I few more details on the plans that I posted above: The raised beds along the fence would be completely separate from the fence, I'm not talking about heaping dirt against the fence or anything like that lol! Just building raised beds 2' wide and placing them against the fence so I can grow vertically as much as possible. I have a 50' roll of black vinyl coated chain link fencing (part of it is used to enclose the current garden) and I plan to repurpose it by hanging it along the back fence so I can trellis peas, beans, tomatoes, melons, whatever. I have been reading that growing vertically is one way to get more out of a small space. Since I have two medium sized dogs and I have learned the hard way that regular garden fencing or poultry wire isn't really sturdy enough, I was planning to buy some hog panels, have them cut in half, and have those go along the front of the beds to keep everything out. Hog panels are 34" tall and the bars are close together at the bottom and gradually get further apart as they go up. Each half would weigh about 17 pounds, so I can lift a section off as needed to tend the garden, then put it back up when I'm done. The design I came up with has a 4' tall 4'x4' fence post between each bed, about 2' feet out from the existing fence posts. The end pieces of each raised bed will be screwed into it, and once the 1' tall beds are filled with dirt, it should be plenty sturdy enough to support these panels. I also intend to have a piece of 2"x4" going between each of these posts and the actual fence posts to lend greater stability to both, and that will be the only thing that connects the raised beds to the fence. I thought it would be best to keep them totally separate to allow the fence to be worked on or even replaced later if needed, without having to remove the beds. The center beds would need a different setup for keeping out the dogs and rabbits. I had in mind some kind of enclosure that goes around the perimeter, with a gate at the opening. Most likely I would use the same hog panel idea so I could access the beds from the outside or the inside, or I could opt to leave part of it in place and use it for a trellis. I have thought about even enclosing the whole thing with heavy plastic to create a greenhouse for winter, and I could also use it to suspend shade cloth since the sun is a bit too much here in Oklahoma in the summer and it actually gets hot enough that the tomatoes stop setting fruit. The only thing I don't like about this idea is that it is right in the middle of the yard (actually, two of them, one on each side) though the dogs would have a blast running around them. Aesthetically, I think the perimeter beds along the fence would be more attractive and open, even with the smaller island beds added. I would probably put just low covers on those and use those beds for low growing crops since I would have plenty of space to trellis the taller crops along the fence. Thank you for considering my ideas and if you have any feedback or suggestions for me, please let me know! Here is a link that might be useful:

First, I wanted to say thank you to the hostess for the incredible job you've been doing. I'm sure that we all appreciate the time and effort it takes to organize something like this (as well as the frustration). I'm very glad I've been able to participate, this is my second year, and I'm sure it is making me better! I've worked with new block patterns, new fabrics, new colours, etc . . . a very valuable project. Last year I received all my blocks. One had been lost in the mail but was quickly replaced. This year (my birthday is July) I am still missing about 6 blocks, and have heard from 2 of those people - one is running late and the other is on route but has been in the postal system for almost a month! I have no problem if blocks come a little late, everyone has busy months. Many members on this forum are incredible and truly care that everyone gets their birthday surprise, offering to make replacements and even sending more than 1 when they think that someone else might be backing out. I think we should report the people we never get blocks from though. Maybe start some sort of a list. If your name comes up on the list for a second time (because everyone deserves a second chance), you are perhaps not permitted to participate the next year. Or everyone on that list could be in their own group? I don't know? Without being too critical of those who receive their blocks and then don't send any out, it is very frustrating for the rest of us who work hard to finish all 12 during the year :)

Ten bucks for all three! If you love MCM finds, you would be racing over to buy this set, at this price. If you hate MCM stuff, you are cringing and wouldn't give a Nickle for it, I know. These are listing this as a *Marble Footstool*. Gee, I've always hated having a comfortable, padded, upholstered footstool for my feet. LOL. I wonder if I could repurpose it into a plantstand???? Anyway, it is only $10! And looks like real marble. ----------- Only $35 and they say no stains or rips! This is listed as a *Church Pew Style Bench. They think they can get $50 for it. They have two of them for sale and only picture one. Is the other one in even worse condition??? The ad says "These benches are perfect for churches." I wouldn't even use this smashed bench for out in the yard. Here is a link that might be useful: Broken Crappy Bench

Thank you ttodd, graywings and cyn427 on your opinions which I appreciate and I am glad you both also like #3 which was my first choice. cyn427, I can try another shade for the white mat since Art.com lets me play around with the picture but the Off-white linen mat that I chose for the framed picture for my home office looks yellow there at night when the lamp shades are very white unless this would not matter. I am new at choosing frames and mats. Sorry so long: OK, this is my dilemma, After playing with the design tool online at Art.com and placing the three sets of prints in my cart and saving them to my desktop, I stopped at a local framing store on the recommendation of my hand therapist to see what he had to offer since she said he had very good prices. He was very nice and patient with me but I had to convince him to pull down the bronze frame since he kept saying it did not go until he tried it and said it looked great and agreed with me that it was a good choice. Unlike the three Michael's stores, he also liked my white matting and he found a matching inner bronze foil mat that really looks great with the frame. His bronze frame has the same inner beaded lip but the frame curves inward and not outward and is 1/2" less wide with a slightly different style of frame with the frame curving inward and not rounded on top like the #3 frame I have posted. But what I like so much is that he has the inner bronze foil frame that is an EXACT match so I don't have to guess if in person the autumn brown will be too orange (that I like on the screen but I can't see it is in person). BUT the problem is that the local framer's price is $350 more than Art.com if I choose the museum quality acrylic for both. Since Art.com will not ship anything with glass on it over a certain size, his price is only $150 more for the museum quality glass but Art.com will have the lighter weight more expense Museum quality acrylic so even if he goes down by $150, I will be getting the heavier glass and not the lighter acrylic which I am not sure if it makes a big difference if both have that great clarity with the UV protection and just about no glare coating. Due to the wall of windows and the two side lamps with no overhead lighting, there is a lot of glare in the room and pictures with regular glass or acrylic are very glaring and you can see yourself in them. The autumn brown inner skinny mat I chose in the picture that I posted appears to compliment the frame nicely but I am unable to see it in person and samples are not available to be sent to me. I tried the other few browns they have for the inner mat but they don't seem to work as well with the frame on the Art.com site. I waited so long to finally place a picture in the family room so I want to enjoy it. I could go back to the local shop to see if he would lower his price but I know he has a lot of overhead since this is Northern NJ where I live. I really love the frame I posted from Art.com and the way I see it with the matting choices but I can't see it in person until it arrives shipped but I would have 30 days to return it for a full refund (net of shipping) or make any changes. The framed picture I just recently bought from Art.com for my home office looks so nice and they did what I wanted when the three Michael stores had other ideas I did not like as much. Do you think not having the perfect matching bronze foil inner mat to go with the bronze frame will still look nice if I chose the autumn brown mat that compliments the picture but is not a perfect match? Remember the local store's frame is very similar but is 2" while Art.com's frame is 2.5". I wish Art.com would have a bronze foil inner mat. Thank you for listening if you have time to read this long email.