Kippy: I only started mulching with woody/leafy materials from outside our property before last winter, and have a reserved opinion so far. Before going to outside sources, I was a stingy mulcher, since I didn't want to steal too much from our unfinished compost. Some of the mulch is breaking down nicely, but I worry about it mixing into the soil prematurely, especially in beds that are being heavily planted. It does seem to be contributing to water conservation. I share your opinion about the free county mulch and compost. I've used it many times by the scoopload, and have always gotten a bad result. I finally redid all the beds where it was used, and the plants are all thanking me. We compost in earnest here, but can't meet our own needs, so I supplement with purchased compost. The only things that go into our green bin are spent tomato plants, rose clippings, weeds, and diseased plant materials, and that's what's going into the county's mulch and compost. Most people around here contribute even worse, since spraying is common. Thanks for your comments about wheelchair accessible paths; that's a subject close to my heart. Our paths are mostly decomposed granite: cheap to buy, easy to build, natural in appearance, and good for feet and wheels. I encourage people not to walk in the planting beds. I'm struggling with the issue of granite mulch. I love the look for a dry mediterranean garden, especially with lavender. But in the past I used weed cloth to keep it from mixing in with the soil. Weed cloth is fine under pathways, but I'm not so sure it's a good idea in planting beds. Any suggestions how to use gravel are welcomed.

I find the stems of this plant to be extremely brittle and prone to breakage, you can almost snap a branch off just by lightly brushing against it. The weight of the snow did some damage the first year I had it, last year we made one of those /\ shaped things and covered it, that helped. Other than it being a bit delicate, it's a great plant, very attractive. I have ilex glabra compacta. PS: some birds/animals prefer berries after they've turned soft and old, often the next season when they're still hanging there and you think nothing is interested in them. I've seen this to be true with cedar waxwings + highbush cranberry, and chipmunks + ilex.

Now, Dave, you KNOW I'm planning to use one of your beautiful female shots!!! I'll send you a copy of the newsletter and you can tell me what you think. I was able to copy the photo directly from GardenWeb and I think it looks good. Tell me what you think when you see it. You might have felt like someone was stalking you the last few days! I've been checking here and "over there" at the Nut for links to your site--I'll bookmark it this time so it'll be handy. Thanks so much for your permission. I know you gave me permission a long time ago to display your images on the bluebird club bulletin board at our school, but felt a newsletter needed special permission since alot more people will be seeing it. Take care and rest up from your ordeal. If the car made it all the way back to your home it must have been a good buy! Kathy P.S. I loved the photo of the peonies you posted in another thread. Gorgeous colors!

I know this post is old, but I thought I'd add a tip, for any one new who finds this during their search. The general rule of thumb is 2 litter boxes PER CAT, I know that is not feasible in all homes, I have 3 cats and can only do 3 litter boxes, I personally do not have room 6 litter boxes they'd be sitting side by side - if I did and that just doesn't seem like it would work as it's supposed to. The reason for this general rule of thumb, is that cats supposedly don't like to potty where other cats go potty!, I can't say that I believe that 100% as my 3 cats use only 2 of the 3 boxes, and they have their "favorite" all boxes have the same litter, and basically the same size the one they don't use is actually the biggest.. But if 2 or all 3 have to go at the same time instead of each one going to their own box, they actually will "wait in line"! for the one using it to get out!. Also cats are extremely finicky when it comes to their litter box, they want a spotless, odorless box or they'll refuse to use it (not all cats, some just don't care, but most do). I have 1 when the boxes are not spotless and odorless of any of their own scents, she will not use it, she will go on the bed, the floor, clothes left on the floor, the couch, any where but any box. So we make sure to clean the box at least 4 times a day, with a complete dumping out into the outside trash once a week, and after we dump it all out, we scrub it clean with dish soap and water, dry it, then I put a thin layer of baking soda (even if my litter already contains it), then the litter. I also have a male cat who is very picky about the brand/type of litter we use, if it is not to his liking he will kick it all out and just go in the box after he empties all the litter - much better than going on our furniture, but to be honest he makes a bigger mess for me to clean up, I'd rather wash bed clothes or a fake leather futon couch/bed off than to always sweep up cat litter. And I agree with getting them outside time - they may be doing it out of being bored they're locked in a room (think of it like this, that room is their jail cell, would you want to be locked in a jail cell 24/7 and only get out 1 time a week if that for ''recreation'' ). I have built a fully enclosed cat kennel for my cats I used an old metal dog kennel and added wire to the top as well, They have 2 decent sized logs in it from a cut down tree to sit on and scratch on, they have one long branch that had broken off my tree in there at an angle, they've got a large cooler that has a hole cut into it and it's full of old clothes, straw, and old foam (from outside furniture), this is their "house" they go in when it's raining or gets a bit cold (I have 1 male who prefers to be outside he's happier outside than inside) they also lay on top of it, they have their own cat nip growing in there as well. They love this kennel! Plus they get fresh air, and the vitamins they desperately need from the sun they are unable to get from being cooped up in a house. No cat should ever be strictly an indoor cat - I'm not saying allow your cats to roam your town (if you live in the country and there is not a high chance of them being hit - and you know they'll come home every night - then feel free I did it when I lived out in the country) but every cat needs to be outside for a few hours every day, rather its in an enclosed kennel they can't escape, or wearing a harness and on a lead they can't escape from. But they need outside time! Also they need to spend time with their entire family, cats are social animals, being jailed up all the time is not good for them mentally , physically, or on their over all internal health