Sorry to have posted and then fallen off the map. Ended up with the flu and then a serious case of over running landscapers! But now the new driveway is in, so are the stack stone edged pathways and two stair cases on either side of the house leading back to the pool on one side and vegtable gardens on the other. Last step is new gothic privacy fencing which goes up this week in the back yard. For now I want to confine my work to the front yard and side yards up to the point of the back yard fences. I am in zone 6 I beleive ( Chattanooga TN) we are in the valley right off the side of the tail end of a large ridge that keeps us a bit warmer that than the surrounding areas. I have excellent soil in the front for the most part save for the area where there used to be huge tree that came down last year. The yard is 80% sunny but does have areas of dappled shade where I want to do Hostas and bleeding hearts? My budget for all the plantings this year is 5 thousand dollars. That also includes any materials I will need to edge the beds ( still looking for inspirtation for that!) Alas a cold snap has us indoors today but dreaming of getting out there and digging in some dirt! maddiemom6 p.s. please pardon the typos, using a new mini-laptop and this keyboard is so small!! I am a total fumbled fingers on it.

Callous tissue is the first step to roots, so by cutting that off, you set yourself back several weeks. It wasn't a good idea to add verm. and peat to the supersoil. Supersoil already contains some peat and by adding more along with verm. your mix may be retaining too much water and could rot the cutting. What's done is done. Just don't water again, until you have at least 2 open leaves. You can mist it if you like, but no more water! The lights you have are fine, but bottom heat from a propagation mat or heating pad really help with the rooting process. I am still a fan of 70%perlite or pumice and 30%peat. It works like a charm. Later after it has a nice rootball and leaves, then repot it in a mix of 60% Supersoil and 40% Pumice. Regarding spider mites, yes they can spread and they are difficult to get rid of when the plants are indoors. Air circulation helps and they hate being sprayed with water. Good Luck, Tony

omg....not touching this one with a ten foot pole....although it is tempting....

premier, the window isn't as small as it looks in the photo I posted. Not really an expert at taking digital photos. budge1, looks like someone found your example - and I like it. I am looking on the interet to find some material I like. Not that I need a sewing project now, but chances of finding the colors I want already made is probably very slim. I think a lot of little things wouldn't be good either - either just one teal or aqua clock or a valance. dekr8 - are those your curtains? Did you make them or do they come already made up? If you made them, did you use a pattern? I really like that idea. I can almost picture some brown and aqua valance hanging from those pegs - I like the use of pegs - different than most valances. The first material, (link posted below) edged in brown would look great on my window I think. DH and I love aqua too. We once went to look at a boat and when we walked up and saw the interior was aqua, we just looked at one another and knew we were going to buy it. This is the first time we have used it in our decorating. Well except maybe years ago when the southwest type colors were in. retro cotton fabric, scroll down for photo vintage hip chocolate and brown Thanks for everyone's help. I have never bought anything on ebay before, I might try on that first fabric and see how it goes - I have 5 hours to think about it or I could just order one yard - since it is 54 inches wide that is probably all I would need - or I could get two yards and do a couple of pillows for the family room sofa or a table runner for my dark table. Would too much coordination with the same material be too hokey?