I live in Gainesville which is zone 8B. We are land locked, no water in sight. The lowest known temp we have had since I moved here in 1992 is 20. The lowest known in the history of weather records is 13. I don't grow any of yours, butI grow Basjoo, Dwarf Red, M. lasioscarpa, Ensete maurellii, Velutina, Zebrina, Raja Puri, Laterita, Sikkimensis, Ornata "Hot Pink" and Dwarf Cavendish in the ground year round. They all do fine, in a hard freeze, the leaves freeze off and some of the trunk may freeze around the crown, but the trunks almost NEVER die. WHen the weather warms back up they start sending out new leaves within a week usually, and in the event that a trunk does freeze, the plant always returns from the roots. Most bananas, all hedychiums, many costus gingers, Kaemferias, zinginers, brugmansia, most of the alocasias, all the colocasias, most of the xanthosomas, Ti plants, and a host of other tropical plants do fine here in our zone with temps to the 20's. Actually its a relief when they die back sometimes, it gives you a break from all the care and let you do stuff like get your house washed and painted in winter.

Marlene, I was born in Jackson, MI and lived in Pontiac for a while (charming town, really - heavy dose of sarcasm there), I would take a Sacramento summer over one in Michigan any time. As much as irrigation has raised the humidity, it still doesn't compare to those still, humid, heatwaves back east. I think you'll be fine anywhere in the general area. Commuting, now that's another matter entirely. You will soon learn that L.A. has no monopoly on gridlock, just more linear miles of it. Ryan

Thank you, marlene, jane, luvs, punk, & joycegreen (who is a good RL friend & is the one who first showed me the Garden Web Forum here!) ;-) Am happy w/floors & getting close to other rooms to be 'back to normal' (if there is a normal....lots of messes!). Am envious of 70 deg weather & sitting in the bkyard, PM! Wow, I'd take that any day! (our backyard is mostly bare again after high 40's yesterday) DH built just the big tv cabinet about 11 yrs ago & will build a smaller (narrower) type when we get a flatscreen. We had the shelves built back in early 70's when house was new by a woodworker....I've always loved them for photo albums & books esp! Thanks, luvs...I will pass on your compliments to DH. & luvs, the floors require more 'dustmopping' but I don't mind that as much as using the vaccuum sweeper... a lighter color probably wouldn't show as much...ours are a medium oak color. & good for you ...we have 'closet' tv's sometimes, too & VCR's & keyboards but DH did a bit of recycling lately. ;-) punk...the Cardinals sometimes are very co-operative w/me...I have to stand very still & shoot thru windows (half have screens so I move sometimes & that scares them to fly off)...I probably shot about 20 - 25 frames to catch a couple of what I consider 'good ones.' ;-) Ok, I've rattled on....thanks, 'Holiday-ers!' Jeanne S.

Hi no-green-thumb!~You really do have a lot of hidden potential. It has been a long winter; I am in IL, so I know how different winter and spring can look! Still waiting for plants to "pop" here, although a little green is finally peeking through. I did a paver installation in my landscape construction class. They need a gravel base, and proper grading. Their installation makes them more impervious to water than flagstone, which will heave slightly, so IMO flagstone is not the best choice for a patio right next to the house. They tend to be somewhat expensive. BUT the cost of installation of your existing patio included the flagstone itself, which you still have and can re-use, so don't despair! We have a flagstone patio in the far corner of my backyard, and I think that could look lovely with your forest backdrop. It is really not expensive to do, just labor intensive. Many nurseries have staff that might be able to do the job or recommend someone, so if DIY is not an option, you should get several bids before proceeding. Or, this is what I would do if it was MY yard... I think it would be best if you had a deck installed; one without steps, just a walkout that extended from the corner all the way to the purple fence to the left of your ac unit. Replace that panel with six foot cedar fence panels, to hide the AC from view. To add interest, stagger the fence heights. The deck would have an octagonal cut-out for the tree, and low wide steps to the flagstone path connecting it to the cement patio. The flagstone path would be wider at the steps and narrower towards the patio, but it would be at least three feet wide, four feet would be better. I wouldn't touch the stone edged bed of hostas and ferns, except to maybe trench the edge slightly, so that the stones "sink" and are no longer a problem when you mow. I really dig (no pun intended) the natural stone and flagstone combination. However, the wooden deck and cement patio are both more practical surfaces for grilling and eating, more sure-footed. I agree that the cement patio is one logical place for your existing grill. Since that was also expensive to install, why not re-use it? Have you seen these type of gazebos, they're a great way to define the eating area from the lounging/bar area closer to the house? They are designed to be taken down and stored in the winter. Here is a link that might be useful: Gazebos