Like trianglegardener said..slow and deep but not quite as often as you think. Remember, in NC rhododendruns thrive in the mountains on hillsides where the drainage is terrific and nobody waters them. They are in full sun also. You may be inadvertently drowning the roots while the sun cooks the leaves before the plant has had time for the roots to establish. Dig down and test about 6-8 inches down and see what the moisture level is at that depth. If you can feel any moisture, it's enough. Loosen the soil up against the root ball so it can grow new tiny roots to take up moisture. Or, you can remove it, pot it up and put it in a cooler afternoon spot with just morning sun and baby it until you can replant in fall.

vaodiva-No need to be nervous! A plant swap is just an excuse for a bunch of gardeners to get together, share lunch, ideas, experiences and their extra plants! It is all very informal but if you want I do have a post on the conversations page for you to list the plants you can bring. If someone sees something you have that they want, or if you see something that you want on someone else's list you e mail them and set up a trade. Usually in the beginning of a swap, trades and giveaways start kinda slow but by the end the plants are flying. And everyone goes home with lots of goodies. I would love to have you and if you have any other questions feel free to e mail me and I will do my best to answer them for you. Susan

Coming into this thread late, but with some experience. Unlike the Murphy's Law mentioned earlier, we were actually HOME when a copper pipe made a 1/8" hole and did $10K damage to our kitchen before we noticed it. This past Wednesday, we just finished the kitchen rehab, which damaged about 1/3 of the kitchen. We had to have the cabinets, drywall (including ceiling drywall) pulled out, and dried. Fortunately for us, Home Depot still carried our cabinets. Rather than relying on someone to rebuild the box portion of our cabinets and reuse the fronts, we just ordered new cabinets. Cost US personally about $1K more to do it that way, but the insurance wasn't cooperative in that degree. We were lucky -- the new cabinets matched, our favorite contractor was able to get them in without any damage to the existing granite counter tops, and the cabinets came in within the 4-6 weeks promised. I just posted in the Plumbing forum about what to shut off during a 32-day trip this summer. We just can't shut off the water to the whole place, because we would lose our yards -- Southern Californians depend on watering (even frugally) because it doesn't rain very much in the summer, if at all. So like others here, I'd want to shut off all the inside fixtures -- sinks, refrigerator water supply, washer/dryer (the easiest, really), toilets. But would love some advice on what order. I guess flushing them out after the water is off, is essential? Donna

Ok, don't fall off of your chairs, but I got 2 things posted on the gallery and one more on the way as soon as I can get one thing fixed and get the picture downloaded. You know that thing where we don't see certain things until we look at the pics. Yep, happened again. The one guy I posted is missing his mouth of all things....don't ask how I missed that. I know it comes from getting interrupted so many times while I'm painting. Then I started to post another one and I saw that he was missing the star off of his coat so I decided I'd go ahead and fix him and then post him. Get a laugh out of it, I did. =D Punk~ so good to see you. Thought you'd skipped town on us. ha Glad it was just family and puter issues that kept you away. Glad you caught the osteoporosis quickly and they can hopefully help you. And darn it, why can't people leave things alone that don't belong to them?? Makes me so mad. I don't want to wish that business will slow down for you, but hoping you'll get to visit more here as it does. Maybe when you get some more help?? Luvs~ did ya make it home? Sure you are busy catching up on things. I have been shopping today trying to get things ready for DD to go on a youth camping trip on Wed. DH is home until Wednesday, the dr would really prefer if it was Thurs or Friday, but he's getting antsy. Feeling a little better and not liking sitting around. We'll see if I can make him follow drs orders. Hardhead. ha Ok, I'm gonna go get this other project posted and heave a huge sigh of relief that I finally finished something and look for the next thing to work on. Have some things for a friend I want to do so back to the saw I go. ha I'm really enjoying being able to cut things out even though it takes me forever. Gotta start somewhere. Soon I'll be an old pro. =) ~Anj