I can't really say yet what I'll need to move in the fall, because most of my perennials aren't blooming yet, but that's part of the problem. I need to find more early spring bloomers that are hardy to zone 5. If it wasn't for my lovely Geums and the Alyssum, there wouldn't have been anything blooming in May! As far as wintersowing goes, what I plan to do differently next year is to sow multiple containers of things that I REALLY want, but with fewer seeds per container. When I planted some things out this spring, and they died, I didn't have any more sprouts to replace them, because I had sown all of the seeds in one container. Oh, and I need to sow more containers of tomatoes. I had a few not germinate, and again, I had sown two or three seeds in one container, instead of separately. Plus, the ones that did germinate, had to be repotted after sprouting, because there wasn't enough room in the water bottles for three plants, so it made more work that I could have avoided, if I had sown extra containers with one seed in each one. What I AM pleased about this year, is that I think I have dialed in the sow dates on the tender annuals for my zone. The other thing I did that I thought was helpful was planning container combos with specific color schemes ahead of time, such as red & yellow, or orange & choc., etc. that way, once the annuals had sprouted, I knew exactly where to put them. Hopefully, they'll all bloom the colors they are supposed to, LOL! Bonnie

This plan (without seeing the resulting elevations) seems reasonably straight-forward and servicable. It should be possible to create an attractive exterior and avoid the all-too-frequent over-inflated look of many stock plans. That said, the plan has all the usual builder's cliches, from diagonal interior partitions, to a 3-car garage, seperate mud and utility rooms and a walk-though pantry. The front and rear covered porches will provide "dark tunnels" when looking from the interiors, but perhaps you will be in Florida where the sun and heat are excessive for 6 months of the year. If not, perhaps you should reconsider how to use passsive solar energy strategies. The problem with all of these "look at my plan" postings is that we seldom see the elevations and almost never see the site plan, all of which should be considered in how the floor plan is designed. Good luck with your project!

"May I put in a plug for my favorite Christmas-lights organizer? A piece of corrugated cardboard." Brilliant, TS!!! I'm pretty organized with our holiday supplies, after doing a major purge over the past couple of years. The lights are my last aggravation though-I've been putting each used string in its own plastic bag so they at least aren't in a giant snarl. It's just a set of smaller snarls, one per bag. I'm definitely going to use your tip this year. I'm moving along okay with the holidays. Got the tree bought (albeit with some unfortunate bickering/crabbiness between husband and me), and decorated. House is decorated and holiday linens are all put away ready to be used. I have GOT to begin wrapping gifts and putting them under the tree though. As for after the holidays, my achilles heel is those post-Christmas drastic markdown sales. I think I've got way too many rolls of wrapping paper, bows, gift boxes/bags etc. I'll cull before the holiday, but after I've wrapped everything. Anything I haven't used in a couple of years is OUTTAHERE. Then I can go buy new cheap stuff after Xmas :). I'm also feeling the urge to get rid of extraneous things before the deluge of gifts, especially for the kids. It is better now that they are teens and the gifts tend to be smaller (though also more expensive, go figure). But still...last night I told my daughter the American Girl collection of several dolls, and a bunch of accessories, must go from its current location which is taking up the entire and only full shelf in her closet. It's ridiculous. To use another Talley Sue classic, we're wasting extremely desirable 'real estate' on items that are quite literally never touched or used. Crazy. Of course the AG collection fits into that 'too good to give away/not wanted by anyone we know' niche too, as does so much in my house. But I'm determined, it's not going to keep taking up her closet! Actually when I muttered something about getting rid of 'em last night my daughter piped up with "Yeah, they kind of creep me out anyway sitting there watching me all the time." OOOOOOkay, then I think it's time to say sayonara Samantha... Ann

laticauda(OK - zone 7) I think I read somewhere that to make a room have clean air (not just cleaner air) it takes like 15-20 6-inch potted plants. For one room. If plants can make a room clean (not just cleaner) why United States Enviromental Protection Agency does not write about it at all? Residential Air Cleaners (Second Edition): A Summary of Available Information Sourse: http://www.epa.gov/iedweb00/pubs/residair.html#Will-Air-Cleaning-Reduce-Health-Effects Quote: "Some air cleaners may produce new, potentially toxic pollutants or may re-disperse old ones". It's interesting to know can live plant produce new, potentially toxic pollutatns or re-disperse ones? For example, Sansevieria or SPider Plant.