Diane, Here are a couple of gate ideas for you. A gate is a difficult thing to make as it needs support in order to avoid sagging. http://www.rusticrailings.com/images/galleries/stairs/Ryan%209%2011%2007%20027.jpg http://www.vividvalleyartgallery.com/images/180_twig-gate.JPG http://search.live.com/images/results.aspx?q=twig%2c+gate&FORM=BIRE#focal=896f5dcfc16934eeebe5f437d4d0659a&furl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.vividvalleyartgallery.com%2Fimages%2F180_twig-gate.JPG http://www.winterbournewillows.com/pics-s/willow-gate-15-200h.jpg http://www.simply-solar.co.uk/assets/images/autogen/a_SimSol039a_1.jpg http://www.naturalfencing.com/images/additional1/196.jpg http://www.peaktraditionalfencing.co.uk/Photos/640Pics/Pic30.jpg http://www.sylvanskills.co.uk/images/moon_gate.jpg Diane, I have a few brugmansia opening now, but not prolificly. Yesterday's quick wind and rain storm took a lot of the blooms off. I'll see if I can get a shot soon. I wonder how Glaswegian's variegated brug is doing. Any pictures for us, Glaswegian? John

I feel your pain. I always lost gorgeous dahlias each year myself until I found a product through Gardener's Supply Company. They sell tomato and vegetable ladders (one is tall, one is shorter). See the link below. They sell them in groups of 5. Your hubby has to realize that you must have some staking system with dahlias, but I know where he's coming from. I always felt that it looked like a graveyard in my beds until the plants grew up. These ladders were the least obnoxious and most sturdy that I've yet to find. This was my first year with them and I can't recommend them highly enough. You can weave the plants through them as they grow or tie them onto the cage easily. These ladders are so much more stable than stakes or the usual tomato cages because of the way they are designed. The Achilles' heal of most staking systems is that the plant is a lot heavier than the stake that is used to support it - which is why they fall over. Not true with these ladders - they are substantial. Once you push them into the ground, they don't move. Plus the green coloring blends right into the plants; and you can attach your plant tags easily to the frame. I can only grow 10-12 dahlias in my yard, so for me they are worth the one-time investment. For people that grow more, it would probably be too expensive - it really depends on how many you need. We've had some large wind and rain storms recently and they have not budged. They're good with any plant that needs support, not just dahlias or vegetables, so they have multiple uses. I used one to grow a clematis against my birdfeeder pole and one for a morning glory vine, and you know how big and heavy those can get. Here is a link that might be useful: Tomato and Vegetable Ladders

Wow, it's amazing how fast the threads move these days...my post was already down near the bottom so I rescued it just in time...LOL. THANK YOU for commenting and for your enthusiasm. After lugging an unending chain of garden hoses from garden to garden for 4 1/2 hours to water everything I really appreciate positive feedback! mantis....the last rose pictured (palest pink)is Austin's 'Belle Story'. And yes, that is Rosarium Uetersen in the cat patrol photo. It is immediately recognizable, isn't it? Great color that lights up a garden. Thanks again everyone....and YES, I am exhausted. Celeste

Thanks for all the positive feedback, it's nice to hear. :) Well, I have now started in on the pressure canning. I did get 12 pts. of Katie's Roasted Tomato and Garlic soup last week and 8 pts. of beef stock yesterday. Today/tomorrow it's chicken stock and chicken soup, then next week apple sauce and apple pie filling. It's kind of a relief to be away from the tomatoes for a while. :) And I am getting more comfortable with the pressure canning. I got the Presto 23 Qt. and the optional weighted pressure regulator. My gauge seems pretty darn accurate so far, but I love the ease and consistency of using the weights; I'm glad I spent the extra $20. I probably will can more tomatoes next year - I'm just a glutton for punishment! :) But I will probably spread it out and not do it all 6 or 7 days in a row. Since I don't really grow enough tomatoes to can, I buy them when I want to can. There's a great organic farm the other side of town (Petaluma, CA) that has been selling tomatoes $1/lb or $12/crate; I've gotten over 20 lbs. in a crate! They also sell the overripe tomatoes as "sauce tomatoes" for $5/box (about 20 lbs). So it's very reasonable cost-wise. I don't get the satisfaction some of you do by starting from seed, but it's still pretty darn satisfying. And as several of you have commented, it sure is all pretty to look at too. We're just wrapping up a kitchen remodel; my husband is about to start on the shelves in our small walk-in pantry. I can't wait to see all my jars and jars on my new shelves!!!! Kathy