Thanks, both Rozannadanna and Labrea, I feel a little better. I was clicking through internet sites and checking my reference books (after the fact, of course!), and became paranoid after what I read--so many suggested taking only a little off after blooming, or leaving OGR's completely alone unless there's dead or diseased material, that I thought perhaps there was some real harm in cutting them down so drastically. I plan to wait until I see some new growth and then cut out the dead stuff (the canes are so old and woody I can't tell what's alive and what's dead until they start to bud out), and then I will top dress it with composted manure and water it and leave it alone until it grows back to its former glory.

Sherry, I don't know whether we have sassafras anywhere nearby. I live in the city and while I know there are various types of native trees growing around town, I'd not be able to recognize Sassafras trees. When I was little, grandma would dig the roots and make winter tea from Sassafras, but I'd not know the plant on my own. I am just sick over this but I don't know what I can do right now to help them. I'll call around to the local nurseries as soon as they open and see if anyone has this plant but it's doubtful. Not many native plants are offered locally. I've just ordered 8 more spicebush plants and plan to take out a bed of Azaleas and plant them there. It is an understory bed and has auto sprinklers so it should be the perfect spot for them. I know it won't help the little guys that are out there now, but at least I'll be growing something helpful to the butterflies in that bed. I may have to use some of the new plants to replace those I have growing right now, as they are now just bare branches except for the tatters of nests. Poor little guys just barely covered with their bit of leaf nest that hasn't been eaten. Their little comical 'faces' poking out of the nest opening. It just breaks my heart. Thank you for the suggestion. If I thought I could recognize a sassafras tree, I'd go looking. Mary

How often will depend on the size of your containers, the type of container mix you use, and how often you have to water them. But many of us find that container plants require regular, evenly spaced feedings unlike those planted in the ground. Since it has been 6 weeks for yours I would say they are well past needing to be fed. Personally I feed mine weekly using a well-balanced liquid fertilizer that also contains micro-nutrients (many brands available) via a fertigation system set up to run though my drip irrigation system. Other growers here who regularly use containers have posted they feed even more often than that using a 1/2 strength diluted liquid fertilizer. You'll find several discussions about this over on the Container Gardening forum. While setting up a regular feeding schedule now won't really help bulk up the existing stems - they are what they are for the most part - it will insure stronger, better developed future growth. I use some Earthboxes in addition to my in-ground gardens and, like others who have posted about them on the Container gardening forum, I have never found the single band of fertilizer applied at planting time to be sufficient for the season. So mine get regular supplemental feedings too. Also keep in mind that if your plants are leggy it is usually due to insufficient sun exposure. Hope this helps. Dave

Wow! That's beautiful, Squirrlley! Love the colors...and the pattern! I've been collecting mosaic table top pictures, too. Hope to get to making a small table soon. Kelly: Those 27 years will FLY by!!! Especially during the summers! :) I retired after 23 years teaching... but decided to go back. Am working on a 2nd retirement. Hmmmm... but now that I'm REALLY having fun with the mosaics.. might want to stop earlier. OH... forgot about the $$$ involved. Oh well!!! :) Meanwhile... went to my favorite little TS yesterday... bought a couple of plates to crack... but on the way out saw an OLD skateboard. It was a $1.00. So... I grabbed it up, paid, and put it with the TBM stuff. My daughter's almost step-son is an avid skate boarder so I'm planning to mosaic it for him for Christmas. More added to the list! Katie