Ingrid, I got Carding Mill partially based on your recommendation, so yes! I have no complaints! :) I really like it! La France, too, I almost didn't get it, but I love it now. It's just very romantic. I worried that in photos it was perhaps too much like a typical hybrid tea for me, but there's something a bit more romantic about it. and the bush has grown very well!

Hi B2, LOL! Big Box Store: "A large retail store whose physical layout resembles a large square of box when seen from above. A big box store is characterized by a large amount of floor space, a wide array of items available for sale, and its location in suburban areas. Big box stores often can offer lower prices because they buy products in high volume. Also called supercenter, superstore, megacenter." Therefore: Lowe's, Home Depot, Walmart, Target, etc. I think of them as the "cheap stores," tho some of them are definitely cheaper than others! I don't have time for the long answer, but Hyponex is mostly Colorado "sedge peat," which is basically SLUDGE! Next time you're in a Walmart, go to the "garden" section and lift one of the bags of Hyponex! It's like lifting a bag of lead! (Compared to any other brand of soil mix you'd use for potted plants.) Plants don't grow very well in MUCK, so plants don't grow very well in Hyponex. (In my opinion, plants don't grow AT ALL in Hyponex.) The baled stuff is Canadian sphagnum peat, which is what you want. If you ever get peat in a bag, be sure that's what it is, but it's much cheaper in the bales (used to come in 3 sizes)---and you can keep it "forever" if you don't use it all right away! (It's already a few thousand years old!) That's why I always specify Canadian when I'm talking about peat! It's a completely different animal from Colorado Muck---I mean "peat!" Don't feel ignorant about asking things! The only way to learn something is to ask about it! My Mantra around here: The only dumb question is the one you don't ask! :-) [Now that's assuming you don't ask the SAME question over and over and over.......] You're really not that far from Timberline. If you consider buying a bulk soil, run over there some day and ask to see their soil mixes. They show a "Planter's Mix" for $29.50 a yard. If you go, ask if Kelly is there, and if he is tell him what you're using it for and see if he thinks that would be a good choice. [Tell him Dee sent you!] If he tells you to get the "EKO Planter's Mix," tell him that's too expensive, and you're gonna add your own peat---'cause I said so!!! (And tell him I said Hi!) If you decide to get it in bags, I still think you should wait till Walmart gets their stuff in, then pick up one bag of each of the 2 or 3 cheapest things they have, take them home to check them out, and then go back to get a bunch more of whichever looks the best to you. (Take it home to check it out because you want to moisten it to see what it's gonna be like when you're actually growing in it!) It's been a few years now, but the last time I checked baled peat prices, it was cheaper at HD or Lowe's, so, since they carry the same sizes, compare prices on that one. Walmart was NOT the cheapest! One other quick thing before I go! Gardening is supposed to be fun--the thing you do to Relax and Get Away From it All! (Yeah! I know it's work!) So don't take it too seriously! There is no definitive Right or Wrong! Try something, and if it works, it's RIGHT! Everybody does it differently, so figure out what's right and what works for you, and, while you're doing that, relax and enjoy it. If something doesn't turn out well, laugh, and try again! We'll all help you with the laughing part! You get to do the working part yourself!!! '-) Gotta go! Was just checking back in before x'ing out of cyberspace for the nite! Skybird Here is a link that might be useful: Timberline Gardens

I got a pic posted finally on the gallery. The snowflakes have little mirrors on them too so it catches the flood light. Laura

Like the idea of crackling with glue!! Came out nice. Like the canning lid ideas also! Cherry, go over on Holidays & check out the "Beach tree" The ornaments are beautiful so I took some tonight & painted them with metallic paint & then with "Twinkles glitter paint" I used a flat fan shell &Folkart metallic antique copper #666 (Can't believe they used that number???)While wet I painted over it with DecoArt red twinkles glitter paint. Another 1 FolkArt #660 Metallic pure gold it was thinner so let it dry awhile & then added DecoArt Twinkles Crystal- that glitter is wonderful, it gives blue, gold, pinkish etc look to your project & works so much better than another glitter paint or glue I have, it doesn't give much glitter effect at all. This is a very fine glitter, more of a shimmer effect I think & I love it & you don't need much either. Do wash out your brush very well tho or it will get hard & be ruined.I noticed i got the crystal on a little too thick so used clean brush to take some off. On this you can't tell how nice it will be until the next day when it is dry. it is slow drying so need plenty of drying time to get the full shimmer. Hoping I can send some to my DIL who is nuts about the Pacific Ocean!! Thought she might like a shimmer on their tree too!! No,you can't make a hole in a shell by heating a turkey screwer & trying to push it through,LOL so will use Weldbond to glue gold cord to back of shell. I only painted the fronts of shells so they can tell they are real shells. Jan