wxman. GREAT work! Looks very nice. I also have a sago palm with my bananas. You should get some decent height out of your bananas. Do keep us updated here this growing season on a monthly basis. Hopefully you do get the 6-8 feet before garbage season arrives.

Did your bamboo supplier give you a free machete with the plants? You may need one come Labor Day...(smile) I had a greatuncle that spent the summer in Cedar Falls and the winter in Punta Gorda, FL...just after WWII he planted some bamboo next to the FL house garage...when he died in 1980 he was still trying to kill that stand of bamboo! Of course, the IA winter may keep your's in check... Pete in IF

I recall that video. Very interesting. However, your house is not falling down. It just looks like one section was exposed to water for too many years and is suffering from deterioration, perhaps from chemicals in the ground water. Sulfate attack, for instance. The interior parging could be falling off from the exterior-to-interior moisture drive and/or from a wall wetted by a wet foundation drawing in water by capillary action. The outside parging is probably deteriorating from the freeze/thaw cycle. Parging is sometimes applied as a "sacrificial" coating. In any case, you shouldn't expect it to be a permanent covering. It looks to me like the basement finishing job was designed to hide, not cure any problems. And not done well. The steel frame, for instance, is mounted directly to the damp floor, instead of being set on, at least, a vapour barrier. Anyway, before you spend a small fortune on hunches and distant guesswork--including mine!--get an inspection by a structural engineer.

Eileen--I know what you are saying. We just got back from a road trip to AZ, and the landscaping is very different. But at least you aren't constantly clipping, watering, feeding, mowing, pruning, raking, weeding, etc. Time to do other things you like. I spent an hour on my knees last night weeding, not done yet either. Jasdip--I was thinking ratatouille!! Some time ago you shared a fresh spagetti sauce recipe which has become a tried and true for me. I think of you every time I make it. Raven--I spent a while looking at glass totems as you suggested. That looks like a lot of fun to do, and the shopping fun as well. I'm just thinking of a cute teapot I saw in a thrift shop, almost bought it too. Maybe it's still there. How cute that would be in a garden! Thanks for the idea. Is your YTT inside or outside? I wonder if they would work as a houseplant. Steppy--I hear you about the pot size. They are actually 14" pots (7 gal.--took one big bag potting soil). This would be the minimum size for tomatoes IMHO, but last year I did have a great cherry crop from a potted tomato and the ones in the ground gave me nothing, so I'm hopeful I'll get some from the pots this year. Patti--I don't know your zone, but it might grow in FL. You could ask in a good nursery (not HD!). Lindalou--yep, I have 4 Christmas cactus which were just repotted in fresh soil. They are as beautiful as orchids when blooming, but it's so long between blooms, once a year. We have a lot of other yard to deal with as well--40 rose bushes, in particular. Trees, too much lawn, lots of hedges to be clipped too often. I only showed you the good stuff. Thank you everyone for your kind words. I'm so flattered you like my gardening efforts. Susan