Gary: Window AC's are cheaper than portables, but require a large cutout in the polycarb, while the portable ones need only a 4 - 5" hole and we could add one next to the existing heater vent, where we reinforced the walls with aluminum sheet metal. Then, sealing it off for winter would be simple. Dcharch: The only live plants in my GH in summer are aquatics and they are under lights anyway. All of the tank lights will soon be connected to a single timer with a built-in bypass swtich, so I'll be able to turn them all off/on during the day if needed, with a single flick. So giving my GH a lot of shade in summer won't be an issue for any plants, and closing it all up if I really feel the need for some genuine chill, would be as simple as turning off the the power to the intake vents and exhaust fan and sliding the storm panel up in the door. When he installed the lines for the vents/fan, my husband put a switch on the main line, to avoid the need to fiddle with the thermostat. The roof vents would of course, remain open, because I can't reach them without a ladder, but with the ceiling fans pulling cold air up, it wouldn't take all that long for them to close on their own. As long as the cold air is directed at the smaller tanks, which are set above the big ones, even if just for those few hours on the relatively few days each year they might need it, could be just that extra edge- and if just one small tank that doesn't overheat has a spawn of a particularly valuable species in it; alive and growing, they would pay for the AC and the cost to run it all summer, let alone at most- 150 hours a year. In any case, the lattice shade fence is under construction and will be up by the end of the weekend, just in time for me not to especially need it this year. The portable AC will very likely be bought anyway. My husband was looking at them with me and mused about how nice it would be to AC the curtained off section of the garage where parks my rival for his affections. Another good reason to go for a portable: they are on wheels, and even I can roll one out of the garage and into the GH, all by my old, arthritic self. So it's likely there will be a portable AC here anyway, just in case. But I really am so close to not needing one. Again: all I can do is see how well the extra shade will do the job next summer. But I admit that having the ability to chill it would be a nice security blanket. Kind of like the stand-by generator. Always gratefull when it's not needed, and even more so that it's there, ready to crank up when it is.

It's an interior bathroom not a bedroom. I believe it's okay because we are pretty far into the process and everything has been approved.

Thank you for the ideas. As far as how high can they climb, I've seen photos of them in trees, so I'm guessing as high as they like. They are members of the squirrel family, so I expect they can do what they like as long as they have the motivation. We have an 8 foot wood privacy fence around the back of our property that I have seen him climb over. My veggie plot is 8 ft x 15 ft and while I would fully enclose it, I suspect he'll go over pretty much anything we do unless it's actually a cage. Even then, how to you make a secure gate that is trenched in the ground? I've looked up Liquid Fence and can't for the life of me figure out what it's made out of! Anyone know? Part of the issue is that I have a 3 year old and I aim to garden as organically as possible to reduce the risk of my kids ingesting toxins. I'm extremely hesitant to spray plants that they have easy access to or any of the produce I grow - which is the most appealing to the woodchuck. It's very frustrating. We've had a number of people suggest we shoot it, which IS legal as long as it's actively damaging our property. That's not an option for me with my kids. Just not willing to take that risk in my home or on my property. As hungry as our resident red-tailed hawks are, they don't seem to care one bit about the woodchuck population!

Maryl, it is probably the best picture I have ever taken of Larry’s Obsession and even saying that, as Mantis said, there are caveats!! It is not a great performer-not even a good performer. And yes, Winter Romance does have just a tint of pink. I really like the perfection of blooms I have seen. Heather, Mountain Orchid meets registration stats in both height and bloom size. The hybridizer’s picture shows a dark pink wider edge but mine (which I bought from the hybridizer) does indeed show a more Orchid color. Isle of Patmos is really pretty but I have not gotten a good photo of it due to the cooler mornings. Nancy, I looked again today for a tag on that noid but no luck. It has really been pretty.