Hey TomCath, I love the irrigation system. I thought that Drip Depot had been recommended by someone on here, but may be wrong. It saves me hours and hours. It is true, that I had some problems with Y faucet splitters, the main feed popping off, and little feeds popping off. I only turn it on when I'm home. But I've now found that we have a faucet in the pool cage that is attached to a well. Who knew? I don't mind setting up the irrigation system to run once a week when I'm not here if it's attached to a well. If there is a failure, town water would get a bit expensive, and people do come in twice a week to check on the house. (I am unwilling to leave the house water on when I go north, even for a weekend. Our house is from the 50's and has fussy plumbing.) Anna, I am so not worthy. I dream of the amazing plants you have chosen, all the texture and foliage colors. Your gardens are spectacular. Garf, I guess we newbies are nuts for bananas and tropicals. And some of the bananas that got chopped down last year after the freeze, have indeed come back. The big one in the Bromeliad area was here when we moved to the house. The leaves are so darn beautiful. The others we'll have to see. Dirty, I'm going to cut back the Cape Honeysuckle as soon as my back recovers. I'll take 1/3 down low so there are still blooms for the bees and the butterflies. It is really in the wrong place for healthy citrus. Randy, my family are crazy for epiphytes. So finding the orchid cactus was a true gift. Can you believe a landscaper said we should kill it? Next landscaper, please! Other Carol B and Zacky, the Porterweed is purple. I put in two plants, and have not seen any offspring in two years. Sylvia, we harvested the kale for Thanksgiving. I tossed it in hot pepper and garlic flavored oil in a very hot wok until it wilted and softened somewhat. Then I put Parmesan cheese, toasted pignoli nuts, and lemon juice on top. I almost felt like Sylvia! Carol B. in Sarasota with an ice pack. No gardening for a week.

I am here. Been kind of distracted............BUT I AM HERE NOW. I doubt I would have been any good at keeping anybody under control, I stay so out of control myself. Heheehe. That vine thingie looks YUK!...disgusting, kind of nasty...looking. I like 'unusual, exotic, different' plants, but I draw the line at things that look nasty. Did y'all get seeds for that thing? I wish I could have been with y'all. It would have been a blast! I am thinking that we need to do a trip around in the fall tho. I printed out the thread about the good nurseries in Texas, and I am going to start plotting my route. I hope to see some of y'all on the way. Next year, the MG conference is going to be in Montgomery County. Who lives in Montgomery County? The following year, it will be in Marshall, Texas. Who lives there? I only get out a few times a year, I need to start making them count! Janie

Then THAT'S the answer!! I actually saw a sharp-shinned hawk a few weeks ago (first time I'd even seen one in our woods -- I was very pleased to be able to identify it). I didn't see this altercation until the two birds were "wrestling" in the snow and I'd have sworn it was one of the mourning doves atop the jay, but your theory makes much more sense. Whatever it was definitely carried the jaw off -- poor jay (and I don't love jays) dangling by its wing and squawking frantically. They both dropped into the snow (for a better grip?) a short ways from my garden, then took off again and only by chance (or an extreme fight by the jay or maybe, my frantic yelling??) did the jay get released. The jay flew back to our pine tree and seems fine. Is that possible? To get hauled off into the hair, hanging by one wing, and still live to tell about it? Amazing! Just curious, how large a prey will a sharp-shinned hawk take on? What about a small cat? Do I need to worry now that I know there's a sharp-shinned in the area? (My cat goes out midday, never out for long ... maybe I'll keep him in?!) Thanks so much for the information -- I am positive you are right. Now I feel guilty for blaming the doves... :(

My practical side tells me the wall treatment is too big of an expense for what is essentially a modest standard bath. looks a bit strange as such if the owner is an experienced tiler and plainly likes laying out mosaics then yes, I can see how can be a pleasure to do that..like a big scale embroidery.. I'd be surprized to see it but wouldn't change it if had to have it in a house ..I'd see it as amusing I guess even though I love tiles and mosaics -and that's not what I'd do, at all. but it is a bit like reading a book..wondering why..each day imagining somebody probably got a kick out of it...