time plus the issue of bugs and snakes and mosquitos. First step is get rid of the weeds and grass. This is going to take a while. But you don't have to do it all at once. You can do it section by section as you are able. Or hire the help to get it done all at once. Either pull them or poison them or both. (grass you'll have to poison a few times... ) Then mulch. But before you mulch I would suggest you lay a layer of heavy cardboard down. Over lap edges so nothing can get any sun to it. Cut around existing plants. Wet it down really good then put your mulch down. It won't look bad, you won't see the cardboard after the mulch is in place. The cardboard will feed the worms and break down. The worm activity will soften your soil. Most of the weed seeds already there won't be able to grow from no light getting to them. Some seeds blown in afterwards will sprout but will be very easy to pull out. If you have the money for it, you can put down a nice layer of compost before the cardboard. Or you can layer it like a lasagna bed. But first you have to kill everything or it will all be a waste of time. :( Grass and weeds down here will come right up through the cardboard and the mulch. You HAVE to kill it all before you do anything else. If you don't have access to enough cardboard, you can use thick (2-3inches) of wet (really really wet) newspapers. I soaked them in a trash can of water before laying them in place. It might be May or June before you're sure everything is dead and gone. Especially the grass. By then its going to be too hot to plant anything but the most stout of plants so just let everything sit the summer. Keep watering what is established. You can start getting your plants lined up and plant out in the early fall.. This gives you the summer to think and plan and research what plants you might like. Mid Sept is usually cool enough and gives the plants plenty of time to set down good roots to make it through the winter. I have to run right now, but I will answer more later. In the mean time I would urge you to post your question to the Texas Garden Web and let others chime in. I'm sure there are many other facing the same battle you are! Your post could help a lot of other people! Think about attending our Denton Plant Swap end of April. We can get you started on some good plants that do well here. Oh here's 2 sites you might get some ideas from: http://texassuperstar.com/plants/index.html http://allthingsplants.com/thread/view/3050/Gardening-with-Texas-Native-Plants-and-Wildflowers-The-Front-Yard/?offset=0

I wanted to go to college and become a RN right after high school, but plans fell through, lady that had promised to help me backed out and parents couldn't afford it. I went back to high school after graduating and they let me take typing and shorthand. Figured I could land a job somewhere. My teacher found me a job in a lawyer's office but again things went awry. I had a developmentally disabled sister and she was admitted to a hospital and parents moved to be closer to her and didn't want me living elsewhere, so I went with them. I did get in the medical field and applied at the hospital that sister was in and was hired as a Psychiatric Technician Trainee. Worked my way up to a Tech I, met my DH there and worked for 13 years. Quit and was a SAHM Mom for a short while, went to work as a CNA at a hospital and got in the 2 yr RN program graduating 23 years after leaving high school, and having three children. I did get my RN, though it was later than expected and retired 6 years ago this month. Am glad for those typing skills though. lol