Okay, I hope I can answer most of these question. As many of you may or may not know, the Princeton Elm was choosen for its landscape characteristics back in 1920, before DED even hit US soil. Now 88 years forward and 100 million elms dead, the Princeton is still growing and able to fit a new void in the plant pallet of an upright vase shape, arching canopy shade tree. Now there are several trees that are DED resistant, but non have the landscape qualities, rate of growth and color of the Princeton. That is why the National Park system chose it for planting in front of the White House and many city and state governments are choosing the Princeton as the tree of choice. Now lets look at some of those questions. 1. Heat tollerant? The Princeton Elm has been sent as far south as Orlando Florida as I have read. 2. Home Depot? My understanding is that they do not carry the tree anymore, seem like the last time a couple of weeks ago I was in a HD, they did not have any trees. New leadership and market conditions I bet. I think I heard that Garden Centers would start handling the trees now. 3. Leaf Scorch? I have some here in Georgia and they do not seem to be affected by Leaf Scorch. 4. Japanese Beetles. Yes, they will eat on the leaves, but the tree grows 3' to 6' in one season, so the beetles are only affecting the look, not the health of the tree. 5. caliche soil (alkaline soil)- Research done on the Princeton has indicated it grows in a very very wide ranges of soils until you get into desert/sand type of conditions. Zone 2b to 9 make it one of the most widely ranging trees in North America. The soils in these regions vary widely, so I dont think it would have a problem. Give it a try and report back to us. I hope this may help?? Thanks!

I still see the photos. Pretty incredible huh Karin? Almost as disgusting as an unruly parent screaming at little children when their curiousity is only peaking them to explore. Sure I understand discipline (don't bring a child into a pottery store and let them run loose, but who doesn't already know this??) My little kid happy place was kicked to the curb. Raw treatment! I think I can still see the pics because I haven't closed all my browers. That's why. And Ken, why remove the pics? Oh well, you must have your reason. My reason for writing above was to make sure that others don't do what I did and coincidentally, that email Larry got also had Bill Barger, Chub Harper, and a few others attached to it as well. And... I met Larry once but that was (at his nursery) in 2001 and neither here nor there truthfully. So....... man! That's all I can say. Bill Barger created the ACS website by the way, which could be the greatest resource for conifers since the 'invention' of the internet. It's a masterpiece because a click of a keystroke continues it's success. ladylotus, go to their website and check out how they sell quantity-wise and to order, you'll have to fill in a request to be a customer. I know being a conifer society member helps, but not in my case! You guys don't realize that after I got off the phone, my mind was mush for at least 2 minutes. I just stared at my moniter. I'm laughing now, but then I didn't have any emotion. Take care, cool Todd... Sorry if I came off a bit harsh but I've been mad at you for (unknown reasons) but I think we got that cleared up via email. Thanks everyone for listening, Dax

Oh my goodness! Thank you so much for the continued ideas and photos! It is so great to see similar rooms and see how they work! As for the small window, I do think I am going to get stained glass to hang there. I think that would help hide the ugly white section that divides the window. I got samples of linen today for curtains. I was settled on cream that would match the wall. My idea was to use an obi as a tie-back to bring in color. Not sure. Anyway, the stock quickly depleted so I'd be cutting it close with the yardage. RE: fireplace placement-- I agree,it totally looked fake in the corner, too. I saw a blog where someone built up the wall for her corner FP to make it look real, but that involved drywall and seemed too complicated. Long ago, before we got this fake FP, my original idea was to get a REAL (antique/vintage) mantle with the top on it, and just cover the window, and then put in a box that way. It seemed too hard to do (not really any more $) at the time since decorating is pretty much last on the list of priorities. A few weeks ago I asked DH if we could try moving the FP to see, and he said it was so heavy, would be a lot of work, etc. (gave me the runaround). He was pretty shocked when he got home this week and I'd moved it myself. He asked me how I did it. Like I said-- it took all of MINUTES. This is why I need time to do this stuff myself. Then it gets done! Eventually, I would like to get the antique/vintage mantle like I originally wanted, but that will have to wait. (Maybe we'll have moved to a house with a real one by then!) It is still too much white furniture in the room. Covering the chairs would make a big difference, but I don't have the $ to pay someone to do it, and I don't have the time to do it myself. So, it will have to wait. Guess what DH said today? He said (all on his own) that he thinks this arrangement works. I am shocked. Normally he says nothing! Anyway-- here is my list of ideas, sort of in order of priority. Have no idea how/when I'd get this done. 1. Curtains. Still thinking of linen with the obi tiebacks. For some reason am fixated on eventually getting orange or coral velvet curtains for fall/winter. 2. Pillows. Want to get navy, aubergine, and coral/persimmon/rust. Some Ikat pillows have all of these colors. I want some throws, too. 3. Paint table. May eventually replace it with a round wooden one, but the smaller oval I have gives us more floorspace and we don't have to use coasters when it's painted. :) 4. Slipcover chairs. Not sure with what since I would not want anything too heavy to compete with the sofa/LS, but would have to be sturdy enough to withstand so many people. Thinking microsuede for practical reasons, but still seems heavy. 5. Cover inside of middle section of bookcase with fabric. I am thinking of chinoiserie fabric. I would put fabric in the top sections with pattern, and then something solid behind the TV. 6. Get doors for tops of bookcases. (I am not sure how I'd ever have time to do ALL of the inside of the bookcases . . .and have yet to find baskets that would fit in the shelves.) 7. Add trim to bookcases. Paint in a color that complements middle section. 8. And of course, continue to look for accessories for the mantle and inside of bookcase, as well as stained glass for window when I have the $. Oops. Forgot about artwork. Went looking for frames today for the girls' artwork, but none were on sale. May get some vintage ones instead. There are other little things . . .like I need to change the lightbulbs in the lights on the mantle (want something amber, maybe one of those flickering ones), get a different light switch, etc. Whew. This is a long process!!!! Again, thank you so much for the ideas and encouragement. Your enthusiasm keeps me going!

nice set up Amy.I like that corner that has the shelves with the pegs on them,and the pictures on the wall.The cabinets are very nice,and you sure were quick getting it set up.But i guess that's what they call getting our priorities in order ,right?? LOL Good job,now enjoy it. Kathi