i am one to usually suggest that shrubs rarely .... if ever need fert ... but you are undergoing extreme rejuvenation pruning.. reducing canopy .. with absolutely NO INSULT to the root mass.. and then equate all success to increased fert ... i am sure it didnt hurt.. but i would suggest that the plants VIGOR is as much.. if not more affected.. by the rejuvenation.. as your feeding it ... there is no answer to who is right.. i just didnt want you ruling out one for the other ... you are basically turning grandpa into a teenage stud.. and it may not have anything to do with what he eats ... its vigor ... the ability to have so much energy.. that he WANTS to go run that mile.. not whether his bones will crack if he hoiks himself off the lazyboy.. lol ... what did you use for fert??? and how heavy ... ekn

Hi Bill, you posted back in June of 07' about an animal eating your butterfly bush. Did you ever figure out what it was. I have a 2 year old beautiful butterfly bush that is being mutilated a little at a time every night. I set out a cage trap with apples in it and this critter manages to eat the fruit with out setting the trap every time. I'm thinking it is a very light animal. The bush is 5 ft high and it climbs the branches and strips them and then cuts off the branch and hauls it away. Would love to know if you had any luck finding out what it was eating yours. Thanks Lilia Poway

patti_bee, I've given a lot of thought to that aisle. It has been one of my nagging concerns. Since the space it is framed, I can actually walk through that area. I may take out a big box this weekend to simulate the island. I know that that side is tight, but I also don't anticipate much traffic there. I've tried to center all the activities that would require other people in "my" kitchen to be towards the nook side of the island. The wine cooler and refrigerator are there. When I cook, I usually pull out all the ingredients I need before I get going, so I will probably spend a few minutes with the pantry doors open pulling ingredients and laying them on the large, single level island, which will be our prep zone. We've made a generous aisle behind the island in the classic cooking triangle. So... I completely agree it would be better to have that aisle wider, but really don't want to lose length from the island or push it any further into the nook. I really appreciate your comment though and I do plan on going out, mocking up the island and walking through the space again to make certain I don't want to make any modifications. Thanks! Jaymie

the card is great ...........thanks for sharing.....now if i can figure how to do it....love the ideas here