I always grow my mints in pots because I am afraid to allow them the freedom of open ground. Every fall I sink them into a raised veggie bed and they always come back. I dug up some Cimicifuga in the fall because it wasn't doing well in an area that was not moist enough, I assume. We didn't get to replant before winter and they spent the entire winter above ground in a pot on the north side of a stockade fence and happily came back! Terrene...have you ever tried Lavender Lady? That is the only one that grows for me. I've had some for a long time and I wintersowed more in 2007 and not only did they come back, but the base of the stems was full of new growth very early this year. I am surprised, Linnea, if you have a problem with Sedum Purple Emperor. Mine came through the winter. In the past, I have left Autumn Joy outside all winter in pots near my front steps where water would drip into them and freeze into a solid block, then thaw and repeat and in the spring would fill with water for days before it thawed out completely. I was shocked that they survived this treatment year after year. I consider Sedum AJ to be indestructible...lol, and thought it applied to all sedums. Not sure about the PEmperor. pm2

Thanks for the practical advice - that's exactly the kind of thing that would cross my mind. And it isn't even the semi-pro range that one needs to consider with long hair. Watch out for those lower BTU candles too. We were at a holiday party when I noticed the distinct aroma of singed hair and turned to see the woman next to me with long strands of hair dangling over a candle.

Thanks for posting. The dimensions will be very helpful in my planning process.

FANTASTIC tips, Joann! (Loved the sock item--that's exactly the kind of thing that gets shoved to the corner of your mind and gets remembered only when you're standing in that school auditorium/gym the next year!) The calendar function on my Mac has really helped me keep track of bill-paying, appointments, due dates for library books (with spaces for noting a new title I need to get when I go back to the library) and so many other daily-life tasks. And you don't need an "electronic calculator," as has been noted (oops, pun not intended!). IMHO, what you DON'T want to do is have a series of reminders. How many lists on little pieces of paper do you have now? Unless you really have a severe memory problem, it's a time waster to have one calendar you go to for the basics but one that forces you to look at ANOTHER piece of paper or computer site to get all the details. A second or third day planner or notebook is just one more thing you can misplace. One alternative to a computer calendar and a paper notepad in your pocket is your cellphone. Even the basic cheapie phone that I have (it's not a smartphone) has a reminder alarm component. You can set a series of alarm clock settings for tasks, like "dr. appt" at 11 a.m. and "buy bananas" and prioritize them as well. I've used the phone to remind me of the next drug-dosage times, very handy when you have a cold and want to get some sleep but then wake up wondering how long it's been since you took your last dose of Nyquil!