Hi Tim - Somewhat close to what I've done - except the top of yours is the bottom of mine. I then used 2" PVC pipe and thread adapters on one of the bung holes on the top - and they are all in series this way. You'll be surprised just how fast this water goes! I have eight of them (nine now) and one inch of rain filled them up. It received all the rain from our 24 x 24 foot garage roof and then one of four downspouts from our house (which is about 26 x 48). We haven't had a very good rain in almost three weeks here now (storms seems to always be to the north, just to the south, or popup to the east). I completely ran out of water in eight 55 gallon drums in about 2.5 weeks. You can't really see the PVC pipe that connects the barrels here - but you can see all the barrels are up on a platform just under the gutters of the garage: I have room to add three more barrels - which I'll do when I can get my hands on three more. Here is a picture I took when I only had four barrels - it shows the 2" PVC pipe connecting each barrel and a PVC union between each of them so I can disconnect them in the winter. Here is a link that might be useful: BsnTech Gardening Blog

Yeah! You shoulda' seen me, trying to work on the irrigation ditch with the Ruger strapped to my back after I saw the tracks!;~) I'm goin' to have to get a book and a mirror. Just to check if I have a "gazorp"! Sounds like something Mel Brooks would say!:~) I never got over 'High Anxiety'! I don't hunt at all and never saw the point. If I was hurting for food...well, yeah! I grew up fishing on the Russian River, and spent a lot of time around Clear Lake, Mendocino and all up and down the coast, but wasn't a hunter. We used to inner tube up and down the river. Those were the days!:~) I guess that the old hippy nudist camp just north of town, is now an upscale resort! If those waters could talk... Well, they'd likely ask for some pot!;~) Can you tell, Ginge, that I'm from Sonoma County!;~) Moved to Cloverdale, when I was two! My brother was born in Ukiah. He still lives in Petaluma and is a cop over in Napa. You couldn't pay me enough to live there now. Everything is gone!!:~( They alway said that the builders would turn it just like San Jose... They were right! The last time I lived there, was out of Sebastopol. A few miles out of town, heading toward Bodega Bay. Great place to grow up in during the '70's. Really nasty little place now. (Cloverdale, I mean!) Actually has been for twenty years. Yeah! I spent three years down in S.Cal, before moving to Sebastopol Then, after my parents moved back overseas in '93, I opted to move back down to Palm Springs again. I have very mixed feeling about the place. Many, many horrible aspects, but could be a lot of serious fun. I really missed trees and real water. The golf courses just didn't cut it. My biggest issue for the longest time, up here, were all of the raccons! Disney lied his butt off! They're not cute little critters. They're nasty, viscous and will really hurt you. It took me forever to erradicate them from my area. They had, eventually, ripped the roof off the chicken house and wipped everthing out. My Boxers won't even look at chickens anymore. They had develped an unfortunate taste for fresh chicken when they were younger. These new LGD girls have a very unhealthy interest in them, but they know that I won't have it! The foxes are mostly tolerated, as long as they don't become too much of a problem. They do a lot of good otherwise, so... As long as they don't push it, I sorta' like them. The weird thing is... They hang around talking to my cats! I'm serious! I've seen the cats and them, just laying around like they're having a good chat! I've went out and they just look at me. It's like I'm interrupting something! I swear, everything is so worthless around here!;~) Loose dogs are not tolerated! Period!! They are shot on sight! We don't believe in shoot, shovel and shutup! They will be shot and hung on the gate! That's if we can't find the owners. Although I generally put up with one of my neghbors old hunting dogs. Not thrilled. but I do try to get along. (Believe it or not!) Our mule, and the donkey as well, absolutely HATE dogs and will chase them down. Good entertainment! Our dogs have learned to keep a lot of distance!:~) X-rated words are the way I generally talk to... Well, everything! I'm so bad...I sound like an Aussie!;~) From the many that I've known, that's saying something! BTW... I picked up more .223 ammo today! Although I hate them, Wally world is good for somethings. The guy selling them to me, said that he's shot three cougars over the last coupla' years. They're really getting to be a dangerous problem. I really love most of the wildlife, but the predators need to keep some distance. I have a small herd of deer that I generally leave alone. They don't eat much and seem to tolerate me being close to them. It's sorta' cool, plus, they give me a heads up as to what's going on. I know that when they're around, it's pretty safe. I'm still armed, though!;~) Jeeze!! Is this reply long enough? Scott

Phil, they are strong plants, and they will recover. I know how you feel. What an abnormal weather pattern you had to contend with. Not something you can prevent. The year it was below freezing for 2 weeks here, I saw my fairly hardy elephant ears melt into a pile of elephant dung. I thought for sure they were goners. Yet late in the spring, beneath that pile of glop which apparently protected the tubers, there emerged very strong new shoots. It always struck me as the Phoenix emerging from its own ashes. So think of that, the Phoenix rising and reborn. A good Easter story to remember. Blessings to you.

Is it okay if I show you a couple more things? This is Cramoisi Superieur, a frilly red and very nicely scented China. I took the picture by sticking my camera through the chain link fence. I've got the best neighbors! They let me plant things over there when I run out of room in my yard. Look at all the buds! It never stops blooming ... Columbines are wild this year. This is another cross of the yellow 'Hinkleys columbine' and the dark purple 'Little Winkie columbine' ... I didn't even know I had these until I spied something pink deep within the rainforest of 5 ft. tall Larkspurs. They are Byzantine Gladiolas and my friend, Linda M., said she probably passed them along to me. Brave little fellas to show up amongst the giants ... Here is a link that might be useful: More about Byzantine Glads ....