Hope you get rain soon - I don't know what official was since it lasted past midnight (I think) and my rain gauge was cracked, but Weather Underground station near us recorded 0.18", TWC says 0.28. Guess I'll have to get the wheelbarrow on level ground and measure how much was in that (DH leaves it upright - drives me crazy but I don't always catch it and til it over before a storm). I'm using a double layer (uncut bags) of burlap covered with bark mulch, hay, whatever I can get my hands on, between rows near the house. Out in the 3000sf area with raised beds that we just fenced, I started putting wood chips but only got about 1 cy and the weeds are growing up through it even though I put it on about 3" thick at the end where the weeds were the worst. I didn't pull them, just tried to smother them - didn't work. We have something really tenacious that even started growing (weak and spindly-looking like bean sprouts) under the burlap on the beds, but practically have to dig *those* out, stems just break when you pull. I haven't been out there to check potatoes and onions, but the greens, strawberries, peas, blueberries near the house look fine, not flattened, no berries knocked off. Looks like a deer nipped off a couple of shoots of 1 of my raspberries though - spit 1 out but I didn't find the other. Guess I have to fence/net off those 2 rows while they're growing. I hope they won't bother them once they're tougher and spinier - though I don't know about the TC blackberries since those are thornless. I don't really want to have to fence off the whole area since we have grass/weeds growing between the mounded rows (24 ft long), just the width of the lawnmower. But if I have to I'll put burlap and mulch down there too, try to smother everything (after mowing first!). And make a gate at 1 end between the 2 rows (was going to add a 3rd eventually) so we can get in. I hope a 6-7ft wide x 25 long area sloping downhill (rows run across the slope) doesn't need to be fenced 7ft high to keep the deer out. That's why I haven't left my tomato plants out at night - take them into garage - the wildlife around here is so bold, the motion sensor light doesn't deter the bear getting into garbage right outside garage, and the deer and turkeys will come right up to the house at night, and into the backyard during the day. Found deer prints going over my potato bed (1ft high) and a couple of seed potatoes pulled out of the ground before we put the fence up. Of course, down there (1000ft from house) it's like a deer/turkey/bear/coyote superhighway, from all the tracks we find.

Hi, Happy. I edged the outside of my potager garden with boxwood. Being in zone 5b, on the MO/AR border, I used 'Green Mountain' purchased at our local WalMart. This is a hardy boxwood. This will be the 3rd winter for the first 20 planted, with no losses nor damage. I plant mostly herbs in the outside 4ft ring, bordered on one side by the boxwood (now about 18' high), and found no problem with nutrients or water competition from the boxwood. This gives the garden definition you are looking for. Dianthus edges the inside of the outside 4 ft ring, a lower 6' winter evergreen plant and nice look. Other edging plants are Lavender Munstead, Garlic Chives, Chives, and Strawberries. See my Blog for the entire garden design. www.sharingthyme.blogspot.com Here is a link that might be useful: www.sharingthyme.blogspot.com

Tannantok, you're describing my DH's place when I met him! He also had a beer can collection growing on his back patio. He owned virtually no dishes (eating out of the pan was the norm). When you walked in the door you were greeted by a picture of a big haired blonde wearing suspenders and not much more. Laminated to a piece of charred wood. Given to him by his mother. Current decorating would be blankets tacked up to the windows, but he'd also have 1000 watt lights all over the place. I tell him the sun would not provide enough light for him. Clothing would adorn all the lamp shades (if he used lamp shades at all...probably adorn the curtain rods. Bathtowels would be the floor mats. Steak knives would pin up things to the walls, and EVERY wall would have something pinned to it. He'd have a ginormous sofa with blankies and his dogs. No pillows, except for what was on the floor. And every cupboard would be doorless and the drawers self closing.

Details? like where we purchased? I don't remember, but could look up. I'm pretty sure we ordered it somewhere online. ( We built 3 years ago) It is a large recessed area that is over the table area. We spent years planning our house, and I have to say I Love the way the copper ceiling looks! Noisy.. no! Not at all! We have a travertine/wood floor. pic below, from when were were building.. you can see the copper trim against the wall! It is next to a large foyer which is all hardwood. Only noisy when I have 25 for dinner! Here is a pic of the rest of the room, with the table set for Easter.. but you can't see the ceiling.