Plastic edging isn't as pretty as your brick pavers but since you have a sloping site I'd recommend it. I also have sloping beds and I edged them with sections of plastic edging to make individual round beds for my plants. It keeps the grass out, prevents the runoff issue and helps keep the plants and soil in place. Also, when you have these little planting circles, mine are about 3' in diameter you can add a nice bark mulch that will prevent your soil from baking into earthenware. I think the biggest drawback to the stringers is that I'd almost bet that the wood has some kind of chemical in it that you wouldn't want near your veggies. If it doesn't, it won't last more than two seasons. At least with the plastic edging, you can reuse it many times, ditto for the brick pavers. If you really just like those bricks, and who wouldn't, set them on diagonal around the outside of the plastic edging. You only have to dig down a couple of inches and you can make a continuous circle of them that looks prettier than the plastic edging. Cheryl

If they froze, they would be mushy in the spring. I am assuming that is not the case, otherwise you would not have potted them. I am assuming that they were firm. If all of them had no eyes, I am assuming that the stems were cut off the tubers and then the tubers stored. A number of novice gardeners do this. I had a nice lady who presented me with a bag of tubers that she had "cleaned up" for me. She had indeed cut off the stems, and unfortunately had cut off area where the potential eyes would develop. All of them were useless, and none of them grew in spite of my best efforts. I always leave about 2 inches of the stem on the tuber when preparing for winter. That way, I know which end to look for eyes, and also I know that end is where the eyes will develop. I do not store in dirt. If the dirt is damp, the tubers will rot. If the dirt is dry, the soil can deplete the moisture from the tuber, depending upon the consistency of the soil. There are a number of ways of storing tubers, and quite a few postings as to how to do it here on this forum. In the fall, I am sure there will be many more. Keep your eyes open for them ( Pun intended LOL) Enjoy the dahlias you have now. Aren't they wonderful? Any pictures? Mine have started to bloom. Alas, I left my camera at my son's place in Toronto, and it is a good hour away. When I get it back, I'll post some photos.

If I had lots of flowers up close where I could see the hummers, I would go that route. I only put the feeders up to watch the birds. If a feeder is in the sun or it is a bowl type with the entire surface exposed to the elements thru the feeding holes, then it might have to be changed every 2-3 days. A hummer will not drink soured sugar water, they will however go to someone elses feeder. Bottle feeders do not expose more than the diameter of each hole to the elements. I expected to get drunk on some nectar that I had left while on a 2 week vacation, but I took a big gulp and it was very sweet just like fresh made. While I might change my feeders on a weekly basis, it's hard to tell someone else that because I don't know if the feeders are in the sun or if they were very clean when filled, etc. I try to have enough out for the birds to last 5-7 days. If the nectar gets bad, the birds will leave; they will not stick around. Now this has only happened to me on a vacation or two when it did turn sour or maybe when I was sick.

I think it is pretty, but when I think of my friends that are doctors that is not what they would mean by 'stand up desk" Standing while you are working is, of course, healthier than sitting. I have a stand up work area that I rotate into to avoid too many hours of sitting. I just want a stand for my keyboard or my laptop that goes up and down. Most doc's I know use a laptop or an IPad and would also only want a stand. Most importantly they would want an easily cleanable surface, no nooks and crannies, and something that could be wiped down with alcohol. Maybe your DHs office is a sanctum into which patients dont wander, or maybe he doesnt deal with contagions, so these thoughts may not be applicable.