Thanks, everyone, and yes, apparently gardens can change/turn around quickly here, so there's always reason for hope. Ken, I've been getting a lot of my roses from Rose Petals Nursery in Gainesville off I-75. That's where CS came from. They're very nice ladies who sell excellent plants and have a large selection for our climate. Re companion plants that aren't Bird of Paradise: I have just been seed shopping online for October planting and getting my lights & bench ready for the seed flats. Things like pansies*, petunias*, Foxy foxglove*, Rocket snapdragon*, larkspur*, old fashioned mustard*, sweet william*, viola*, purple coneflower, gaura*, coreopsis, Summer Carnival hollyhocks. There's a good book called "A Cutting Garden for Florida" by Mackey & Brandies that gives good suggestions for plants that work here (they gardened in the Tampa area) and ones that don't work. The key is planting them in the fall so they have time to grow and bloom before it gets hot. The last four of the above list grow well in the summer in my garden. Hope this is helpful. Sherry * - my first try with these Here is a link that might be useful: Rose Petals Nursery

Looks like E. polychroma (photo #2) which I also have growing in the garden. I like it since it is very easy to grow, colors-up the garden very early (like now); it self-seeds for me but not invasive. I only give it a haircut later in the season since it tends to eventually 'flop' - but it regrows & looks just great until frost. Nice, easy care plant (milky sap irritating to some as euphorbias are). Photo #1 is Euphorbia myrsinites (Donkey-tail Spurge), it's trailing. My does not look that great yet-just waking up... (Both photos just taken). Both do very well in zone 5 (possibly even lower). Rina 1:

Absolutely: It's sabjimata's amazing kitchen. It does not seem to be in FKB, but it is covered in several ways in her blog. Here is a link that might be useful: Sabjimata before and after

You have inspired me. This is now my next project (after the bathroom is finished). I have always thought this piece was ratty looking but it served a purpose in our bedroom. The cat sleeps on top and the TV is there also. I also use it to keep my office papers. Thanks to you it will soon have a new look. I just checked it out a bit and noticed that the drawers are dovetailed but could not find a manufacture's name. Do you know who made yours?