Here's something to think about. We have dry summers. There's nothing new about that. Even though the drought we are in is really unbelievable, our summers are often droughty. This mean you have to water some cool season grasses to keep them alive. This also means you have to water bermuda because it needs water to stay green (and alive too). During the summer you can expect very high quality turf from bermuda, unmatched by an cool season grass, anywhere on the planet. However to bring out that potential, it needs water, close mowing, monthly ferts etc. All of the maintenance would make sense unless the following are true: * We have dry summers * We have a cool season, in most years it is longer than the warm season. * We can grow alternatives. When the growing season is short (unlike the desert SW) and it is droughty, it is a struggle to bring out bermuda's high quality potential. Why bother with that struggle? Instead of the status quo, why not instead put away the lawn mower for summer instead. It easier to grow grass in the cool season when moisture from cold fronts is more regular. If the summers were wet, that would change things because then if you wanted to grow bermuda, it would be easier to acheive the 8-9 quality ratings. Whereas TTTF may avg a high 5 or 6 rating year round, at least in an area with dry summers and mild winters, the grass will have more growing time. The alternative would be either dormant or coming into or coming out of dormancy. As a result, the whole city has not had good color lawns this summer. Since the lawns will be dormant til almost june, we've just lost an entire year. There has been lost opportunities for a beautiful green lawn that will cover up the mud in the cool season. I just don't get it. I don't see why others think brown grass for virtually the entire year (most years) is acceptable. And not just that but they eagerly throw money at chem spraying companies to make the grass green when it just isn't going to be more than a 4.5-5.0. I'd love for someone to explain it to me. I will admit, seeding lawns is a pain and stressful and I'd rather not have to do that every year. Not everyone does (those in shady yards etc) but I am literally the only one in my neighborhood that has had grass this year with a quality rating more than 5. A 5 isn't something to brag about, it's bare minimum acceptable quality. When I drive around town, I want to see pretty green grass. Not dead grass and stems that just makes the place look unpretty.

A friend of mine has used two different methods to catch the seeds since, as he explained to me, the seeds will get flung quite a distance during pod dehiscence. One method was to tie a small piece of old pantyhose around the flowering area of the plant. This allows the plant to 'breath' still and prevents the seeds from getting away. In method two, (which I believe is the only method he uses now) he takes a small "blob" of the fiber fill used for stuffing in things like pillows and stuffed animals, streches it out into a rather wispy 'cloud' and mounds/gently wraps that over and around the pods. Again it allows for good air circulation, and catches the seeds thereby making seed recovery easy. He said he also finds this easier to apply than method one as well as less worrisome with regard to damaging the plant.

I like Sir Wigglesworth's yellow brick road pedestel! It gives me a nice colorful lift so you can see him better! Great job! I can't get the hang of doing spirals or rounds, but I'm gonna give it a try...that's all you can do. Someone once gave me a tip about key holing your tiles. Cutting your tiles in pie shapes to fit together and turn. It's a lot harder (for me anyway) than I thought it would be! Please don't let others discourage you from doing mosaics! Some people just don't get it and that's ok, cuz there are a LOT that do and most of us are right here and we LOVED your kleenex box....go back and read all the nice comments, that should give you encouragement!

Probably for support while establishing root system. Otherwise, loved the video.