Posted by bloomville z4 NY (My Page) on Thu, Oct 12, 06 at 16:57 Hi all, Over the past several years, I have built about 6 raised beds of various lengths in a field near my house. I have used newspaper and hay as pathways between the beds. I like the rustic look (and scent!) of the pathways, and they seem conducive to housing toads, snakes, and other desirable critters. However, there are 2 disadvantages to this method: (1) The paths have to be "rebuilt" with new hay annually, which is time-consuming and laborious (2) by mid-summer weeds are cropping up through the hay in many spots. I can live with all this, and may continue to, but I'd be interested in other, environmentally friendly (and low cost) options that are lasting and also aethetically pleasing. I'm eager to hear your ideas! Posted by veggievicki 7b (My Page) on Thu, Oct 12, 06 at 18:32 I get mulch from our county mulch yard. It's free, so you can pile it on as thickly as you've got a way to haul it home. I get the fresher stuff. Seems maybe the acidity helps keep weeds down. The down side is some ends up in the veggie beds so you have big chunks of stuff that gets in the way of the garden fork and small seeds. Posted by granite z6 NC (My Page) on Fri, Oct 13, 06 at 1:08 I've had my pathways in mowed grass (terrible, clippings blown in to the beds, etc), grass clippings, leaves, pine bark nuggets, wood chips, and hay. I vote for wood chips. I vote STRONGLY against pine bark nuggets as they float around when it rains, never make a good firm path, and don't get the job done. Grass clippings rot in quickly, so I use them more to mulch around the beans than in the walkways now. Posted by rosebush z7 NC (My Page) on Fri, Oct 13, 06 at 10:12 Bark mulch (shredded) works for me. Tried the straw/hay on paper one year and the sprouts came fast and furious. The mulch can be piled thicker on cardboard and works great. Posted by terri_portland 8 NW OR (My Page) on Fri, Oct 13, 06 at 16:06 Is is possible the seeds in the hay are sprouting? Straw is a better option, it's been stripped of seeds (for the most part) and still has that lovely farmy earthy smell. Posted by hunter_tx 7bTx (My Page) on Fri, Oct 13, 06 at 17:12 One thing you might consider is relaying the newspaper really thick. I used newspaper in a new raised bed about four years ago, and it's still working great. You could also consider using pea gravel or small river rock stones on top of the newspaper. Mrs H Posted by bloomville z4 NY (My Page) on Fri, Oct 13, 06 at 20:57 Hi all-- thanks for these thoughts/ideas. alas, the price of straw was crazy last year--around here, I was quoted a price of $6 a bale--couldn't afford it given how many I needed. as for thickness of the newspapers--maybe that's the issue. I guess I need to keep experimenting, and you all have given me some new ideas to experiment with! Posted by laceyvail ...

Well, we're FINALLY getting fall here in Northern CA. This is my neighbor's pistachio tree that has just begun to turn yellow the last couple days. Usually it starts turning by early October, and is nearly defoliated by this time. It's been a weird fall... And this is one of my Japanese maples. I don't ever remember it getting THIS red before! It's so cool!

That's awesome euqruob! What do you do with them? Are they fruit like or veggie like? I'd love to see/hear more! It's cool for sure! Here's a rescue adenium that I picked up for just a couple of bucks early this year. It was terribly abused and had gotten stuck in the holes of its cheap plastic pot. No leaves, no blooms, and virtually no soil. Now it's got a ton of leaves (and a nice pot after I cut away the old plastic one) and blooms. I really like the peppermint look of the fancy double flowers! Here's some Merremia dissecta ("Alamo vine" or "mile a minute vine") that I got as seeds from old Mr. Baker at Baker Nursery years ago. This spring I planted three seeds at the base of this 6 foot tall iron obelisk/armillary and they have quickly consumed it. Talk about house-eaters! The vines are covered early summer through very late autumn with nice morning-glory-like blooms that stay open well into the afternoon. Full, hot sun (yes even here) and fairly regular irrigation keep these vines looking great, and blooming. Take care and happy gardening! Keep the fun updates coming! Grant Here is a link that might be useful: Pics, so far, from my garden, October 2012

I have three Cosmic Couriers that are about to bloom if we get a couple of warmer days. One of the three has one bloom half opened. That's about it. Most of mine were planted this season, so they aren't blooming. Next year ought to be fun! The others I have are Primal Scream, Marietta Magic, Bahama Butterscotch, Carefree Peach, Bertie Ferris, Imperial Elegance, Flying Tigers, and Ocean Drive Sunset. None are now blooming though. Marietta Magic Bahama Butterscotch First bloom Primal Scream, can't wait for next year Primal Scream is situated in front of a May Night Salvia, and next to a Sunny Border Blue Veronica, so the combination of the oranges, purples, and blues should be nice. Darn, too bad winters coming!