I would recommend a Fuji and a Cripps (Pink Lady) for fall apples. The Anna and Golden Dorsett are nice apples, but not nearly as delicious as the Fuji/Cripps combo. If you have space for all 4, you'll have spring and fall apples. If you like Gala, you'll LOVE Fuji. In my opinion, it is much better tasting, and much along the lines of Gala. Anna will produce without pollination, but will be cylindrical in shape, or as Suzi mentions, a little wonky from either no pollination (skinny long apples), to partial pollination (wonky). So, that is a nice feature of the Anna - it will produce without pollination (parthenocarpic). As far as stone fruits, you have lots of great choices. I would go to Dave Wilson Nursery's web site, and check out the options there. If you like cherries, try a Minnie Royal and a Royal Lee (both needed for cross pollination). Lots and lots of great nectarine, plum, peach and interspecific options, almost too many to list. Talk to your local high-end garden center regarding the choices they bring in each year for bare root season, and you can also see if they participate in the SOFT program, which allows an individual to place special orders for varieties that perhaps that garden center might not normally stock or carry. Patty S. Here is a link that might be useful: Dave Wilson Nursery

You might do well to chat up the people at places like Surfa's and Sur La Table. Anywhere that TKO people go to talk about their obsessions. Also, check places like Carlson's, Snyder Diamond, etc., that are smaller but carry the high end stuff. They might have one that someone refused delivery on or something, that they'll sell for less to unload it. BlueStar's dealer locater says: For a list of Southern California retailers, please call: BKE Supply Southern California Distributor 82860 Avenue 45 Indio, CA 92201 (800) 998-8966

Hello all, we are in the process of having a new home built. Here is the dilemma I'm focusing in on today. Our living room is going to be 19' long x 17'wide, with a vaulted ceiling that will be 14' high in the middle, then it comes down to meet 8' walls. I would like to light this room with recessed lighting. Here's where it gets a little confusing to me. I've spent hours reading on recessed lighting and I'm still not sure exactly what I should do. I know that the recessed lights are going to be the main ( and possibly only ) light source in that room, and I'd like to use LED lights. Should I use 5 or 6 in. lights ( I'm assuming 6 inch ) ? Should I have 8 or 10 lights total in the room ( or some other number) ? Should I use the "eyeball" aimable lights so that the lights can be aimed to project straight down, or would it be having those lights at the same angle as the ceiling, and naturally on opposing sides ? I had planned on putting 2 lights ( opposing each other ) on one switch, and using dimmer switches on all of them, will this be a little "overkill" ? I've talked to the builder about this, and he really hasn't been much help, he is an old fashioned guy, builds a heck of a nice house, but isn't terribly up to date with things like LED lighting. Any input from some of the pros on here would be greatly appreciated. Also, if it matters , the room will have a corner fireplace, and the one exterior 17' wall will have a lot of windows, including high mounted fixed glass. This is also the only "living room" in the house, there's no den, family room....etc. Thanks

There are a lot of great PROs on Houzz. How can you find one?... I decided to post this list to help other homeowners know more about who to take advise from & or hire. When I did some research on some profiles, I found some common denominators that helped point out the Real PROs from the Want-to-be PROs. List to find a great PRO on Houzz before taking their advise on comments or hiring: 1st _ Check their Houzz profile Are pictures of their own work posted? How many? Is there profile picture a person or logo? Logo fine for a company. Where do they work now posted? Where did they work previously posted? Where they are located now match current work location? Call the phone number on Houzz. Research their past comments Is their tone respectful & professional? Do they just share opinions with a solution? Do they comment too much or too little? Do they act like they know everything? Someone who acts like they know everything, is just acting. PROs stick to what they know & are stick within their specific trades. 2nd _ Do more research before hiring or taking advise business licenses in state they service look up professional license through the state service will render (Department of Professional and Occupational Regulations) Linked In Profiles Check their website with Houzz Check their address with Houzz Check their phone # with Houzz Check Organizations they belong to to check if valid member Check Other Social Medias sites & profiles Check reviews on Google, BBB, Facebook, Etc. Take advise & hire the REAL PROs. Thanks & Future Thanks for all the REAL PROs who specialize in their trade & share helpful, useful advise to homeowners & other PROs. Thanks to PROs that respect other PROs by saying thanks or likes. Homeowners don't forget to like a comment when a PRO took their time to help you. Homeowner if you finished a project, don't forget to share what worked to help others. Have fun on Houzz!