We enclosed our previously screened-in carport, placing two small conventional windows on the SW side, facing our tiny sideyard. Both the SE side (facing our back garden) and NW side have sliding glass doors, the NW doors having glassed-in miniblinds. Both sliding doors have thermal drapes that can be used to cover them completely in weather that is too hot or too cold, and I have both a portable dehumidifier in the SW corner and and a large "end table" automatic quartz heater in the NW corner. I placed three large area carpets over the concrete slab, giving me essentially three different areas in which to arrange things. The slab absorbs both heat and cold, so if I am attentive to the room's needs it is entirely possible to keep it comfortable year round by adjusting the drapes, ventilating, and running the dehumidifier and heater. My sliding glass doors are screened, so on a good day I can open the doors at both ends and have a wonderful breeze through the entire room, and almost have the look and feel of a sun porch *and* a screened in porch, but without the inconveniences. The NE side opens into our tiny dining area, and we have an air conditioner in there. On very hot, humid days, our "sun room" is cooled sufficiently from that and a ceiling fan we added. This is a fairly low cost solution for anyone with a roofed-over carport or garage that they never park in; it's incredible the amount of living space that can be added to a home--it's now the largest room in the house, and the most attractive in terms of view, lighting, and general comfort.

Carl Hiaasen wrote Hoot, a young adult novel about those burrowing owls in SE Florida. They made it a movie, too, but I didn't see it. I did read the book with my 12 y/o. (Hey, you're never too old for mom to read to you!) Kids work together to save an area of nests about to be destroyed by developers. It's very funny, he uses wit and irony to tell the story (and a few 4-letter words, FYI). Great for kids 12+ with an interest in environmental causes, and a sharp sense of humor. Good contemporary YA books. The characters and situations appeal even to kids who don't love to read (like my DS). They are "real" and have their dysfunctions. But they are motivated by a strong sense of right and wrong. Sorry, I took a tangent there. I do that when I've had coffee too late in the evening (and other time, too).

After a very stern talking to them about how there is going to be a Peter F flavoured bonfire if they don't perk up [ and the addition of about 5 inches of sugar cane mulch] they are both performing much better with lots of lovely new growth. I haven't had much success with the HTs in my garden, Queen Adelaide and Radox Bouquet are a bit spotty and sad - whereas all my older roses are fine. [I think a little of this is may be my perception derived from my prejudice toward older roses. Raubritter 'lost a few leaves to BS' whereas 'that waste of space QA was decimated'.] Lozza - they are really not that bad, and I may have expected too much too quickly.

Hi, I need some Melbourne help please. Does anyone have a Hass avocado tree in the SE suburbs that I can take a scion from to graft onto my established rootstock? Thanks for any help. Cheers, Rich