Hi Tiffy, What beautiful Lupines!! I found some old seed last year (1999), summer sowed them, and planted them out in my front garden bed. The wild cats destroyed them all over the winter (used it as their bathroom), so I hawe re-sowed them, as well as some from a neighbour's garden, so I hope they will survive. They are supposed to bloom in their first year but I did not have a space for them early enough. I have only had them bloom once, long ago - they were red and lovely. Then I had to go back to work and that was the end of gardening until now. So your mystery plants were Dame's Rocket. I still have a few of my white one's left and I just went out to smell them. I never knew they were fragrant. I sniffed a purple one and it had a different scent. Imagine not knowing this and they've been there for 25 years!! The things in my yard are not Dame's Rocket. They are not setting buds, and the ones left in the container are turning red, so I guess they're dying. No flowers must mean a horrible tap root or runners. Better get them out soon. It has turned very cool (13 degrees today) and rainy - it's still raining now so I haven't done anything but direct sowed some Lavatera. I will have to brave the rain and complete my planting out by the weekend. Lovely pics. Northerner.

Ken, no fluffing for me. I scuffed up the turf about an inch, just enough to break up the dead turf. Soil was dry as a bone and crumbly all on it's own with no mechanical intervention, unless you are counting the actual digging. The only place we get run-off here is on the driveway, 500' of packed road rock. I still appreciate the tips, for those times when I do run across such situations. Will, it is deceiving...We have a few trees, but really very little considering we are on five acres and two of the trees are not plantable under, being in the dog yard (and one being an apple tree.) We are actually very exposed here. It makes for most excellent views but does not leave a lot of room for mystery. I am making it two of my goals to 1) create some spaces that will stop the eye but not block our best views and 2) find ways to create some mystery here in the wide open. Here is another reason to be grateful for your location, none of this: two winters ago it was drifted this deep over our entire driveway for two days following a huge blizzard! This was the path I had to shovel to the barn:

Sorry to hear about the kentia, it was a beautiful palm and I'm glad your replacing it! I have also had good experience with Spathyphyllum lily cold tolerance. I once left mine outside in shade to 28F and snow and it only had some damage. I can see them surviving temperatures down to 25F if in shade and mature (with damage of course unless it's in a protected spot like yours probably was). Great panoramic pics! What did you take the pics with? They look great! -Alex

We are about to purchase natural stones for our two bathrooms. Please let me know if you are happy with your travertine, marble or limestone in your bathrooms after a few years? Are you able to maintain the original color? Are you able to keep it very clean? do you have photos to share? We are ready to demo this weekend, but can't really make up our minds about it. Thanks much!