Hi Marysy, Welcome to GW. Your plant sounds wonderful! I can't wait to see the pictures that you are uploading! I have a sunny rock garden that I inherited from the previous owners of our house and have spent the last 3 years moving things around and experimenting with what survives in hot rocky areas. This summer I finally put in a large shade garden that is approximately 20 x 30 ( or maybe a little longer). This area is also shaded by maples as well as oak and pines. Do you have a photobucket account? If you don't then go to www.photobucket.com and sign up, it is a free picture sharing service. After you have it set up then start uploading the pictures of your Milk House and garden area. Have two tabs open, one for your gw post and the other for your photobucket album. After the pics are uploaded then right click on the html Tag next to the photo you chose. Click on copy, switch over to the GW post and right click again in the follow up message, then click on paste. You will be able to see your picture after you click on preview. While in photobucket you are able to resize your pictures for posting. For better detail I would choose the message board size for posting to message boards.

So the overgrown bushes, and especially their roots, must have soaked up and slowed down the water so that your patio stayed dry before, huh? Sorry to be a downer, but I'd be surprised if there is anything you could do with bricks and plants that would stop the water from coming down any time soon. Maybe eventually the plants might develop enough roots to do the job, but if it's going to be a veggie garden it doesn't seem to me that you would get enough. Installing drainage tile behind the base of the wall would work, but that's a ton of work, and would probably mean rebuilding the wall. I get tired just thinking about it. You could try digging down a foot like you were thinking and then lay the drain tile in that trench, covering it with small stones and landscape fabric. That might intercept enough surface water to do what you need. Good luck. ThinMan

Squirrely, I bought my variegated catmint at Thyme after Thyme nursery in Winterville GA. I will try to root some. It will only be a little cutting if it survives. Sorry, my plant isn't too large. Also think about some of the native crested iris, a small boltonia I have which is native and clumps instead of runs (I may have some), a really cool plant which I might be able to root for you too (I have luck on and off) - a fleabane which creeps and blooms all summer, and the little wood asters. If you want blue wood aster I can get some for you. Pls. email with wants. I also have lots of sedums - blue spruce, angelina kamtschaticum, the very dwarf type (don't know name)... GGG

Rock City Gardens' June issue of The Early Bloomer is filled with horticulture design solutions for the south Florida climate. Stories include how to cultivate and care for butterfly gardens, artificial turf for beautiful and environmentally safe lawns, container garden ideas, and loads of caladium varieties that thrive in the Florida sun. Read the full stories here: The Early Bloomer - June 2015! For continued landscape inspiration, sign up for our monthly digital newsletter at www.RockCityGardens.com/newsletter.