I went silent for a few days--it does happen occasionally--and didn't respond to comments on this thread as I intended. But I'm back for a few remarks. I like it when people write back and certainly want to encourage you folks to keep on doing so. I think the difference between the rage level caused by a fallen tree and animal damage is that the animal damage is pure loss, while a fallen tree has a good deal to offer: mulch, wood for terracing, steps, firewood perhaps. We have wild boars, mice, and, recently and by far the worst, roe deer. So far fencing the garden with flagging tape has kept the deer at bay. Apparently we have wolves moving into our area, and, if the sheepherders can figure out how to protect their flocks, perhaps the wolves will turn their attention to the deer. It's a wild world here in the hills. Concerning garden design opportunities opened up by this, uh, opening, well, yes, unexpected events do get my creative juices cheerfully flowing. This is pretty simple, though, just an extension of the pergola. Everything else ought to stay pretty much as before, though I have set to work on some tasks I'd had in mind for a while, developing the paths and steps down in that area, and maybe I'll add a seat. The additional light won't make a lot of difference one way or the other, I think, except that lilac 'Charles Joly' will probably appreciate the change. Gean, and others, if you do start planning a trip to Italy, keep us in mind. We have room for guests and I certainly do love showing the garden. Rose season starts at the end of April and runs through about mid-June but is heavily conditioned by the weather. This year with our very rainy gray spring (my fingers keep wanting to type sproing, which is an apt description of the season) the warm climate roses have been somewhat iffy--better recently as it's warmed up--while the once bloomers have been generally glorious. But even in bad years there's always something to see. Melissa

I am getting help with pictures again tomorrow, I'm really trying, I think my learning curve wore out. I don't retain information like a used to. Silver Years are for the old. Norma

LL, the circumstances were not good with my now ex-husband and I decided to go back to school and that I may need my family's help, in Michigan. At that time my kids were 8 and 10 years old and I hadn't worked full-time for a while. So, although I hated moving back, it was the best decision I believe so I could get through college. I miss the mountains - we also lived in Colorado for quite a while and that is where my sister moved and still lives, she couldn't take all the gray days. She lives in Boulder and that is beautiful too.

HU: Although I could face serious repercussions at the Man Club for reveaing this, we teach the newbies that wives lay metaphorical land mines for them. "Do these pants make my a$$ look fat?" is a classic. Of course it is unanswerable. If you say yes, you're a dead man and if you say no, you're accused of insincerity. Best to change the subject by grabbing your chest,faking a heart attack, and an inability to speak. Your man is catching on. Vagueness is a good tactic to obscure an answer to another unanswerable land mine question. I'm using this at the next meeting. Thanks.