wait until a good hard frost or three. i have already covered mine with mulch, but i have 50 yards of rose hedge, so a few mice here or there means nothing. there is no problem with waiting, but keep your eyes open on theweathernetwork.com and let that be your judge. Just MAKE SURE that you have a good supply of UNFROZEN compost to protect the bushes. I used oak leaves many years ago, and they are bad news. for oak leaves just put on a few inches - if you pile them, like what you're saying, the snow will pack them down, in the spring they get wet and full of molds and fungus, which makes a MESS of the roses. I would say NO! don't use leaves, but if you have to, use only a few inches.

There are some cool growing Hoyas like Hoya carnosa, fungii, sherherdii and pubicalax among others that can take cool to cold weather and could be grown in the ground. The warm growing species from the low elevations in the tropics just can't take the cold but Hoyas from high elevations are accustomed to cold night temperatures and cooler days. I don't know the low temperatures in your area but as long as there is no frost you should be OK with the cool growing species. You can always try planting close to south facing wall etc. to take advantage of the warmer micro climate the wall provides. Mike

This is one of those times where there isn't a right or wrong answer, but you might consider these things.... 1. Convenience. Is it a simple thing to remove and store the screens? The least expensive fix, but also the most work. 2. Replace them with half screens, as eteinne mentioned, but that's an expensive fix. Half screens allow the natural light in on the upper half of the double-hung windows and you still have the protection of the screens on the bottom. Our home had half screens on it when it was built and the second year we lived here we had them replaced with full screens. The setting sun (most of our windows are on the west side of our home) is brutal in the summer and we needed the extra protection provided by full screens, but also made them UV filtering screens, which are very dark. 3. This is my personal favorite... Leave the screens, which is an economical and convenient fix - as well as providing an additional layer of protection - and add full spectrum lights/lamps to the rooms you think you'd like more natural light. Full spectrum lights are used to treat seasonal affective disorder (SAD) through the use of "light boxes" that mimic natural sunlight, especially beneficial for those living up north. -Grainlady Here is a link that might be useful: Verilux Full Sprectum Light

I think that it's the heat that wrecks the elastic - some people store their rubber bands in the fridge. It sure was nice to have warm weather for so long - I hung a wash out to dry a few days ago. Now ... if I can just arrange to stretch out the need for another wash ... ... till about March! One can lay the underwear out in sequence, which was worn first. Then ... lay an unused white church envelope (for shame!) on them after that set's been worn twice ... ... and a brown envelope from the other church on them after the third wearing ... ... and a white paper with a "1" on it, after the fourth wearing ... and a brown envelope with a "1" on it after the fifth .... When you're going to be at home all day, without visitors ... who needs a change? Especially when they've had almost a week to air out, in the meantime: and who sweats much, in winter (especially if one keeps one's house abut 65 degrrees)? Haven't you heard - washing's hard on clothes? Fly in the ointment: the church that had brown (recycled) envelopes last year ... is using white ones, this year! Will have to check whether I have some extra brownies on hand ... as they do tend to get lost. My friend just gave me it must be at least 50 pairs of socks - that they were throwing out at the church-operated clothing store, cause they couldn't give them away ... ... so I figure that I'll be O.K. for socks till spring (maybe re-wearing just once, if spring's late). Now that the gardening's over ... and it's snowy and too cold out to do much in the barn ... I'll just have to get busy and sew some of those (garter-belts) for the (lower-level) underwear! The original one's getting rather old and tired, even taking into account the upgrading (i.e. shortening), last fall. Hope you all have a lovely New Year ... ... that brings the fulfillment of some of your dreams ... ... and the envisioning of some worthwhile new ones. ole joyfuelled