I sent the link to some fellow Arizona gardeners and one replied that it isn't as important here to have mature compost... supposedly the desert makes things different? Here is what he said exactly: eh, i disagree, if you are putting the right things into your compost, ie, not cistrus in this climate, you can use non mature compost no problem in az, if you burry it under your soil, it will decompose quickly and helps growth! this is supposing of course you are not box gardening, which is less than ideal here anyway, ive also heard this can be good way to revitalize "bad soil" in less than a year.

Sounds like you have planned well, always subject to abrupt change of course. I like the water solution if it works. I believe you will find your water level taking a drop as it changes from liquid to ice. Planning well was not a part of my winter endeavor. The changing ice patterns are pretty cool. Depending on the volume and velocity of water from your stream or falls or whatever way the water enters your pond, an opening in the ice should be there. If not, the water will flow over the ice. You might consider an air pump/air stone set-up for a permanent opening if you have fish and as a convenient location for adding water. Here's hoping it all works out for you. You are prepared; do look out for those ice dams. I am envious of your up-coming experiment. My problem was largely caused by too much water in streams with falls--throw in my own naivety. I made no changes prior to winter feeling confident that the pump and intakes and pressure pipes would be fine as long as everything was working. I was really surprised how much water was needed as the ice formed. When I built the pond, my goal was to create a scene symbolic of influences in my life. These included rushing water and noise along with a clear, open pool of water. I chose a high-volume external pump that puts out 7500 gallons per hour, and created two streams down a natural slope. I had my goal. I kept the water depth stabilized and watched the ice form. You are right, it is fascinating and beautiful. And plentiful as it was an unusually cold winter with temperatures in the teens and lower for days on end. Since it was the holidays I illuminated the setting with red and green floods. About then an unease started as the streams and the falls into the pond began to ice over. I had been warned of ice dams but wasn't quite sure what they were or how they formed. And anyway, the water is flowing fine. What could go wrong? I found out at 3 AM one very cold night. For some reason I looked out a window at the pond and saw our adjacent patio covered with water. Sweats and a heavy parka (our thermometer read 16) along with heavy winter boots--out I went, partner a few steps behind. I could see the ice build-up on both streams and we began chopping away. As the flooding receded I stepped back into a large puddle. Ice had formed at the bottom and I was flat on my back in a couple of inches of water! I got up and immediately looked around to see if anyone saw me--yeah, lots of people out at 3 AM! Back inside, planning on shutting the system down. At daylight with the temperature still in the teens, we shut off the pump, disconnected the unions on the big ball valves that connect the pump and pressure lines, enabling everything to drain downhill and then disconnected the unions before and after the pump--the ones that were too tight the other day, drained and removed the pump. Nothing froze except us. If any of the unions had been too tight to open, it could have been a disaster. I think that the heavy flow of a significant volume of water down streams with multiple falls, caused spray that, while not a big deal in the summer, turned to ice as the water splashed into the frigid air. A low volume of water with reduced splashing seems now to be the way to a successful winter ponding. I suspect you may have to go outdoors(!) to change the volume of flow or to clear ice from time to time. In the telling many years later, it doesn't seem such a big deal except for the many nights of getting up and looking out for fear something would happen and then the actual event and aftermath. If you pay attention to where the ice forms and control it if necessary, no doubt you will have a grand experience with no puddles on a cold winter's night. Happy ponding, let us know how it goes. Mike

mmmm, nothing like spending cash on lovely new tools! Yep, I know the bags you mean - I have a couple which are over 10 years old....and I love that they can be concertinaed back to take up a tiny space in the shed. I am still deeply invested in japanese blades and regularly salivate over pruning knives and secateurs (I have far too many). As today is my birthday, it may be time to buy myself a new Tina knife (from Germany) and I have been eyeing some hand-forged DeWItt tools(Netherlands) for ages. My useless family have forgotten (again) but as I have my bank card to hand, I am giving myself permission to have a splurge. We call them spades over here, Mindy, while a shovel is a wide lifting implement for sand, soil, leaves.I have always been amused by the term 'shovel pruning'. There is a bewildering variety (I have too many) including various landscaping spades and shovels), but for some years now, my best garden tool is the thing which is used absolutely everywhere else in the world - a digging stick.......or a one bladed mattock (sometimes with opposing twin forks), set at an angle on a long pole.. Sometimes called (in trendy circles) an Azada. I had a local forge make me a brutal bramble ripping version.

Hi I finally got my key a couple of days ago. So yes the plan I posted is a mirror image. I forgot that there is a door to the closet. I wonder if I close up the door, and move the door next to the toilet bowl, and remove the door for the toilet bowl, if that will work. But it might be weird to have the entrance to the closet next to the toilet. I got some better measurements. The length of the tub is 62". But there is 2 inches of wall on one side of the tub, which I think is hollow. I don't know why it isn't flush with the wall where the doors to the closet and toilet are. The width of the tub from the wall backing is 41". From that same wall to the side of the vanity is 58". To the side of the cabinet is 59". I am tempted now to put a 59" x 32" tub (or maybe a 60"!?) next to the vanity (along the same wall), and I will have 32" to work with for a wall in shower on the doors side? Or any suggestion would be good. Few days ago, I came up with this: From forums But I think this is going to cost big time, involing moving the toilet, and half of the vanity, redoing the floor, wall,etc. And I don't know if the entrance to the closet would be too small (3 feet). By the way, I don't know how the DWV plumbing is run. Any thing I need to look for?