Don't give up hope. I had 4 cases of RRD several years in a row, but this year, have had none at all. So good times may be coming yet. Actually, I thought I might have a new case of RRD this year--sinking heart! But somehow it didn't quite look like it. So I did some severe pruning in that area with the affected growth--and everything seems to have grown back normally. Since that rose was on the property line, I'm wondering if my neighbor, who runs a mow and blow service, didn't maybe spray some Round-up next to his garage that has wild weedlike climbers going up it. That garage isn't that far from the property line where the affected rose grows. Kind of suspicious, don't you think? As to the rose, I pruned it rather late in the season, so I probably won't know for sure if it is all right until I see next spring's new growth. Everyone cross your fingers for me and my rose! Kate

Unless you go big or do something else, it will take several years before there is shade. I did some research on SHADE SAILS, which are professionally installed sculpted high-tension UV durable fabric covers that come with nice variety of poles or ground supports. It could even solve a shade problem as part of your driveway, and allow you to ACTUALLY GROW HOSTA ON YOUR DRIVEWAY. (I throw that in to pacify KEN)..... INstead of that, I've accumulated several patio umbrellas, which are moveable and fit with my pots. In your case, I think the real McCoy is required. It will not be cheap to get a top-notch one, but it can be taken down in offseason, although I cannot say what it requires to do that. Just look it up. You might be very pleased to use this as your redbuds etc grow to full glory. There are several similar products to the one listed below, which is the original top of the line product I think coming from Australia where they are dealing with a rip in the ozone layer, so compare to this product and go from there. They are really beautiful things. Here is a link that might be useful: Shadesails.com

I’m not a housecleaner, but I do work in a field where I go to 30 (ish) medical clinics in any 2 week period and they’re spread out over 3 different counties. No two days are ever the same and it can be pretty hard to balance preferred days and/or their schedules with the 29 other clinics as well as my own. From my perspective, I’m balancing new customers or a one time add ins, an unpredictable work volume at any one of the clinics (because I never know what I’m going to find), traffic which is a nightmare in the summer months due to road construction, as well as managing my husband’s many doctors appointments for his cancer. The hours they’re open often vary and I may have a clinic that can only be visited on a day where all the other clinics for that day are 20 miles out in another direction. It really is a delicate balancing act. Most of my clients are flexible but not all. There are some who won’t budge an inch regardless of the circumstances. The ones who work with me, are literally my saving grace and I’d go to the moon for any one of them, the ones who won’t, not so much. I’m not trying to say you’re wrong for what you are looking for or the way you feel. I get that you’re paying for a service and have specific needs. I just wanted to give you an idea of what that person might be dealing with, especially if he is working on his own, juggling family responsibilities all while trying to get food on the table. Some people are better at managing their schedules than others or maybe he’s new at this and just hasn’t gotten it together yet. My feeling when I read your post was empathy because I do know personally, just how hard juggling work with the challenges in our personal lives can be. In order to get what you need, you should probably try to find an established company that is large enough that managing your needs won’t be a hardship for them. You may not get the job that someone who’s really depending on the work might do and you might even pay a higher premium for it, but it’s kind of a give and take I guess.

ILR you are so right about our timing of leaving - we feel lucky and have several friends who are either stuck or had to accept significantly less than they had counted on for their next phase. Values are tanking fast and high end new construction spec seems to be the worst - I expect a lot of long time builders will go under with the huge carrying costs. There is good reason to flee and honestly it breaks my heart. I will always be a Midwestern fish out of water to some extent here in NC. Taxes are one of the reasons we moved. When we hit 17k we said enough and we weren't at the top end of taxes by any means. That FLW house is in Cook County and New Trier school district so taxes are even higher. I grew up there and just looked at my childhood home online - taxes are 28k and that's not a grand house at all.