karenrei, I don't have a hoophouse, each wall and the roof are totally seperate segments as to R value, covering etc. stressbaby nailed it on the head on this thread http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/load/strucs/msg0909104730738.html and I am surprised that thread did not get more input. Identify areas where improvement can be made and fix them. Then look at the whole structure again and work out where the "new hole" is. On the thread about the polystyrene sheets, http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/load/strucs/msg081128491250.html I tried to point out that adding an R3 insulation to one wall was great, bumping it up to R6 may be a waste of money because there may be another place you could put some R3. Yes, In retrospect my south roof (and sorry to use trade names but people can look it up and understand it better) should have been Tufflite IV outer, pool cover and then Tufflite infrared on the inside. A nice sandwich and cheaper and easier to install then polycarbonate triple wall. Yes I know polycarbonate triple wall will last longer but, it is also very expensive. I had a standard double poly inflated south roof so I gained some insulation advantage but all of that insulation was lost by a breach of the outer layer. (see my rant on this thread) http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/load/strucs/msg0409365924489.html OK, so I know I am going to lose light on the south roof because of this sandwich but I am going to get a boost in insulation, and because of the bubble wrap sandwich I am also going to get some protection from damage. The sections would be 2ft by 8ft and if I had a breach of the outer skin then my south roof loses 1/12 of its R value not 100%. Next, as in reducing light transmission, as you say most of the light in spring is through the south wall, so a reduction in light transmission in early spring of say 15% from the south roof is still a loss but a small loss as not much of the total is coming in that way. ""any areas that don't get much sunlight being as heavily insulated as you can with opaque (preferably reflective, in my opinion) insulation."" North wall is solid and painted white inside (reflective). Half the north roof is solid. Changes to my configuration next spring? 1, Shade cloth hung vertically inside about a foot from the south side to reduce the tendency of young plants to grow towards the south side but as the shade cloth is on the inside it will block light to the plants but still contribute to raising the air temperature in the greenhouse. 2, Wait until the corn and bean crop is harvested and there is snow on the ground and then set fire to my old barn to the south where the shingles that hit my greenhouse in high winds come from. (insurance company please note, that was a light hearted attempt at humour.) Umm... on second thoughts, I will insure my greenhouse! :)

Chris, NICE job!!! Can you take a pic of the whole tree? Anirbn, My mom fell and hurt herself badly after she got out from a week in the hospital, so I totally forgot too. My bad. It started getting lighter in coloring..It was loosing it's vivid green look because the temps have gotten so cold. But I stuck it in the house and it seems to be coloring up again/. I will take a pic tomorrow..) I have been trying to grow it Bonsai style since I don't need it to be big and take up room. So it's pretty small..

Hi, Marilyn! Glad you are enjoying your cardinals. Keep a close eye out, though...this time of year, you could have a wider selection of visitors to entertain you. Susannah, I can't help you on the cat situation (not that you actually asked for help). I don't allow my cats outside. Never have. The average life expectancy of an outdoor cat in this country is 2 years, compared to 15+ for indoor cats. So mine are housecats. Birds react to movement more rapidly than they do to noise, so there are varying opinions among experts on the effectiveness of belling cats. However, if it seems to be working for you, that's great. I never argue with success. But I would be much more concerned with what harmful thing my cats might get into if they were allowed outside. I can't bring myself to take that chance. Full sun is a bad idea for hummingbird feeders for two reasons...one, they tend to heat up and leak (drip, drip, drip) in the sun. And two, the sugar water ferments faster and has to be replaced more often. If you have a plant in full sun that casts some shade, that is doable. Generally, the suggested way to proceed with a new hummer feeder is to place it among or close to blooming plants that attract hummers. They will discover it there when they are feeding at the plants (like salvias, coral honeysuckle, petunias, etc). Then, you start moving it a bit at a time, closer and closer to the house or window where you would like to have it for optimum viewing. The hummers will follow it. All feeders need to be close enough to cover (shrubs, trees, etc) for birds to have a safe place to head when trouble shows up, but far enough away from cover that predators can't lie in wait for them. So, that part's a balancing act. Often, there is a lot of trial and error involved in getting your feeders set just the way you want them, but it's SO worth it. I'm happy to see so many people that want to entice birds into their gardens. Good luck!! Marcia

After wearing a modified mullet (short on top, down to my behind in back) for a lot of years, my daughter convinced me to get a new style. I loved what the designer did, but the $60 price tag is more than I can justify every six weeks. So I armed myself with a photo of my new cut and six weeks later took it to a less expensive salon. In addition to showing her the photo I took care to explain it as well. She assured me she understood exactly what I was talking about, then proceeded to give me an entirely different style. Tears? You bet! But still, I went back to her again and again, telling her each time how to make it more closely resemble my previous style, and eventually it was very close. I thought we had come to an understanding and then the next time she cut my hair it was a whack job again! I've had the flowbee for many years and used it to cut my husband's and grandchildren's hair, so I began to use it on myself, too. It did alright, but not the style I wanted. It has been more than 2 months since my last haircut and I just didn't know which way to go. In a moment of desperation I drove down to the little shop that my 81 year old mother goes to. I asked for the owner (she cuts Mom's hair and is in her late 60's). I had printed out my photo to show her, but in my haste, had forgotten to bring it with me. I proceeded to explain my style and she said she knew exactly what I meant. I knew I was going to drive home in tears, but I just couldn't get up and leave. And guess what? When she was done I WAS nearly in tears! I couldn't believe my eyes. It was exactly the style I verbalized to her. Bless you, little old Lina!