My first reaction was like Flowerlady's: OMG, what has she done? And then I realized you had hired help to clean up and I sighed in relief. I admire those of you who are able to hire help who actually knows what they're doing and help you. I have yet to find anyone here that I would gladly let touch my garden... The old timers know about vegetable gardens only (and the use of lots of pesticides and herbicides) and the garden centers are mostly concerned with grass mowing (of which I have none) and formal hedge clipping (I only have informal hedges). Noone here knows anything about old roses or even rose pruning. They simply prune roses to ground level come January and call it a day. The lady who helps me with the house wanted to help me out with the garden last year, when I was so busy working in a company, and weeded one of my beds, without my knowledge and previous consent. She weeded most of my opium poppies which were short from blooming... She thought they were weeds... I almost had an heart attack when I saw that and told her, yet again and as politely as I could, that the garden was off limits to her. The works we have just done to the house were another source of garden stress to me, as to have a crew of masons loose in the garden was a tough number. They broke and destroyed a lot of things in the garden, partly because they didn't have much room to move and partly because they didn't even understand there was a live plant there - to them, any deciduous shrub which had lost its leaves was officially dead. It took quite a while to convince them that they were dormant (i.e. sleeping, so that they could understand). So... I'm glad at least some of you can hire help which doesn't destroy more than it helps. As for the acreage, I used to dream of a larger garden too, as my garden is a postage stamp lot. However, given the absence of reliable help and the cost involved, I have gladly forsaken it. This garden is a size I can reasonably maintain myself, if I'm careful with what I plant and balance stuff which requires cuddling with other easy maintenance plants. More than this would be unrealistic and I would have to let the garden go. When I'm no longer able to care for the garden, if it comes to that, I'll move to an apartment by the beach and call it a day :-) Eduarda

Here is Lou's Pizza sauce recipe: Pizza Sauce and Spaghetti Sauce ( Gravy ) You can use canned tomatoes but make sure they are Italian or a deep red color. Some choices are Contadina , Red Pack , HuntÂs , All Red, = Tutto Rosso, Chento Pizza Sauce 1 Large can of Tomato Puree and Crushed Tomatoes I use Powdered Spices now, and get the same results 1 level teaspoon Garlic pwd. (add more later to taste) 1 tablespn. of onion powder. 1 teasp. Salt. 3 teasp. Sugar ( add more if it tastes too acidy ). An Italian pinch of pwd.cloves. 3/4 teasp. Oregano ( or to taste ) it is strong. 1 teaspoon of Parsley, 1/2 teasp. basil. 1/4 teasp. black pepper. ½ teaspoon + of ( Chicken flavored Soup Base ) Large handful of Parmasan Cheese, when done , after 1/2 hour. Continue for Spaghetti Sauce This recipe can be used for Spagetti Sauce ( maybe you would want to cut down on the Oregano ) also just add a can of Tomatoe Paste and water to thin a little , if it is too thick it will burn easily. It will thicken as it cooks. ½ cup of fine chopped Onion. And 3 bay leaves . Don't forget the Chicken flavored Soup Base. Add uncooked Meatballs, Sausage and Chicken Thighs, when you start cooking. (cook at least 1 ½ to 2 hours ) Take the chicken out when it is done. ( About 1 hour ) Add the Parmasan Cheese after the sauce is cooked & stir ALSO !!! season to your own taste. Add more or less of what you like.

brianadarnell, Thanks--I figured it must be that way, but I reallly didn't know for sure. If the switchplates went over the tile, it seems that they wouldn't lay flat over the tile and also the box would be too recessed behind the cover. You would think that some smart tile manufacturers would realize if they made switchplate covers to match their tile (or perhaps just their more popular tiles) they would be big sellers. Or maybe some have, and I just don't know about them yet.

Mazerolm, I don’t think that will work. Lady’s Mantle has separate stems for the leaves and flowers. You would just force it to make new leaves, while the problem is in the flowering stems. It is more for too tall late bloomers like asters and mums. Lady’s Mantle is a flopper, but maybe you can put some low twiggy branches around it, or sturdy other plants?