That is a most interesting post and great photo. I am guessing they have a fairly large staff and different specialists for the different plants. I, too, would like to know why their hostas are so clean and how they do it. Also I would like to know if they have Japanese beetles, how they handle that and the various other treatments they may have to give the roses. Maybe I will write them. That MN tipping method would be a lot of work, but it does work, but I'm guessing shortens the life span of the rose, but better than not growing it at all or dying over the winter as HT's would there. Oh, it's associated with the U of MN, they may use horticultural students for helpers and/or be well funded. Think of how much it would cost to maintain all that! Hosta heaven for sure.

that firebox is a Schrader and I bought it from a friend, about 20 years ago..I had another friend put it in and seal it..it's only a metal sheet in the back and sides, so it keeps the fire more contained but wasn't anything that was either already here or even necessary. I don't use it all that much and if the power goes out, with a proper screen, there's plenty enough heat from it...and then there are the generators...plural! lol he works up in the hills, so generators are a foreman's friend. I do believe he has about 5 of them. not much to worry about in the event of power outage. we could accommodate the neighborhood, I do believe..lol I liked the look of it, in the beginning but I'm to the point now, of just wanting the fireplace to be more decoration than function. I"m not so "little house on the prairie" mentality anymore, since I can't be lifting the firewood, like when I burned all the time, when the kids were in school and would come home to a roaring fire. geez, I even used to bake fresh bread, once in a while for them...hot bread, with butter all drizzled over it..., not so now....I just turn up the heat and curl up on the couch...no afternoon noise, or chaos anymore. and the dog has relocated to the end of the block, at my oldest son's place..lol she gets much more attention over there. it's just me and the chirping birds, during the day. (5 love birds and 1 cockatiel)

adding a pic of it on the wall, cause you can tell that it really does look more like an eye

Yup! Me, too! I, too, have AMD and this was a really strange sight experience. The scrolling didn't do much for me...but if I dilated my eyes by opening them really wide and then partially closing them a few times...there but to my wondering eyes did appear....! :-)