I am dealing with leaves too. Every year dh and I go out and collect OPBG (other people's bagged leaves). I'm talking about 100 bags. We dump them all on the lawn and he runs over them with the riding mower and shreds them finely. This is the best mulch in the world. The worms go crazy for it all year long. I don't worry about the need for any synthetic fertilizers because this mulch makes my soil so healthy. But we have to dodge the weather. Today it's supposed to rain all day. But looking at the long-term forecast, it seems there will still be plenty of pleasant 50 degree+ days that I can spread the big pile of shredded leaves on my lawn. As far as "winterizing", I may throw some pine needles on a few roses, but lately this doesn't happen until 2nd week Dec. We have only had one hard frost. I wouldn't even call it hard, it only went down to about 30. It the roses weren't so balled and mushy from all the rain we've had, I'd have some nice blooms out there now. New Dawn put on a flush that didn't even start til Oct. and is going strong still.

As best I remember, Annette, they usually flower the second year after a piece roots, even if it's a good sized piece. The big pieces that broke off last year in a windstorm are not blooming this year with the old ones. Michelle, the pedastal is a recycled lamp base with the basket attached to the top and a turned over dinner plate glued to the bottom to make it stable. Glenda, sassafrases just kind of plant themselves where they want to grow, usually where something else is happily growing. They are about the best red fall color we have, this far south. Here is a link that might be useful: Last Year's Blossoms

Cameron- It's a really nice and so far, very well behaved, climbing rose. Your garden is so pretty! Mytime- I love that little rose, too. When the truck hit our house last fall, it moved the porch over to within a few inches of the rose. My contractor and his guys lived in fear of bumping into, or otherwise damaging it, while they rebuilt our front porch. I was determined that my rose would still be there this spring! I'll post a picture, when it blooms :)

Hes been there other then yesterday , But I dont think he noticed really until yesterday I heard him talking with his girlfriend that I have a green thumb and about what I did to the garage so yes he does notice, it was only yestersday that he explained to me about easements and city ownership. I looked around other easements and its pritty noticeable and very well done I might aid. No other easement on our block looks as nice, I have a huge flowering butterflyweed, some coneflowers native switch and porcupine grass a HUGE brown eyed susan must be nearly five feet tall and some HUGE wild voilets that just grew there naturally. I will call the city and have them warn me ahead of time, I also got someone at our local nurshery who will take the plants if they need to be rescued.