Love your totems and I like the grouping. I have 2 finished and am waiting to gather enough glass for 1 more because I think they look best in 3's. Gotta wait till I find more glass pieces at the right price..........as this is supposed to be fun not a crunch on the budget!!! My faves are the cut glass ones with a little color throwed in. Have a good weekend all!

Before you know it you wont be able to get through a store without buying another or thinking about it. You'll need a whole room just for AV's! Isnt it wonderful? : ) Jen

Yes, definately read that thread. And also browse the back pages, as there is a wealth of information there for getting started. Some of the decisions to make, in no particular order: 1. Do you want heads with relatively few, but large, cloves. Or is a multi-cloved (i.e., artichoke) type your preference. 2. Hardneck or softneck? You can grow both in Iowa, but the hardnecks are liable to do better. And with hardnecks you get the added taste treat of the scapes. 3. Hot or mild taste? This is a nebulous point, both because taste perceptions are individual, and the variety actually can have different flavor, season to season. 4, Do you want just heads? Or do you want to grow green garlic as well? As to planting, the general approach is to fall plant. In your zone you can do this in October & November. Even as early as September, if you want. As long as the ground is workable, so that roots can develop before a hard freeze, is ok. Prepare the soil by amending it well. Garlic is a heavy feeder. In addition to compost, I add bone meal, blood meal, and wood ashes at the rate of 1 cup each per row foot. Work it in well. Pop the cloves (larger cloves produce larger heads, btw) and plant them, root side down, 2-3 inches deep, and 4-6 inches apart. Mulch is you prefer (that's an oft-depated question). The cloves may or may not sprout during the fall. Don't worry about it either way. In the early spring the garlic will start growing for real. Long about May, side-dress with the same amendments you used. That's really about all it takes, until harvest time. Except to keep the bed well weeded; garlic doesn't like the competition. Welcome to the addictive world of garlic growing.

Perle, are you planning on growing under lights or natural light? I personally grow under lights but have done both. There are many factors and everybody's growing conditions are different. As aviolet6 has said you will have to experiment a little to find what works for you. It would take to long to go over everything here but if would like more info feel free to email me at czdallasfan @ yahoo.com with any questions you have. I will be more than happy to answer any and give you tips. Aviolet6 email me as to what is going on with yours, maybe I can get you on the right path. Perle, is you do a search on the site on streps I am pretty sure you will be able to find what I have written in the past on Streps. This can be a reference for you as well. Dave