Thanks excessfroufrou, I sold a couple of dozen totems a few years ago when we thot we'd move. Was thinking of having a sale this year but it may be too late in the season. Maybe next year. I only buy glass when it's really cheap. That squirrel was $2.50 and I never pay more than $3 for a piece of glass for a totem. Many pieces I use cost 25¢ - 50¢, sometimes less.

I would consider San Angelo Zone 7 for almost all planting you do but like stated earlier plantings on the southern side(micro-climate) of heat radiating objects may give you the chance to do some zone 8 plants. As to plant labels stick with full sun plants only for your afternoon sun and part to full sun for your morning side plantings. Most plants are planted in spring which is still when most people plant regardless if it is the best time to plant a given plant or not.(Hence nurserys (mine included) supply the broadest and most diverse selection and sizes at that time. Many plants can be planted in the summer but most people don't want to deal with the constant attention to water that these plants will need if planted during that time period. Many Evergreen plants that are zone appropriate can be plant year round yet I see very few customers in the November-Feb time period and again a nursery can't afford to stock and maintain a brimming full nursery selection when only a handful of customers are coming in and even considering planting. Fall is a great time for most but not all plantings. It starts as the first cool fronts start coming in and night time becomes cool enough to enjoy being outside and you start opening windows to enjoy some fresh cool air at night. Maybe as early as mid-Sept but more often Oct. is the month to get serious about fall planting of many things. The challenge will be what is available for you to plant because many nurseries have pared down inventory because not enough gardeners take advantage of this PRIME time of year and many that do want the plants at sale price (read at cost or below). Having been in the nursery business for 22 years (12 in Texas) this is an observation not to dis my fellow gardeners. I like many nurseries are trying to offer as much as is reasonble business-wise throughout the year but the customer is the ultimate driver of what will be carried and when, if you are going to survive in this challenging but personally rewarding vocation (read most of us aren't into for the pay). An average 1st year teacher makes more than a good nurseryman after 10 years of caring and teaching others about his plants(children). Do get to know your Ag extention and Master Gardners in the area as well as the native plant people in your area, also search out the best of type nurseries in your area and look for free seminars put on there and if you stop by throughout the year you will get lots of free and probably useful advise as well as see what is carried at any given time throughout the year. Any of these will give you much needed advise and ideas to work into your situation. Remember Rome wasn't built in a day and neither are great gardens or landscapes. Last but not least continue to frequent this forum and ask questions and lurk and search as anyone that does, no matter how long they have grown plants will find little gems of wisdom and of course a great bunch of caring folks that wish you all the best in you gardening future. Happy Growing David

Did anyone see the episode a few years ago in California's wine country? This spoiled, dry, unsmiling couple toured three gorgeous homes, large homes that anyone would consider to be dream homes. The man walked into one of the kitchens, a huge affair with cherry cabinets, granite counters, stainless, etc., and pronounced it very low end. My DH and I were incredulous. If that was low end, what does he consider high end? Titanium appliances? Gold-plated fixtures? Diamond-encrusted cabinets? Sheesh! Also, I don't understand why people need these huge homes. 5000 sq. ft. might seem impressive, but don't you get lost in that? How do you keep it clean? How do you afford the maintenance. Repainting and reroofing a 50000 sq. ft. home is going to be much more costly than a 1500 sq. ft job. Do you really need a separate exercise room, a separate wine room, a separate play room, a separate theater? Don't even get me started on the spoiled 20-somethings who are buying their first home for $500,000 OR MORE and sneer that a perfectly serviceable kitchen or bathroom is a "gut job." My favorite HHI was the one in Slovenia where bees had built a hive in the house (or was it bats?) also the one in Buckinghamshire, England, with the thatched roof.

I use Firefox and don't have any of the ads others are experiencing. However, when I go to My Page, it has my birthdate wrong and has eliminated my 2 favorite forums. When I go to Profile to correct this, it has my birthdate correct, but shows n/a for my two favorite forums. I correct this, hit the Save button, and it reverts back to n/a. And yes, I did go through the message in red at top of main page and sent them an email about it. Shirley