pkguy: If it is of any help... I have narrowed my list down to... - Lawn-Boy Platinum #10797 - Honda HRX217HXA The above are the only mowers that I have found in my local area that have... - Blade brake/clutch... which is essential to me when it comes to leaves/needles in the fall. As re starting the engine 25+ times every time I bag leaves/needles in my yard is such a nuisance to me. - Over head valve engine... I think this is the best bet since it is more efficient... which for me means I will get good performance out of it and it will be better for the environment pollution and fuel consumption wise. The two mowers above have Honda OHV engines... which I feel is a plus as well. I took a look at the Toro SR4 today... nice mower, well built, rolls well with bushings in wheels, sold by knowledgeable dealer with good local reputation. The way the bag attaches and detaches is solid once on... two metal hooks that latch around a steel bar. The hooks weren't as easy to hook in as the way the Honda bag went on (see below). The personal pace thing... looks solid to me and for me isn't a real plus or minus either way. But the engine on the Toro not being a side valve/lhv takes it off my list. You can get a Toro SR4 with a OHV... but it doesn't have a blade brake/clutch I also took a look at the Honda HRX217HXA today. I really liked the versa-mow selector for mulch/bag. I thought it would be a plus for leaves/needles... as you could set the lever in between and mulch/bag. I also liked how the bag attached/detached... sturdy and easy to do by feel - meaning you wouldn't have to look down or work at attaching it. The bag attach/detach was better on the Honda then on the Toro. Granted the slots on the Honda were solid/solid plastic where on the Toro they were metal. The bag frame on both the Honda and Toro were metal. The only things I am not sure of on the Honda after seeing it... the strength of the blade brake/clutch lever (seemed real plasticy in terms of the lever on the handle). The overall design of the deck... doesn't look like there is much room under it for the grass to circulate. Heard some comments from local dealers how Honda engines are solid but the mowers themselves aren't the best. The exterior of the transmission box looked pretty chincy... although it is inside of the box that counts. The wheels didn't roll or feel as solid as on the Honda as they did on the Toro. I haven't gotten to look at the Lawn-Boy in person yet... the two dealers in my local area don't have their shipment in yet (we still have some snow on the ground). My hope is the Lawn-Boy will take what I like on the Toro and spruce it up a bit. Specifically, the pictures of the Lawn-Boy show how easily the bag attached and detaches. From the pictures it looks similar to the way the Honda bag attaches/detaches... except that you don't have to mess with the hinged plastic cover. By the way... Ariens and Snapper don't have a blade brake/clutch. The Ariens SW21 is a solid piece of machinery in terms of how it is built... has a Kawasaki engine which is a plus to. The Ariens didn't have the blade brake/clutch feature... which takes it off my list. Besides... the Ariens dealer in my area is a Deere dealer... and his prices are full/full retail and their service rates are much higher then anyone else in the area (that's Deere for you). Troy-Bilt did or does (not sure)... but it has lots of issues according to the service guys. Besides... Troy-Bil is part of MTD and most if not all of their consumer mowers are total junk... throw away type mowers sold only at big box stores (not all of them... but the vast majority). The Toro blade brake/clutch is solid and performs well... as does the one on the Honda. Anyways... more then you probably wanted to know. But figured the info might come in handy to someone. -------------------------------------------------------- * Posted by pkguy (My Page) on Mon, Apr 9, 07 at 17:09 Like Easternupstate I'm also in the market and have looked at the Toro's LB's, MTD, Sears,other makes and Ariens. I just got back from Ariens today and they're carrying a new design lineup called Blade Runner along with their traditional looking deck models, all to add to the confusion. I've also got tons of leaves from 8 giant oak trees in the back yard along with all the associated twigs etc that fall off. The bags on the Arien LM21S are pretty easy to dump, on the new Blade Runners, not so easy because they have the attached bag cover, I think the LB's have the easiest with that fold away handle. Anyways, I'm still looking. Heck I'm spending more time deciding on a lawnmower than I would for a new car LOL

I think the Honda mowers are VERY nice, but I've never owned one. You may also want to consider the Snapper, which is just as pricey as the Honda and built to last forever. I own the Snapper and it has a design that is tried and true, but less flexible than the Honda in my opinion. The Snapper comes with a 2-Blade mulching system (AKA the Ninja Blade) similar to the Honda, but you have to change out the blade to use it. Like I said, itÂs less flexible but has fewer gimmicks in the design. I have to say, I prefer to mulch and have NEVER seen a better mulch cut than with the Snapper. It can mulch more grass to a finer pulp than anything else, other than possibly the Honda, which I donÂt know about from direct experience. If your priority is raw power and something that is built like a tank, the Snapper is ideal. The variable speed real wheel drive mechanism allows you to jog behind the mower if you want to save time with exercise. I'm not kidding; it's really pretty fast. When I purchased the Snapper, I thought it was heavy, but I think the Honda is actually heavier. The mechanism to engage the belt drive train is much easier than the thumb controls with the Honda. Regarding parts, the Snapper is going to cost less over time I believe. The design hasnÂt changed a great deal in the last 20 years, but the Honda seems to be updated quite regularly with new flashy things. With mowers, I prefer to keep it simple because the more complex, the more chance it will break and the parts will be higher when it does break. However the Honda deserves some accolades and may be preferable if you want lower emission, less noise, and more gadgets that offer consumer friendly benefits, (girl friendly I mean  no IÂm just kidding!). In my opinion, these are the 2 best options. Yes, they are pricey, but both will pay for themselves in the first season and will last decades. With both options, I would recommend the overhead valve engine design. Don't know about Bad Boy since I probably live in the wrong part of the country for these.

hello just to let you know i i'm a new to the forum.BUT i have in my garden what looks like the sedum weihebstephaner it is yellow,i'm not sure how to send this from cutting or rooting if you like i can send you a picture if you gave me your e mail

Connie, I did not do any Autumn Joy because I already have 6-10 established plants in the landscaping. Next year though I would like to take the shovel to a few clumps and divide them in half, amend the soil and replant them. I will keep some of the halved sections and sell the others at my perennial sale in May or at the Farmer's Market in the summer. If these cuttings will root and grow, then I want to take cuttings this winter, from them. Then, next spring I would also be planting out a bushier plant for the landscaping or selling a bushier sedum at the plant sales. This could be fun yet! Brenda