I'm anticipating the threads coming up from the new literate gardeners who typically pick up from an article or discussion such things as these and will start with "I know I need to blend my static items with my non-static items, but I need help ...". This is one more phenomena, or tool, which we can choose to emphasize or choose not too. A great and broad subject, but we seem to be focused on minute bits and pieces objects and not looking at what else there is. What about a place like Central park that was originally planted with trees small enough to be moved and planted that would have been relatively small and delicate compared with the bulky stone bridges and other visually dominant structures that are now dwarfed by some of those trees and are being absorbed by vines and shrubbery? How about the subdivision that was brand new that you grew up in with dinky trees and dinky shrubs with the wide road and sidewalk that is now a canopied tree tunnel shading that once stark open road? Then there are those residential landscapes that we did 20 years ago that have the same walk and stone retaining walls and patio, but the growth has changed the whole flavor of the place. What about a place that you did three years ago? This project could have easily been described (and often was) as a wall with plants. Now it is more likely described as a garden that has a stone wall in it. This is the interpretation I made from the thread title. I don't know if I'm narrow in that, but concrete geese are too alien a notion of hardscape for me to envision on my own. They just do not seem to be items meant to be permanent and I think of "hardscape" as something that has the intent of being permanent (although nothing is permanent). It reminds me of some of the old photos from my area. This land was completely cleared by early settlers. Many of the churches were put on higher hills and often show up in old photos, even as unintended distant objects in the background. Now there are a zillion houses, but there are trees everywhere. One particular church in Yarmouthport can be seen from many places (Sandy Neck in Sandwich, Chapin Beach in Dennis, Exit 8 ramp in South Yarmouth, ...). It is now seen as a steeple sticking out of a tree canopy rather than an entire church in a barren grassy landscape. It is almost a measuring stick of time against a big landscape. I don't know that this fits into the discussion, but those are my thoughts. ... that and one of those plywood plumber grannies with the polka dotted bloomers, of course.

Fuchsias bloom on new wood and are easier to prune now after a frost. They need the hair cut to be beautiful next spring. I don't grow my hair as long as I can because it glues to the top of my flat head from the weight. I prune fuchsia back to the edge of the pot with a round top. Or I pull and stake them up to be confined to the edge of the pot. The in ground ones I cut them off as the stem starts to edge over and droop. It's winter time, we and the plants rest. We get to start over soon enough. I get out an cut out all the slimy stuff that glues other plants down like jellied impatiens. But I don't touch the euphorbia because I want it to come back. And there is a big brown frond on the tree fern that is protecting everything below it that stays too. Personally I don't like a bunch of jury rigged junk thrown over my garden because it is too unsightly. I bring some pots in and pull others close under the eaves. Other then that it's winter time and it's best just to rake leaves and be neat.

Thank you everyone! Pamplisest - That is a big help. I might temporarily replace them with the ikea ones that louislinus suggests until I can find some quality ones that arent too expensive. Do you think the ikea ones would be an improvement? I like your bedroom - especially your dresser! Louislinus thanks! I am thinking I will buy the ikea ones for now and maybe replace them later? 9.99 is so cheap! Alternatively, I may have to get custom because the height is not standard. nosoccormom-that is an amazing house! I hope mine looks half as good as it does. I swear I saw that house for sale when I was in PS last year. lazygardens - I wish there were water for submarines around here, but then I couldnt afford to live here! That is good to know about the grommet. I dont want to change the hardware. Thank you! rgps - small world! This is a great part of town-central to everything. Thank you melle sacto and outsideplaying! It's just one small step in the landscaping, but it feels good to have made even a little progress! This post was edited by rockybird on Thu, Aug 7, 14 at 0:01

I try not to dry bone dry. I fold as I remove from dryer then let sit on bed for an hour before putting away. This helps with the daily t-shirts and socks etc. However with regular baseboard heat everything seems to have static, especially synthetics, wool, and down. If it's bad I use Static Guard. Mostly I get little shocks (touching the light switch or door knob) every time I walk in or out of the apartment when wearing a down coat and wool sweater.