I think its a smart move to end you sojourn at South Bend, IN. In my opinion, the ride from there to a Chicago airport would not be fun and there isn't much in scenery to enjoy in that section, plus it is dangerous for a bike rider. It is solid city from the north side of Chicago to South Bend. The main east-west highway is I-80 and that is a log jam from 3pm through 8pm, especially on Fridays. That is the nation's major traffic corridor and is concentrated because Lake Michigan gets in the way. East-west commerce is funneled around the south end of the Lake. I've driven through that section several times, the latest being this August. I have been following your trip and enjoying your posts. Your choice of photos to document the trip was interesting. CONGRATULATIONS! WELL DONE. Let's not damage your knees. Rest them for color rides this Fall. Fall colors begin here about 4 weeks from now. Tonight, there is a frost warning for Upper Michigan. Temperature at my house at 10 pm was 49 F.

Mbug, thank you for the kind words... like you, I love texture in the garden (and in food!). Popmama, happy you enjoyed my pictures. Good point about the intensity of sun in your area. We do get some really hot days but low 30's is the exception here, rather than the norm. I really enjoy mixing the unexpected and experimenting with textures and colour. With shade being a premium in my yard, I have little choice but to grow hostas in a fair bit of sun.... rubbing elbows with all the other sun loving perennials. Now that the hostas are settled, their roots run deeper and cooler than when they first were planted and the plants are stronger, more vigorous. The odd one may get a leaf or two sunburned but even that is becoming a rarity. You watch now that I've said it, I'll have ugly hostas this summer! Lol Denis, a big HI there and good to see you posting! You were missed, laddie! Sorry about your JCC :(. I had similar troubles with Sun Power (I think it was a TC weakling) but it finally took after I stuck it right in the sun. It actually looks like SP now...but smaller version...after what? maybe 5 years??? Donna, you've always had a soft spot for my Jujen...glad you still like it! It is huge - too bad we don't live closer, I'd give you a piece. Nicholsworth, you know how to pick 'em! ;-) I saw the progress you made on your property in another post.... it's fun following a project like yours! We have had a few of them here and updates will be coming soon, I'm sure!

j, worms can live fine on relatively small amounts of food - and bedding is food to them as well. So go ahead and give it a try. Once you've got it under way, you can likely find some stuff to add. My point before was, don't expect huge physical volumes of completed compost from worms for use in your yard, especially to start with. Since you have a small yard and are new, I'd suggest just buying in some soil amendment/mulch as needed to start. Keep your eyes open and you'll find some stuff in time within your budget (threads here have many examples, like getting wood chips from companies that trim around utility lines). Maybe you'll also meet neighbours and get some sense of what's feasible in your area. (I think a lot more people have got disappointed by trying to rush into composting all at once, it's not a race).

Thank you Maryl and Julia. Maryl, it takes about two hours and it is very wearing but the pictures are so much better. I was lucky in the placement of Entwined since that area has some sandy soil unlike 90% of my clay garden. Ans Sugar Magnolia is a plant that just comes out looking pretty day after day. Sun Dazzle was one of the first yellows I got to give its highlight to the garden and it was a lucky one. Thank you Julia. You are right and the bloom season is unprecedented. Kate is having a fabulous season and she was lucky enough to have rains while my garden was in drought the last winter, so her plants look lovely too. We live in side by side states but she is a bit north of me but not terribly so thus our seasons are off just a bit. I am so glad Bob Marley is doing well for you. It is such a bright cheerful color. kay