IronBelly: Thanks for your immediate response and the recommended link, which I've already checked out. When I arrive "home" this weekend, (more on that below **) I'll check out the University of Wisconsin and see if I can find out further information on the subject and either obtain a booklet from them or print out the information from the link you provided. A "Rain Garden" sounds like an interesting and worthwhile project. I am not certain that it may be entirely suited for our particular yard, since parts of our yard are rather "wet" during the spring - the moisture does drain slowly - at times. I don't know if it is because the water table is high and/or the ground is made up of heavy clay and/or if there are some minor springs around or a combination of several things. I'll have to ask my wife, Sue, who along with her former husband, bought the house many years ago. Speaking of Jock - time passes by so quickly - it must have been a few decades ago when I met Jock and saw his slide presentation. He showed one photograph of someone's house out on the edge of a city - I think or the country - the owner didn't wish to be a "horticultural drug dealer" any more (my phrase) and/or be over involved in the grass game (fertilizing, watering, grass cutting on end throughout the summer) and so removed the grass, etc. and planted prairie plants and grasses. Rather impressive when it finally came into full maturity. A "Rain Garden" project interests me for another reason. Sue and I have been thinking about putting in a small, hopefully inexpensive, water garden of some sort. Perhaps - a combination of the two might be something worthwhile to explore as a possibility. I'll have to do some extensive "homework" on this idea and see what Sue and I can come up with. As you indicated, the construction of this combined project, etc. or even a stand alone "rain garden" and finding suitable plants, etc. might be a "tall order in reality". I've been up to the Quad Cities a number of times - to visit and photograph the John Deere Headquarters; take a AVA (American Volkssport Association) hike; to check out the library at Augustana College, where I applied for a position shortly after graduation - see below ** - etc. Having been born and bred on the tallgrass prairie, I often miss its openness, but not, necessarily, the heat and humidity of prairie summers. ;>) ** FYI - I am a Librarian (MLIS - Rosary College - now Dominican Unversity, 1994) with the Michigan Department of Corrections and work in the St. Louis/Alma area of Michigan during the week and go home to Manistee during the weekend, holidays, and vacations. Did my undergraduate studies at Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa. (BA - History/Political Science, 1964). Again, thanks for your quick response and, especially, for your generous comments on my posting regarding the "Pro Gardening Auger System", which I have been using to plant bulbs and a few other plants before winter sets in. One or two folks in the Anitique Roses forum really got their underwear caught up in a bundle over my posting! Kind of surprised me in a way. Oh well. Thanks again and I'll talk with you later. Bill

Thanks alot Stacy, now I know what to look foreward to in 8 weeks lol. I am afraid this time the baby will be hanging down to my knees. But really it makes me feel good that even though I have a way to go and more to grow, I just look at Hayden and see just how precious he is and that in 10 short weeks I will have another precious angel. Baby number 4 wasn't in our plans, but despite birth control pills ( for pms) and a tubal ligation, God in his wisdom decided to add to our family and give Hayden a little brother. BTW I went shopping today and picked up 3 new outfits for the baby, the day I found out about the baby I picked up a onsie, my first baby thing for the new baby. Stacie girlsingardens

bbabers, thank you so much for posting the site. There was one little itty bitty problem, there is no way that I can just order the two items. Already tagged 4 items and called daughter and told her to look at the site. That is a wonderful site for beautiful things for our cuties. You all have lots of fun with you sweetness. Please continue to post pictures. I plead old age , not being able to post pictures.

1) The more you protest the more they will want to play the game. 2) it is certainly time to start discussing private areas. I started discussing what private means, and what not to do when DD was around 3. I kept the discussion very simple and straightforward. This is a private part. Don't show it to anyone except Mommy and Daddy or Doctor. Get anymore complicated than that and you will confuse them. Ask your pediatrician - they should have flyers on how to educate children. Mine did.