One think I am unsure of with mulch is whether it would ultimately cause the same problems for the tree as piling on soil. I guess it would at least initially be more permeable, but it's something I'd like to hear expert advice on. Of course, it's hard to know just where the roots go. There are no doubt feeder roots all over (at least where the woodchuck hasn't gnawed through them). The one main root that goes into the area I'm looking at is at surface level, so far as I can see, as the trunk is actually 2-3' up a little bank, and this root is trailing down. That part of the "shade room" area is also the highest. Other areas are depressed 1-2'. So perhaps the lower areas can be filled with gravel, with only some sort of topcover (whether mulch or crushed stone) over the area with known roots? I'll look up KwikDek, though a surface that has to be moved around every so often is probably not a good bet for me. And I'm not totally keen on decks anyway, as the one I have needs annual waterproofing. (I think if I ever install more decking, I'd want to go with one of the new composites like Trex, but they seem beastly expensive by comparison right now.)

Does your local/nearby Botanical Garden(s) have plant sales? There are two near me, one at a local College that specializes in regional Native plants. They have frequent plant sales to fund expansion of the Native plant Gardens. Many of them are propagated in their greenhouses, by volunteers, under the guidance of a retired Botany Professor. Another source of natives are Native Plant Society's. Our local Native Plant Society has a very active plant rescue schedule for construction and development sites. It has been a source of numerous Natives that are in my garden. We had one site of about 100 acres, that produced about 75-80 different species of garden worthy native plants, including many species of trees, shrubs, vines & 10 species of Ferns. Amazingly, I did not find a single exotic invasive plant on the site! We have recently initiated a program to propagate native plants to repopulate a local State Park, while at the same time, remove the invasive plants that displaced the original natives. I am also a longtime customer of Arrowhead Alpines. They offer so many unusual and difficult to find plants, that I can't resist. When I look through the catalog, an order is usually on the way within hours! Received this year's order from them about a month ago and every item is healthy and growing. Everything was in pots, except some Medeola virginiana pips, which have since emerged and are about 4" tall. Agreed, some are pricey, but having propagated plants for many years and experiencing the sometimes difficult and frustrating tasks, I can understand the reason they must command a higher price. Bob & Brigitta have a marvelous resource there in the frozen North(:Rb

Had woodchucks this year, they went after mostly the asters and echincea and the clover in the lawn. They didn't eat any perovskia that was right next to the echinacea. The Shastas were not blooming but they didn't eat the foliage. Walked right by them on their way to the echinacea. I also winter sowed three varieties of Shastas this year. The Alaska I sowed last year bloomed this year and it was horrible. Way too tall for where I planted it, flopped all over everything with the first rain and never came up again, buds opened all eaten by something. This year, I had Becky, Crazy Daisy and Snowcap seed and winter sowed those. They all germinated fine and the planted out seedlings look great. Some are short which is what I was looking for, and others a little taller. Some have buds on them and I am waiting to see what they look like. I also bought Shasta Wirral's Pride from Bluestone this year during their sale and it is blooming and has gorgeous crested blossoms that are long lasting and on thick stems. I am growing them in full sun.

smhinnb, says: "along with lack of physicians and specialists in some Provinces, especially the rural areas." Response: I think that is what most Americans are afraid of in going single-pay, is that, the lack of physicians would probably be a big problem for us. Americans are used to the best care around, and we may lose that if we go single-pay, which I am definitely a fan of instead of ACA for sure. There is already a problem in the US finding specialists in rural areas. There has been for decades. And I'm not talking just about just pediatric cardiologists, or endocrinologists -- I'm talking about basic OB/GYN services, radiologists, etc. these underserved areas will remain underserved for some time, even under single payer. It will take a while for the new equilibrium to settle in -- new earnings expectations for physicians, etc. -- and there will definitely be growing pains. Growing pains can mean scarcities in areas that haven't experienced them before. But it wouldn't be the end of the world.