gldno1, Just soak them in a cup of water for a day or two before you sow them. I just rack the soil loose and drop where I want them and them back rack over them. just under the soil not deep. If you plant next to a building or something. Make sure you leave at least 2 feet of space so the will fill out an not get heavy on one side an lean over. this way they make more of a bush type and are more sturdy in the wind. I put my seed out right around easter time. They don't normally come up until the soil gets warm, but they do start better for me that way. They get all that spring rain and the deep root will not have to compete w/dry packed soil. After they get started coming up about 4 sets of true leaves. I spread some compost around there and then mulch. I pull the mulch back from around the base of the stem so it gets plenty of air. After that not much else but enjoy in the evenings. I plant a row of them on the west end of my house where the get full sun from noon/1- sun set. The warmth from the brick help keep them in bloom until first frost. Maybe more info than you needed, sorry. Bonnie

I tend to agree with laag on this one......this is a profession that draws a wide range of individuals and with very few exceptions, most of the folks I know that are currently earning their living in horticulture pursued their undergraduate studies in another field or entered it as a second career. So yes, it is certainly possible to make a transition from fashion design to horticulture or landscape design. But not necessarily easy :-) You have an immediate advantage over Joe Blow having had training and graduated in a design field - the basis is there. However, like any other profession, there are technical aspects of the business that must be learned, either through OTJ training or by additional formal education. You've already received some good suggestions on how to obtain this needed feature. There is much to be said for entering a profession that is more in the way of a passion rather than *just* a career. It is very satisfying to go to work each day and do something you love and to be able to create things that others, as well as yourself, find meaningful and appealling, but in accepting that philosophy one often gives up some other quality and in this case it is income that tends to be on the losing end of things. If you can accept that your rewards in entering this profession are likely to be something other than monetary and it still appeals, then by all means, go ahead and make the switch. There are many aspects to the field of horticulture besides just design and some of them are more lucrative than others. But those on the upper end of the income level will require specific training. You can decide how much more time and money you wish to invest before making the leap, but it is certainly advised to investigate exactly what you want to do and where and then talk to those in the field there before making a final decision. None of these comments are made to discourage you, only to enlighten you that success in this profession is not nearly so easy as it may appear on the surface and as with any other profession, takes dedication, hard work and dealing with the competition that exists in any creative endeavor. Good luck!

My seeds were delayed in the mail so I re-mailed them as soon as I could, which was past the deadline, and Willy said it wasn't a problem. Shortly thereafter, I received an envelope stuffed with many wonderful, different kinds of seeds. Thanks again for all the work you put into this Willy. The way did your swap was very nice, and many people seemed to have liked it, and I would like to host a swap similar to this one but for ornamental (indian) corn, gourds/squashes, pumpkin seeds, and any other seeds that can be grown and used for Fall decorations next year. Thanks again for the wonderful seeds and inspiration, Willy. ~LilyLoverLynn~

My 6th grade SS doesn't live with us, but since we know he has organizational issues, we have him bring his backpack with him on the weekends. Only 3 weeks into school and his backpack had a rat's nest of papers crumpled at the bottom - including some missing homework assignments and things for his mom to sign. We emptied out the backpack last weekend and sorted through everything. Put everything in the binder where it belonged. Bought some folders for the binders so he has a place to stuff papers that don't have holes punched in them. Bought a folder (the kind that has a flap and a piece of elastic to close it) for papers that he should take home to his mom. Will he use the folders and put stuff away in his binders??? Sigh... maybe. But probably not all the time. So we'll clean out the backpack again this Friday... And the Friday after that... and the one after that.... Is it a hopeless cause? Maybe so, but at least he now has some tools to organize with (binders and folders) and hopefully he'll learn some organizational skills. After all, the more he stays organized during the week, the less time he has to spend on it over the weekend. Oh, for your original question: homework lives in the class folder/binder for at least the whole grading period. Sports schedules live on the fridge. Permission slips live in the backpack (hopefully in their designated folder!). School library books live in the backpack. Public library books live on the coffee table. The school lunch menu lives only online :)