gardenerwantabe - I agree with your point. We built it on the driveway so we would have a flat surface near tools and power. The debate is now on as to the permanent location to which we will move it, which have been thrown into flux due to gato's wind issues. She wants it over in the corner where it will get direct (and sometimes very hot) sun - I am proposing a location between some trees where it will have some shelter from the wind, and a bit less direct sun. I won't install either the corner bracing, or any other enhancements such as angle aluminum across the doorway or 1/2 EMT across the mid-sections until we have the GH sitting on footings at a permanent location. Then I will add all of that to stiffen and secure the unit. 2 questions: We are in Mount Shasta, CA which is snow country (3500' elevation) and the snow can tend to be fairly wet and heavy. We had as much as 3' accumulation in some areas of the property over the past winter during some storms. Obviously I should remove snow from the roof if it accumulates like that, but I'm thinking about establishing some structural support along the roofline - either directly beneath the ridge, or adjacent to the #30 braces that are installed in the roof. Those supports would be probably be 2x4 or 2x6 lumber, supported by wood posts down to the ground. Does this seem a good idea, or unnecessary? In an earlier post, I raised the idea of setting the GH on top of 2x12 PT fir, so that it would sit on a footing like this: I see that you set your's on 4x4 PT. My thought is to raise the GH in this manner so that when snow is on the ground, at least the first foot of snow accumulation would be against the wood foundation. I realize this means a step up and over the threshold. Any thoughts on this? Does anyone believe that this amount of wood foundation, or possibly more, would help in terms of withstanding snow accumulation? Would the additional height raise any other issues concerning the effectiveness of the GH? Thanks, Greg

Very interesting spring in IOWA! We are about 45 miles south east of Des Moines. When the storm hit on Saturday night we were in Knoxville Iowa eating, and later found out how bad things were outside! Sorry to hear about your damage junco1120! When looking at the hostas yesterday at most of the hostas unfurled, noticed that we must of had hail as there are many holes in the hostas. The hostas will recover. But what a spring going from 80* early, then freezes in between, heavy winds, now hail. See there are lots of Iowa folks on this forum. Come join us at the Russ O'Harra Hosta Society. Check out our page via the Hosta Library Link. Even if you arent a member you are able to join us for the summer tour in the Ames/Jewel area June 24. If you are on Facebook, we also have a page there. Need more info. Send me a messeage. Here is a link that might be useful: Russ O'Harra Hosta Society

Jleroi - you GO! Heck, I'm just excited I've got some blooms...so I won't be far behind you guys that live over there in that area of the Almeda Royalty! LOL! If I still lived in a suburban area as I did for almost 50 years, I too would be working the square foot planting method. I have friends in Tuttle that still use this method, although they live on 1 and 1/2 acre. I can see DEFINITE benefits, but I'm in a different spot in life. I delight in my nightly strolls between the garden areas! I didn't live rural until 4 years ago, and I absolutely LOVE having the space. They'll have to drag my old, feeble, crazy mind in my body back to the city some day...but I won't care because I won't know! Until then, I'm lovin' my space. But if life had dealt me different cards, I'd still garden..in whatever space I had. It's good for the soul..and the body.

Mike - I finally tried the minneola (posted about it in another thread) and here is what I wrote in the other thread - And it's funny you guys mentioning the minneola - well I had posted in another thread that I had been to an international store this past week and found some for sale (and bought 2). I finally tried one the day before yesterday and like a baby, I needed a big bib! LOL OMG, after I peeled it (it has the thicker rind that I guess comes from its pomelo heritage), I pulled off a slice, took a bite, and must have had a half a glass of juice all down the front of me. LOL It had no seeds and also had an interesting "floral" after-taste to it. But no doubt about it, it was juice juice juice. Bite squirt slurp bite squirt slurp. Thank goodness for paper towels (napkins wouldn't have been enough). LOL Nancy - those trees look great! Mine were supposed to ship Monday (the label was created Sunday and I got an email from FW that the trees would ship Monday) but they ended up shipping Tuesday. However since I did the 2-day priority mail option, they are due for delivery today (status is "Out for Deliver" and haven't come yet so they are rolling around in one of those little postal trucks...lol). I do live like 2 blocks from the post office but because of that, sometimes we get our mail last. Denise - wish your daughter good luck for the coming semester! Move-in time is always hectic but I think she will be excited once she gets settled in and you will be relived when it's over... but you know you will miss your baby! :-D You can put some good music on in the car and just roll with the flow! The time for the drive will go by faster.