never toss out metal poles or flat panels...you can make a lot of things with them...arbors, trellis. But check to see if you can get a replacement top...cheaper than the whole thing. Maybe you can upgrade to material. Check with a local tent maker or canvas dealer...if it goes back up and is straight enough to reuse it will be really worth it. I lost 2-3 umbrellas to this CA wind. It just makes you sick in the pit of your belly.

What style is your house, and what direction is your hedge? The old fashioned 'Annabelle' hydrangea is very hardy, the blooms turn from green to white to brown. 'Pee Wee' oakleaf hydrangeas have four seasons of interest, with their peely bark, but require a little more water. Clethra alnifolia 'Hummingbird' is a great plant, and has a pretty fragrance when in bloom. But these all have white blooms. For really long bloom time, and COLOR, nothing beats the Knockout roses, they're also tolerate some shade. I have the single pink ones in a west-facing bed, which gets full sun until the afternoon when they're shaded by the house, and then they get the setting sun.

Hi, I thought I'd get no answers and I went ahead with planting Carmencita and Brocade in 1 hole which I thought was extra large :-/ Well, it measures 2.3 x 2.3 x 2 feet deep and is 50% full of manure and 50% of good soil (which I purchase because my local soil is very sandy). I even planted Alchemilla mollis as a groundcover. I cannot believe how much space those roots need. I see no other way but to remove Brocade from the hole which means I have to dig another one, on the other side of the garden gate, where I now have a perennial bed. I wonder if again I will find myself digging the garden on late September evenings in the light of candles in marmalade jars (I work full time and get home around 6 p.m. the earliest). The - presumably - dead clematis would be impossible (I think) to protect from snails as it is planted amongst tall ornamental grasses and a vigorous vine. Snails can crawl on it from any direction they want. Curiously, they were feasting on that particular variety only, especially on the large white flowers, they did not fancy any of the three other varieties planted next to it. I will try a Henryi in its place. Amanda, do you mean those clematis were too cheap to live, or you would be tempted to buy too many as well? Those were perfectly healthy plants in bloom, well rooted in about 1-2 quart containers. Not a stem broken, not a petal gone from the flowers. Of course I did not mean to buy any clematis in the first place, I went to the store to buy tulip bulbs. Unfortunately I can almost never resist when I see a plant that I've always wanted or one that would match a plant I already have. The nurseries you live close to would certainly attract me as much as my Mother Ursula attracted the snails. Does anyone by any chance know about watering clematis with water diluted (and fermented) manure? There seems to be a superstition that it is richer in nutrients than any other fertilizer. Plus you do not have to pay for it - I'd collect some next to my sister's summer home. Thanks a lot for your advice!

Since I have worked like crazy from day 1, and havent had much time to post, I guess I should fill in what I didnt on my post Monday morning-- I was hired on November 8 to fill a newly created position in the accounting department. It was the position of Accountant/Supervisor, and I was told that a 4-year degree was needed for this position. I was also told that I would learn the 5 audits that the department performs, as well as any other additional accounting functions that were needed. I was not given a deadline in which to have finished my training. During the last 2 weeks of November, I was taught one audit, and in December, I was sent to supervisor training, and then my direct supervisor, "H" re-certified as a supervisor me on December 28th and wrote on my evaluation "Good Job!!". I also started learning the slot audit about during the first/second week in Dec. And that is where I stayed until. On or about January 4, "H" called me into her office to say that from the reports she was hearing, that I was "burnt-out" (wtf???) on the slot machine audit, and that I was being put on another audit on January 8. When I asked what the problem was, she replied that she had received reports that I was stressed out. The only slot auditor for the week in question (December 25 to December 29; that supposedly burnt me out; it was also the busiest week at the property) was "R", who at one point told me to "stop f*cking things up", among other various job-misleading "help" she gave me while she was "training" me. I was told previously that she ("R) was very angry with me coming on board as she thought she should get the new position, even though she does not have the required degree. She ("R") was hostile to me while training, uncooperative and very demeaning to me and my background. She refused to help me on more than one occasion when I had problems with the audit, and would have a negative attitude when I asked for advice. And no, she wasnt too busy with her work to help-- I went to the other audit, and have been there ever since. "H" called me into her office on Sunday, January 22, told me that my position was eliminated because I wasnt trained enough to supervise the office for the week of January 23 27 (since the other supervisors were in training that week), and that I had had problems with that week in the slot audit. (Seems to be a re-occurring theme.) At this point, told her that I had never been given any specific guidelines as to when my training was to be finished, and this was the first I had heard that the other supervisors were to gone from the office that week. Then, I spoke up, and finally told her the conflicts with "R", and some of the things she said to me, and that she deliberately tried to teach me wrong procedures concerning the slot audit. (I learned about the wrong procedure from the other slot auditor when she came back to work, and I asked the correct procedures.) I also pointed out that I was never given a timeline that I was to know the whole department, and that she, "H", was my supervisor, and had failed to inform me of this. "H"then kept repeating that that week in the slots was bad (see, keeps re-occurring), and that I was being demoted to this other position, with a 50% reduction on pay (and I now became hourly; I was salaried before) and that my off days would be changed to reflect my new status. She also asked me not to say anything to the rest of the department until next week. (I assume the week starting January 29.) On Tuesday, January 23, I was sorting paperwork at the printer, and "H" apparently did not see me standing there, and I over-heard her, speaking in a low voice, tell "R"that my supervisor position was open, and she should go apply for it. No one else in the accounting department knew, as they might have a degree and be qualified for the position, but "H" did not choose to share that information with anyone other then "R", who has been sabotaging me since she had the chance in December. So, at this point, I figured that since it was, ahem.. public knowledge at this pointhey"H" told "R"and I let it slip at lunch to the others. Everyone was shocked, as I get along with them, and have helped out with their problems before. And, I figured that it was best to hear it from me, so that I dont look like a whipped pup. One of the guys that reported to me went back to the department and let it slip that he found out, and "R"s face was pricelessshe got defensive and her voice got high. It was funny to see and hear. He said that he overheard "H" tell "R", and she immediately started to backpedal. I did go to HR, and register my complaints, and the rep asked what I thought the repercussions would be, and I told her that I figured Id be fired, and she said "Well see about that", and smiled. Throughout all of this, I have kept my composure, and have smiled and not acted any different. I still talk and laugh and cut up, and I have kept the same level of work standards that I have from the first day. I finished one audit by 10am yesterday, the second by 4, and still and time to deal with other peoples problems with their work. So, I am still employed, but I think things will change on Sunday. And probably not for the better. Oh well. Its just a job that paid very well; its not my life and it does not define me. I did tell Rog on Monday, after I took a good assessment of things, and he is OK with things, no matter what happens. I told him everything, and I told him the reason that I could not tell him Sunday was that I couldnt bear the look of disappointment in his eyes, he told me I was silly, and that I couldnt disappoint him, ever. BJI love you, my sisnothing you can say to me would ever hurt me, b/c I know you speak from your heart. If I were hourly, I would say you are right, but I was salaried, and all supervisors must stay until all the work is finished, even if they themselves have been done for hours. And I was told that everyone must help the others out to finish up, which is fine with meso, thats why I would always ask, when I was finished, if I could help with someone elses work. (Although, in retrospect, I never did see any of the other supervisors do thatever. ???) My insurance will not kick in until Marcha long way to go--, and I was not given any type of review until this past Sunday. Nor any sense of unfilled expectations on anyones partI was told by one of me peers that I was going a very good job And as for the "down with" statement, I merely meant that I was now down in the pit with themnot a put down (LOL!) in anywaythey are great people! J The coatit is a Burberry, and it came form a consignment store with a no-return policy. (I rarely buy anything from a mall.) Still, even for that price, I wouldnt have bought it now. Its so gorgeousI feel like a million bucks with it onJJJ And---about the attitudeyoure right, and thats exactly what Ive been doing all week. Im still the same person I was this time last week, and Ill be that same person this time next week. While I hate being in this position, it is just a job, and it does not define me anymore than my MIL does. So, Im disappointed, but Ill liveits OK, and Ill just start over again Enough of me Patti(((((hugs))))) to you and your friendI can not imagine that pain NHSuzannegreat pics! JJ Marcithanks for the birthday exchange! Gotta goRog will be home in a bit Love and hugs to all Maddie