That's ok Phil. I realized it was either a brain/finger mis-comunication or a misreading. Happens all the time. LOL I looked around some more and found some of your pictures, Phil. Lovely! Can't wait to have more time to look. Coral, I do have more time now and will have even more after May 2012! Woohoo! I'm also in the Charlotte area. When I get things going, you'll have to come over for coffee. And Ken, I have, gulp, sweet gum trees ... lots, and Lots and LOTS. The only redeeming thing about them is that they provide shade for shade loving plants. I did a bunch of research the year I worked on the one bed. I learned that I CAN build up and amend the soil without killing the trees IF I do it slowly. I did plant a dogwood in that bed that is doing well. The other things I planted in that bed are encore azaleas, a lace cap hydrangea (not doing too well due to neglect), astilbe, heuchera and caladiums which went by the wayside LONG ago. Where I come from in TX, caladiums are perennials. Not so here. So I dug the tubers up to replant in the spring. Then my dh, (bless his ever lovin' helpful heart) threw away my "box of dried up potatoes". Still, I'll keep him. He indulges me. And I let him. Thanks for all the encouragement and I can't wait to get started! Robin in NC

Paul, I was planning on planting the new hosta in a large Spinout bag or some sort of container, depending on what I find if/when I dig up the existing Big Daddy. I haven't decided what I'm going to do yet, just mulling over all the options. I've got another small hosta there, some ferns, and some Solomon's Seal, all of which seem to be faring fine- Big Daddy is the only thing not thriving so I don't think it's "the spot", per se. The spot is nestled at the base of three young oaks that I do plan on removing at some point. I thought if I could put the new hosta(s) in a container, I could then remove it while the trees get cut down to avoid damage to the hosta.

I can't grow Freesias outside in my climate but I have seen them growing happily out of stone walls in Italy. My reservation about this idea would be that they need entirely different conditions from most vegetables. As socalgal said, they don't want much water and I suspect they don't want rich soil. In your picture is it possible that the Freesias are actually planted in the gravel edge rather than in the beds themselves? Maybe you could grow them in pots and place them around the garden? Perhaps you could contact the guy who does the blog where you found the picture and ask how he does it?

http://products.geappliances.com/appliance/gea-specs/JVM7195DKBB Starting to renovate the kitchen. Any reason I can't prop this over-the-range unit on a couple of 1" tall blocks and run it on the counter for a month or two? Thanks