I agree I can't understand why malls etc pay for trees, and then ignore them. Many moons ago, when young, my hubby did landscaping for GE and Samsonite, and his estimate included care (to get them going well) and if they died, replacement, so he took a lot of care getting them going. But then, maybe thats good ol American pride in a job, which seems to be sorely lacking these days. In all fields. I have to say that at least, there is an attempt to have trees and plantings, which is a step in the right direction. We all talk about "going green" and all the possibilities. I've talked til I am blue in the face about one plan. That if there was a "law" that every acre of land MUST have "X" number of live trees on it, one way or another, groupings, fence lines whatever, maybe we can make a difference. I think it would make a HUGE impact. The forest service already gives away free trees. So no one can say they "can't afford one." But as a landowner, you are responsible for its care. You can "own" the plot of earth, but apparently care of it needs to be legislated... Oh yeah... I forgot... Legislating the pollution of a plot of earth didn't work, why would just caring for a tree??? Sigh. Maybe the trees WOULD be cared for, if they hid where the dumping was going on! :0 I don't know why these companies haven't thought of going underground? Wouldn't that be cheaper for climate control? When you are in a mall, you don't know whats outside. Then they could build a gorgeous park on top... Draw people who then might decide to go in and buy something. And now I am shutting up before I write an epistle. Poor trees. Wish I could water them all.... A forest lover...

I haven't tried using cardboard. I've used the heavy paper feed sacks from the livestock feed, and they work for a while. When I use heavy layers of newspaper and wet it all down as I put it in place, it works really well. The problem is that, in every tiny area that is not covered, the weeds are flourishing. Naturally, I can't put anything right up around the stalks of the plants or they can't breathe. And keep in mind that this is the first year we've tilled and used this particular area for gardening, so it's going to take a lot longer to get it under control. It probably needs a tractor to plow and cultivate it in the spring, and we don't have one. A standard tiller only does a very marginal job of breaking it up. I have such a weed problem here that I ordered professional grade weed fabric from DeWitt and installed it in the big flower bed, topped with gravel. It took about 90 days before the weeds seeded over the top, sprouted and then grew down through it. I called DeWitt about it and they said "What?!" I mailed them some photos and a sample of the cloth with the grass roots growing through it so they could see the problem. They just sent me a roll of heavy-duty industrial grade stuff that is used by engineers, and said if this doesn't work, then they don't know what to tell me. We'll see. Jo, I know what you mean about a raised bed draining fast. I used one for my strawberries this year. It was in pretty good shape until it turned hot. Now I have to deep soak it every other day to keep the plants alive. It seems to take more water than the cantaloupe that are planted in the ground outside the box. The melons are mulched and the berries are not, which does make a big difference. By next year, the berries should have spread out to cover the whole bed, but in the spots where it's already done that, they still seem to be drying out pretty fast. Since we're on a well, we don't have a water bill per se. But, what it does to the electric bill is not pretty. The bill jumped up $120 this month compared to what it normally is in the summer. I think the highest summer bill I've ever seen here was $240 and this time it was $360. Sticker shock indeed! Pat

I really wish someone was in the picture. I have never been to that area before and really don't know the size relations here. I can't tell if it's a big mountain or not.

That would be awesome to see...It's kind of hard to see clearly so I'm looking it up in our birdbook... Last year, at Beaver Creek State Park, my son and I saw an eagle and got shots of it but it was hard to get a nice sharp one, even with the camera zoomed all the way...I could of just cried...We watched it for at least 30 minutes. In the meanwhile he attracted an audience of about 7 people...He was just so majestic and graceful. He didn't stay in one spot. Went to a nearby tree, sat for a while, then flew across the creek...It was just so cool! juanital