Hi Dee :-) I started mine late too. I had a Fancy Mix and some of the poppies were really pretty. They do only last for a day each, and I understand they don't make good cutting flowers either. I can imagine the petals falling off by the end of day one in a vase. I have heard people suggest burning the end of the stem with a match but don't know if that improves their vase life. Never tried it. I didn't get any large animals messing them up, and I was blaming the rain for awhile, but I was out looking at them yesterday and wow, this latest heat wave has really hit them hard. They look even worse. I think they are just finished flowering and dying back and they would have done that regardless. Maybe not as floppy if there wasn't as much rain, but in New England, this is our weather..lol. Crazy, but it's always something I will also give them another try next year and plan to put them in a different location and put them between and among other plants to see if that makes a difference, and pull them when they start to get ratty. Did you have a favorite? I want to try Patty's Plum next year and Black Peony. I am going to winter sow them a little differently. Going to pull them this week. Supposed to get a lot of rain later today. Thanks Dee :-)

I try to go as wide a tread and low a riser as possible, but it is all dependent on where they are located and how much room. The wider the tread, the more run you have taking up space. 16-1/2 inch wide treads would be extremely comfortable if you have the room, imo. The widest i've done is 14-1/2" and it was fine.

SF we meet again!! its not the quality of the drill bit but rather the skill leval of the installer, and if the skill leval is a little undevoloped slow down . Dont have " like whatever " paris hilton thing on your mind while your doing this. With this install I suggest an 1/8'' bit,pre drill thru the ipe not into the pt frame,a battery powered drill works best for doing this because its much easier to control. Ease the bit in hmmmm say a 1/4 '' or so using a rounded effort with the drill swirl & twirl the countersink remember your not killing snakes, then proceed with the predrill. I also recomend an impact driver to run the # 7 ss square drive trim head screws, I use a makita 12 volt, belive me after you use one you will wonder how you ever did with out it. Use construstion adhesive on the joist, a small T&G block to tap the decking together,I said Tap that means snug it up dont jam the decking together, and of course do not pre finish the decking on all four sides put the finish on after the project is done. I cut a 1/2'' slot in the T every 3 ' or so. Now you know everything I do,nothing to it but the doing it!! J

HI Ya Jack!! I am still waiting for that gift cert at my local wine store. I havent used Ken's new outdoor finish,he keeps telling me the samples are in the mail, there are some posts over here with Folks puting it on new projects with good resluts. I am a twp kinda guy right now I have no reason to change. After using the stuff for 7 years or so I can offer what I have seen and done. The first coat wont last all that long( with any outdoor finish this is true) If the Wallet pays for a one year contract I wait for hmmmm three moons or so in good weather I clean/ put another coat on. Ater another 2 months I lightly acid wash/clean and put another coat on this coat will take a little while to set up. Usually this built up finish lasts for two years or so my best yet is three years. The thing is most Folks dont want me back all that often they want to live on the deck and have some relax time and mabey give me a call in 5 years or so when the thing has gone gray. With my jobs that do have that built up finish I never have to strip the old twp off just clean and put on another one. My own S American project out back is coming up on 7 years its just now showing sighs of need,the cap rail is a simmi gloss I can see the reflection of my hand on it. Keep in mind Jack and all you good Folks I do this for a living, I only do my own Wallets if I get a call for refinish that I dident build I recline. I dont really care if twp is used or not this is what I have done and seen Yo all have a good time come this weekend,ride safe,ride hard, stash the kids at Mom's, take your Girl out to the blues bar and go Dancing. John