Bulb planters all agree, the more the merrier---so don't worry about planting a particular number in any particular spot of ground---put lots in....one ever width of the bulb you have and don't be counting them. Mass planting of bulbs is always the norm. And don't plant different colors in one area---plant one color enmasse--then do another color... this makes for a much better sight. Putting different colors together takes the eye off the planting --ruins the whole effect. You know better about how much sun each area under the plantings gets....but bulbs appreciate full sun....the more the better. Putting any plant under another and depending on the shrub to leave sufficient moisture in the ground for the bulbs...which are very shallow planted, is one way to deny them sufficient water. But, its your wish to see the color under there...so if anything happens--- 'Course all this is for consideration ...NEXT FALL

Tiffy! Not the whole pile, dear. Just a gallon. Good grief! The whole pile! That wouldn't be right. (Would it?) And I don't mean to cast dispersions, but Tiffy brought up another truly excellent point (the first being her suggestion that you have your "compost" tested by a professional---specifically moi); when you said, "here I am hanging like an addict, waiting for the sun to rise tomorrow so that I can go get a current pile temperature fix!!!" I thought to myself, "That doesn't sound like any of the addictions I have. If I had a beer out in the car and none in the house, I don't think I'd be sitting here right now waiting for the sun to rise over the yardarm. Of course that's just me, an Eastern Chapter Board Certified Wacko. No, I'm just teasing you. Compost isn't like beer. And yours may not even be especially good compost for all we know. One gallon. Genuine Certificate with organic glitter guaranteed if compost passes inspection. No bread in that pile, right?

Linda has given very good counsel. I would add that the quality & appropriateness of the auctioneer is critical to a true market sale. Don't choose a farm auctioneer to sell early American antiques! His "cult following" auction goers will NOT pay fair value. So, Linda' correct again when she advised to start learning what you have. Your profile doesn't say what part of the country you live in. That will also make a huge difference in price. My husband and I are decades long collectors of early American antiques (late 1600's to 1850). We live in New England. If you are located in the northeast, let me know & I can give you a couple places to visit where you can learn as much as the effort you're willing to put into it. Also, do your parents already have an insurance appraisal for a rider on their HO's? That would give you at least a basis of knowing what things generally are. Also, for Heaven's sake...talk to your parents now while you can. They are a good source of initial information. However, a word of caution...family "stories" about antique pieces are generally incorrect so don't rely on those. There's normally a piece of something accurate but not the whole picture. Things get confused down through generations. Ask your parents if they have receipts for purchases. The receipts should describe the item which will be a big help if you don't know what everything is. I have the receipt for EVERY antiqu we've ever purchased...including ones we've sold over the years. I keep those for reference purposes. You can also go to the library. There are many very useful books available. They will NOT give you value but you'll learn relativity to other similar items, styles, eras, prominant names/manufacturers, provenance of distinct styles, information on reproductions, etc. I would also advise to take your time on liquidation. If the collection is large & varied, you will probably do better liquidating through several different channels that specialize in the type items you have to sell. For example, do not try to sell Brilliant Cut Glass in New England. It's everywhere here & the price is always depressed compared to, say, the Denver market where it always seem to do well. Denver's a big Victorian market due to the Molly Brown thing. Have fun & enjoy the process. But, be careful! You just might find yourself getting "hooked". If you do, there's no going back!

Misty, There are a lot of variables when calculating how much water for a plant. If you water deeply and less often the roots tend to be deeper down in the soil and do not dry out as much. You can train plants to do this by watering less often but more deeply. If you have roses drooping, keep letting them droop for a bit longer before you water and their roots will adjust. Travelling around the grape growing areas of South Australia and parts of NSW one can see healthy roses blooming at the ends of the rows. They are only watered when it rains or when they have to irrigate. They enjoy the same conditions as the grapes which can be pretty dry at times and yet they thrive. If we molly-coddle our plants too much they get all soft and spoiled (just like humans).