While this isn't gardening, when I was 16 I worked for a summer in a corner grocery that also sold ice cream, mini pizzas, hot dogs, etc. The girl who used to work there spent all summer painting a beautiful mural on the outside wall. She finally got done. It was beautiful. Everyone was very proud and happy. The next morning, we came to work and found red paint splashed all over it. We didn't even get to display the finished piece for a full day. The girl was heartbroken and understandably didn't feel like starting over again. They just painted the wall white. I've never understood why people do that. I also read in another thread somewhere someone who had expensive prize irises, daylilies, etc. They came home early one day to find someone else's car parked in their driveway. An entire family, kids, too, were in her backyard digging up her flowers. They had shovels, pails, everything. This was a planned expedition. When they were discovered, they simply took all of their stolen flowers, got in their car, and drove off. On a slightly related note, I have a beautiful copper hanging that I wanted to put out, but it's still in its box. I don't know if it would last a day before disappearing.

Meldy, I agree in principle, but in summer heat of above 90F here it doesn't take long for fruits and veggies to age rapidly, and while some or even most may have been recently picked, there is no guarantee...you just have to go by looks. I'm sure I could save a small amount, but would still have to go thru produce section at the grocery for things not grown locally. I definitely agree about the bagged mixed greens...but I've learned that buying several types of lettuce greens is more than we can use and I wind up tossing half in trash rather than in salad bowl. The same is true of buying bags of potatoes...those and lettuce can't be frozen. I often do cut up carrots, onions, leeks, celery, tomatoes to freeze for soup if I have excess. Yams I cook up with brown sugar and citrus slices...freezes beautifully and it's a favorite "dessert" or snack for me....DH says I put in too much citrus rind. LOL I really should do a better job of keeping up with what's "in season" but how do I do that? But you know, even peaches picked locally are picked too early and must be allowed to ripen on counter... then must be eaten quickly or will spoil. We've decided Nectarines taste just as good and keep fresh longer...not sure where they're grown. Are Plums in season now? And Kiwis? Can you tell talking about food makes me hungry? I guess the hardest thing is trying to buy just enough of any one thing to not have it spoil and have as great a variety as possible for 2 picky eaters. I wish we liked frozen veggies as I've read they actually are better than "not quite fresh" but we had corn on the cob last night and it was so much better than the frozen! Which brings up another point: I could eat freshcorn almost every night this week but DH doesn't like the same dish 2 nights in a row...thus a few bits of this and a few bits of that have to be prepared and cooked for just 2, then tomorrow another few bits of different veggies. I often sneak leftovers into soup or salad, or eat them myself while he fixes his own dinner...lol I really envy y'all that have gardens. I should at least try to grow tomatoes as I can eat 2=3 a day when the really good ones are available. Will they be in season soon? josh

I'm not sure how America's need for automotive fuel (petroleum based) has anything to do with slash/burn practices in South America for ethanol production - Brazil however has converted to ethanol. Sempra Energy uses natural gas powered vehicles and I knew someone who had a taxicab business using all Ford hydrogen powered vehicles (until 9/11 when he went bankrupt). I recommend Steve Solomon's book Gardening When It Counts: Growing Food in Hard Times and also Super Nutrition Gardening by William Peavy. I have learned the fine points to consider in a small suburban garden: greatest yield per acre: summer squash, winter squash, white potatoes, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, musk melons, onions, followed by carrots, beets; which varieties are the most productive, which seed companies do germination testing, cold storage, etc. There is also information regarding the cost of vegetables, i.e. which are more valuable to grow (tomatoes are at the top of the list). I can still get 10 lbs. of Idaho russet potatoes at an ethnic store for $1.29 (up from 99 cents), why grow them myself? Eggs are still $1.49/dozen at Trader Joes so I'll skip chicken husbandry for now. I'm also looking at the shortest number of days until harvest, some of the vegetables take over 100 days but cultivars are available that are ready in 1/2 - 3/4 of that length of time. The longer to harvest, the more nutrients are absorbed though. Then storage is a consideration - putting food by is becoming a resurrected skill. Dehydrating, canning, freezing and cellaring (alas, few cellars here in Southern California); winter squash keep well, but summer squash do not. Some hard shell melons keep for several months, fruit and certain tomatoes can be dried, etc. Three years ago I too put in many dwarf fruit trees with staggered harvest dates, except for flowers that attract beneficials if I can't eat it I generally don't plant it. There are also changes for the worse in the nutritional content of agribusiness produce - not only the farming practices but selection for various conveniences and profitability are traded for nutrient content. Not only are we lucky that we know how to garden, we are also lucky to live in California not only for the year round gardening but there are many organic farms here. We can supplement our own gardens produce by shopping at farmers markets, the majority of the produce is reasonably locally grown. Happy Earth Day everyone!

gloria an outside garden wedding is just so perfect. what a great way to honor your daughter in all your hard work, and show it off at the same time!!!! to start with - either a local church, the firehouse hall or a local funeral home will rent (the church if you are active should just allow) for a nominal fee, the chairs and tables. they don't deliver, but a friend with a truck or a van comes in real handy. as for table covers, if the tables are the long ones, i would make my way to a linen warehouse and buy flat sheets in (assorted) colors or patterns. they can be used later on for the same purpose or for bed linens after being laundered. some of these you can get (especially the irregular ones) for just a few bucks each. or in the alternative, a bolt of fabric for a great price. as for centerpieces, we are working on my nephew's, which is outside. we are using ball jars, ribbon and/or wire and hanging beads around the throat, filling with wildflowers, grasses, greens, hosta -- whatever is growing. the ribbon will hang down and curl, as will the beads. real easy to do, and you cut the flowers that morning. i suggest if you use this method, experiment with it just to see how full, or not you want it. if you had more time, i would tell you another method of thse ball jars (or even coffee or smaller cans) that's one of my favorites. a turkey breast and a ham sliced down, can be served at room temp. hot roast beef or meat balls in a crock pot. a tray of ziti. or maybe some friend/baked chicken and then veggies and of course salads - i'm sure a friend or relative will offer to help ya or bring a dish. the wedding cake should be quite simple. it doesn't have to be that $700 cake from the bakery (and i am a baker that gets $700 for cakes!!! LOL) a sweet, simple large one or a two-tiered cake that gives the bride and groom something to cut for the purpose of picture (and it also should serve as dessert) and decorated with fresh flowers, and then some side cakes and cookies or pies or whatever. or in the alternative, you know those round pans that have the large circle in them - not bundt ones, but ring pans? two of them, side by side offset of each other, like a lopsided figure eight, representing their union, and in the middle fresh flowers. you can just google for edible flower information if you don't already know this. simple tea sandwiches are nice addition too. use cookie cutters in the shape of hearts or something else appealing. fresh veggies that you cut yourself -- not those overprices ones from the market because they did it and marked it up by 200%, cut them the night before, rinse real well and put in ziplocks...don't dry them so they stay fresh and perky. just shake them dry the next day before you plate them. prepare what you can ahead of time, you would be surprised there's no time that morning for anything. pitchers of iced tea and lemonade, coffee and hot tea. i'm not much on alcohol, but that's where the money comes in and to me, are you coming to put a load on, or are you here to share in our special day? just have plenty of ice. and also pitchers of ice water. slice lemons or limes or even cucumbers iand put in pitchers of water with lots of ice. very refreshing especially when you are outside. everything you use should be disposable, unless you have enough plates and glasses to go around and want to be be doing dishes for the next couple of days. chinet is a good one, it's sturdy. have smaller cocktail napkins or smaller plates for desserts. let the bride's table be a smaller one, for just the two of them to set it apart from everything else. ideas will flow as you start. if there are a bunch of kids, i'ld make a tray of PB&J sandwiches, with the crusts cut off. they can eat and run and play. also, when it came to desserts, i'd make sure there were cup cakes for them. heck for that matter, if you have stacking cake plates, cupcakes can be the bride and groom cakes as well. that's a big thing anymore. also, depending on the kids, if they are there, fill a llaundry basket with cards, some games or bubbles or sidewalk chalk so they are occupied. place a few "picnic" blankets around. i don't know your property situation, as to where you can keep the food, maybe there's a deck or an outbuilding or something with electricity. you will have to figure on that. if your reception is going to run into the night, be prepared. get out those twinkle christmas lights and string them around before hand. add candles in ball jars (with sand in the bottom). based on the number of people, the one thing i might consider is renting a port-a-john. the ones you rent for outside functions are nice. you can even hook up your outside hose to a make shift sink inside so there is running water. just make sure you remember a healthy dose of TP. keep a basket full of some essentials in there too so people don't have to bother you for bandaids, feminine products, hand cream .... you'll know. also, if this is what you are doing, a basket of popourri or scented candles burning in there - up high remember if there are kids. someone invited has to have a digital or otherwise camera and takes nice pictures, all the daughter should be obliged to do is pay for the development or that digital card or maybe that person wants it to be their gift. i'm sure there are other things that others could chime in about, but this is off the top of my head. me personally, i would never waste all that money for a wedding. i'm not cheap, but i would rather get a new appliance or a repair to the house or buy a zillion dollars worth of flowers before i would spent that money just for one day. with all the gorgeous staionary out there and do it yourself invites and no need for that RSVP by return mail - what a waste of postage and paper! Call me, or my designated person, talk to me, tell me you can't wait to share in my day. there's so many beautiful creative things one can do for simplicity yet beauty and wonderful memories. as for paying for a wedding planner...that shouldn't even come into play. that's a waste of money IMO. i would just make sure you have one person aside from yourself that is responsible and designated as your right hand man to keep a watchful eye and be an extra set of hands. if she's a gardener, as a thanks at the end, or the next day, dig something up she's been eyeing for quite some time as your thanks for all her help. come on ladies and gent(s) chime in with your thoughts. my 14 cents on a hot, humid sunday morning. looks like i'll be doing housework today! (does sorting seeds count as housework???) have a great sunday everyone.