I am in. Would be happy to go to see Nick's garden and everybody welcome to my garden. Thank you for invitation, Nick. Basically you can go by feet from my garden to Lori's. It should be quite convinient :) Olga

Sweet Jeff! Thanks for the tips, welcome back and sorry about your recent tree(s) losses in Tennessee. I'd like to get my hands on a Pinsapo Cephalonica just to see if it makes it here. Very interesting. I got to see them planting a Glyptostrobus when I was there a few years back and the soil was definitely as you say standard clay. Looked to be light in color and junk. I say junk because man would it ever be more work to garden with. Later, Dax

Yes, I did it by myself, design, implementation and testing !!. I got couple of books on Japanese garden from Library. Then googled it to get more info. Bought the arch bridge from Big Lots for $65.00. Build the zig-zag bridge from the remnants from home depot. I keep my yard in good condition so Town awarded me the best yard plus $100.00 with that I bought the Japanese lantern (Toro). Bamboos I got it from Maryland. One familty wanted to get rid of the bamboo invasion of their backyard. It took me 4 years !!. Not becuase of actual constuction. I have a 4 year old. When ever I take the spade of pick ax, he wanted it. When ever I move the soil for the pond , he put it back. He enjoyed as much as I did. Now he is 8.

I didn't realize it was perennial as far north as South Carolina! :-) Thought it was a much more tropical thing. As far as I know, it won't survive the winter outdoors here. At least mine haven't, but I've always planted them in containers. I bought 2 similar plants last Saturday at the Arlington Farmer's Market. Maybe I should plant one in the ground this year, mulch it heavily over the winter and see what happens....