... Jayne Belnap,a USGS Biologist succinctly suggests that there are lots of voices to be heard while she continues studying the role and function of cryptogamic desert crusts,various soil characteristics of different desert sands,endemic rhizospheric relationships, plant communities and subsequent definitions related to land use issues addressing economic development.I have sat way in the back row near the exit door with city commissioners focussed on economic development/land-use planning issues utilizing effective versions of "Roberts Rules of Orders" overlooking a series of storm runoff issues,erosion control,buffering functions of wetlands and the peculiarities of the behaviour and role of plants based upon uptake studies...I have concluded a general aversion to inputs of biological sciences and just another definition of our "artistic" decision making processes under contemporary conditions.... (...no politics,thank you...)...

Michaelg, my weed and feed question was a follow up to your 40 years of Round-Up use statement. I cannot remember when a significant number of gardeners started using Round-Up nor when a significant number of homeowners started using Weed and Feed type products. I was hopeing that since you knew about Round-Up use you also knew about Weed and Feed use (time wise). It seems that most people have at most a few cases a year. Why did you lose so many roses? Have you ever posted an in detail explanation of what you observed, when, and what steps you took, when? I know that you stated that you used Round-Up once on the roses. Did you use Round-up on anything else? Did you observe or ask the neighbors, whether they were using Round-Up? Did you use a magnifying glass and observe the mites? Also, how did you rule things such as a herbicide contaminated mulch batch. The last may sound far fetched but I have posted news articles about it happening and I did have bad mulch happen to me one season (I had posted it here when it happened. I immediately removed the mulch and watered heavily.) Back to your statement: "So I think it is wise to assume that fat, thorny overgrowth is RRD." H.Kuska comment. I still would like to see pictures of what you mean. Earlier I posed that Round-Up could result in "Particulary, please notice they include: "Strange looking, thickened growth, often dark red or purple in color"." It would appear that "thorny" is the only property that could not be caused by Round-Up in your model. On my web page I state the following: "I am hesitant to include the "excessive growth of thorns" rule as it may only apply to exclude damage from certain types of herbicides and not others with different modes of action. Also. often healthy young growth can have closely spaced needle like thorns which are not present in older canes. The opposite (no thorns, no RRD) is also NOT a dependable diagnostic that the cause is not RRV. Ann Peck (see E-book link at the bottom of this article) points out: "Hyper thorniness is not a dependable indication of RRD, it does alert rosarians to be vigilant. It appears on some HTs, but sick OGRs and roses related to 'R. multiflora' may have thorns no denser than ususal. Further confusing diagnoses, many classes of old garden roses are extremely thorny and no one could look at a sick rugosa, damask, or spinossissima and declare it�s hyper thorniness to be aberrant. Likewise basal breaks on some healthy HTs appear thornier closer to the bud union, but become less thorny with increasing healthy growth. This year, I have also seen a characteristic of some roses from cold hardy breeding programs to have denser thorns near the base; these roses have a built in rodent deterrent that I had not noticed until a question from New Brunswick about the possibility of RRD in that part of Canada.""

I'd do it - this isn't something where new technology is likely to come out that you would want instead or where there is a warranty. Also they don't need excessive storage space and aren't likely to be damaged by storage. (These are all the reasons I can think of that one might not want to buy something ahead.) Just make sure you stash it somewhere that you will be able to find it when you start the remodel! "I know I bought that to use later, but now I can't find it" is a pain. Perhaps make a file to keep with your remodel notes on where you have stored them and anything else that you buy ahead. I love the hardware choice. We felt that way about the Schaub pulls we used in our kitchen. They feel so nice and we use them every day.

Sharron, since you mentioned your desire to support local businesses, and you are in Virginia (as I am), let me mention another option, a stone that is quarried in Virginia, not terribly far from you. This is Soapstone, the durable natural material used for ages in lots of science lab countertops, and popular for a certain kind of kitchen look and experience. It won't be white, but some if it has white-ish veins, and the color is lighter if it isn't finished with an oiled surface. You will need to research this to see if it's for you! Some love it, some hate it. Here are some starter links: http://cvhomemag.com/soapstone-an-old-rock-with-a-new-purpose/ http://www.nelsoncounty-va.gov/Organization/alberene-soapstone-company/ https://jewettfarms.com/2019/05/15/is-soapstone-right-for-your-kitchen https://www.soapstones.com/soapstone-countertops/