wouldnt you want to do it.. BEFORE new growth begins.. so that your guiding cuts will start the filling in process ... yews are conifers.. there is a such a forum ... and a lot of those peeps do NOT hang here.. i figure cover all your bases in the quest for knowledge ... conifers have different pruning rules that flowering shrubs.. so part of your problem is your choice of words ... 'shrub' is a common term.. and the rules vary widely until you define the specific plant ... with your need for a pristine look ... i just dont know what to tell you without a picture .... worse you can do is mangle them so bad.. that removal comes to the forefront.. and i am thinking .. you might want to take that leap ... but that is for the future ... i would definitely start on the least conspicuous one ... do not forget.. you could take one on either side.. perhaps the ones closest to the porch/walkway .. to free up some space.. i dont know.. because i cant see it ... many conifers do NOT have dormant buds.. and if you cut to bare branches .. that branch will die.. i dont have yews.. in my 500 conifer collection.. so hopefully others will chime in in that regard ... if so.. you would need to prune back but leave green to grow ... and by doing that.. and this springs growth.. one would hope you avoid the ugly gaping holes and brown sticks ... pix please ken

I can sympathize with your predicament since I've had severe allergies since I was a kid, although not asthma. I would take some of the article above with a grain of salt, since for instance some maple trees have both male and female flowers, so would have seeds and pollen, or he treats all mold as one, but your allergies won't. I can't deal with mildew or penicillin, but have no issues with using organic mulches such as woodchips. You have to figure out what you react to and avoid it. In my case, DH waits to mow the lawn until I will be out of the house for several hours and he makes sure that all windows and doors are closed since grass is a major trigger for me. I have adjusted my life to avoid triggers and learned to jump in the shower and change clothes if I get into something by accident that makes me sneeze and itch. I would recommend allergy shots since my list of triggers is much shorter after a bunch of years of them and my quality of life much nicer. My view is that allergy-free gardening is an oxymoron, especially given that wind will blow microscopic allergens quite far, but that I can make choices that will reduce the impact of my allergies on my life. I would tend to doubt that Nicotiana is the culprit for you. Most of the flowers that shed lots of pollen are wind pollenated, not insect or bird pollenated and have unobtusive flowers. In the spring much of the pollen is from trees (in my area oak, maple, and pine) in the summer, it's grasses, and now it's various herbaceous perennials. A flower like Nicotiana with its showy blossoms is insect and bird pollenated, while the wind pollenated blossoms tend to be small and greenish since they don't need to attract attention. Thus, many folks think that they are allergic to goldenrod (with showy blooms) while they are in fact allergic to ragweed which blooms while the goldenrod is blooming but with virtually invisible tiny green flowers, but lots of pollen. The other frequent allergen blooming right now is plantain, also having tiny green flowers. I have learned to wear gloves (and I wear long pants all summer since skin contact with grass, among other plants, gives me an allergic reaction) to pull these plants in my yard early in the season before they start blooming. I wouldn't be surprised if you look around the Nicotiana bed and find either ragweed or plantain nearby in bloom. Out of the growing season I rarely work in the garden on windy days since I've found that fungal spores like mildew are flying around more. My best recommendation is to keep track of what seems to bother you and at what time of year and then do your best to avoid those things. Shower and change clothes if you find yourself sneezing or itching (to remove allergens) and don't handle the clothes after your shower - put them right into the washer. Have allergy testing done if it gets too bad, and/or talk to your doctor about medication if you feel the need. I've managed to accomodate, but if it gets too bad, find a different pasttime that will be healthier for you.

Hi there- I am happy that those of you who have received your return envelopes have found some treasures enclosed! We who selected seeds for the traders in this swap- either before the envelopes were mailed in- or here in MN, did our best to ensure that! This swap was a group effort! Every one of us did a great job! We still have 11 participants who have not reported receiving their packages- remember- I do have confirmation slips if we run into trouble- you know how to contact me for that information if needed. 2 of those 11 (Tammy MN and Sandys Garden) are MN folks who I will be getting together with to go though my seeds boxes to fill up their seed packets sent in and then some! That is a great way for us to "garden" in MN this time of year! Not to mention- looking through and sharing each others seed boxes is just plain fun and highly recommended! Barb- tell you daughter to visit the MN Gardening Forum!!! There are so many great folks (and gardens) in MPLS and the surrounding areas. I think we have a great garden community there. Oh Lisa- I hear you loud and clear about the hubby factor! Mine is constantly exasporated- and yet, still continuously supportive- and extremly handy with building cold frames from recycled building supplies- lighted shelves in the basment- and a great addition of 2 plastic coated steel wire shelves the length of the garage, which a clear plastic "curtain" can be rolled down to protect seedlings from the elements! I secretly think he is pleased that it costs so little to keep me so fully entertained! Till later then- Holiday activities beckon...... Julie

I made the North African stew for supper tonight and Elery and I both liked it very much. It was very filling, with all those beans and lentils and surprisingly, not very spicy, in spite of the homemade baharat I made to season it with. I didn't have barley that the recipe calls for, so I used a mixture of quinoa, millet and flax and a handful of brown rice. It makes a LOT, though, I'd make half a batch next time, I have a large container in the refrigerator. Elery will make omelettes stuffed with it, I'm sure, and I don't mind leftovers. I'd definitely make it again. Elery was lamenting that his kimchi is just started today, he thought they would go well together. Ahem. I understand that kimchi is very healthy and full of probiotics and all that, but I just can't eat it, it's too spicy. Annie