This entire thread has me buffaloed if you ask me, of course no one has. This grass thing is so confusing with climate zones, avg rainfall and other such tenets set in stone its a wonder any grass will grow any where. I read where Bermuda grass isn't good in Georgia, pray tell? But-- the one that has me really scratching my head is Centipede. The Op states, "From what I read, centipede will not grow in my soil.". This may be very well true I dont know the Raleigh area but I do know this. It does very well in Elizabeth City N.C. I also know in my Middle Georgia area it is King-- the absolute perfect grass. Despite what I've read here, it does well in shade and does handles drought well. Before you discount it I would make darn sure it doesn't grow in your area because if it will grow there it fits your bill for exactly what you are looking for. One other thought, It is a very slow starter from seed. Many people try to start with seed and fail. It takes most of those who are successful a lot of work and several years before it fills in.

Time for a bump for this green thread in the relatively dead "Going Green" section. I bought a Gilmour 20" mower from Amazon a few years ago and actually like it in spite of having the worst kinds of grasses and weeds for such mowers. SW Florida here with a lawn full of several types of tuff grasses and lots of scrub weeds. The reel mower is a good device for when grass isn't growing much but I have found that the rainy/growth season overwhealms it. In the dry season I have areas that are dormant and a few low areas where the grass needs to be clipped every few weeks. The reel mower is easy to put to the task at a moments notice to knock down the trouble spots while not having to wrestle the gas mower out of the shed and deal with fuel and oil checks. This year I decided not to use the gas mower at all but instead purchased a Neuton battery electric mower. I still use my Gilmour push mower some but with that thing I often have to mow each path twice to get that perfect look. It misses some blades unless the grass is sparse or areas of tender stuff. The Neuton really kicks butt in that one pass does the job and it's about as quiet as the reel mower, just a different sound. Kind of like a fan. Both the electric and reel mower are better for my allergies. I have sneezing fits almost always when I use the gas mower. Never with the reel or electric. The battery powered mower makes sense for me. It cuts this tuff mess of southern "grass" nicely on the first pass and it doesn't make the ragheads richer or pollute the air. The electric rotary mowers (or any rotary mowers) will cut the seed staulks that none of the reel mowers can get without doing a special dance turning the mower pivoting on one wheel. I have a large solar power system that makes a bit more electricity then I use so it's kinda cool to have a solar powered lawn mower. My yard is fairly large so I bought two batteries so I can cut the place without losing cutting power and not drain either battery down more then about 50% of charge level so the batteries are not cycled hard and should last. Time will tell on that. Still, if I had softer more tender types of grass like I remember feeling so good on my feet as a child in the North, I would bet the reel mower would be perfectly fine for full time duty. For me in the South, it serves as my Winter mower. Oh, and when people walking past stop and ask me what makes the thing go, I tell them it's Beer powered. LOL

CEF - it took me several months of agonizing to fork over the bucks for those Van Dykes corbels. They weren't even expensive, either. I just COULD NOT find anything else so perfect for less (although I could easily find several options at five times their cost), so I finally bit the bullet, and have not been sorry. OMG, I paid full price! But sometimes, we do. I could live my life out of the Van Dykes, Restoration Hardware, Signature Hardware, etc. catalogues. I almost never buy anything from them, though! On the way I suspended that little under-cabinet shelf from the corbels: the reason I did this (other than the aesthetic of using the corbel) was because I'm anal about making things reversible, and also I don't like to penetrate a tile job if I don't have to. So the shelf is suspended from the cabinet above, and doesn't penetrate the tile as under-shelf supports would need. Shicksal - GORGEOUS wood. So pretty. I would go insane in that kitchen, trying to line up the grain lines; I have an overactive mind. Christina - that is going to be a VERY pretty backsplash, and your tile guy is doing a great job. Lazygardens - that totally messes with my mind, digging out a corner and finding historic mud bricks! SJhockey - I was so hoping you'd post and say what your guy got done in a day, because ever since I read your list I thought, "That guy will be phenomenal if he can get all that done in one day." ---- My railing arrived freight yesterday and here is the picture of the upgrade that my Bad Anal Self insisted upon. Shown is the standard concrete anchor, even for a commercial install (the smaller one). And THEN there is the 410 stainless monga anchor that I will be drilling holes for in my concrete, and using. My railing would never blow away into OZ in a tornado, after how it's getting installed. Uh, yeah, try to ignore the German Shepherd hairs on my rug. This is the room they hang in all day. This post was edited by beautybutdebtfree on Thu, Jun 19, 14 at 16:56

Ruth, As I said, I will survive if I do not receive a gift basket or anything else for that matter...LOL! Very kind of you to offer me anything off your list.....but you need not do that. Nikki (cinnie..), our September host, wanted to send me something and I told her no..... it really does not take care of the problem. I do feel when someone signs up for a swap, RR closed or not, they should honor their commitment. I also know and understand that things come up, unfortunate circumstances arise and the swap can not be carried out/they need to drop out. In that case, I am 100% cool with someone backing out....but they better communicate that to their partner and the group. This matter of people sending their swap several weeks late....or not at all.....no communication, one way or the other.....disappearing.....and then, as in your case, not receiving what you were supposed to receive is BS. Total BS!! Ruth, I am curious, did you receive any explanation from Wild Hair Mavens as to why you were shorted 3 of the items you were supposed to receive???? I do hope Sue is well and that all is good with her...... Happy Evening! Annie ...... I