+oM, From the FWIW category. I on a personal level have been raising trees from seed, bare root trees, and containerized trees and growing them into the fabric pots for the last 2-3 years. I have been pretty successful. The containerized plants have all had the usual issues of circling roots, and planted to deep in the containers. These plants I have literally hacked up the root systems to remove the problems (while completely leaved out), followed by replanting in the fabric root pruning pots for the remainder of the growing season. Results have been good so far, with little to no apparent root circling problems. One issue that I have encountered, is that the fabric tends to drain somewhat poorly at times, so that you can end up with a very wet bottom layer that is ripe for certain disease problems to begin. Some trees this won't matter, for others it can be fatal. In an attempt to try to resolve this, I have taken to cutting multiple ~1-1.5" T shaped slits around the bottom to act as drainage holes for excess water. I do not yet know how well this will work, but I would expect it to an improvement. Arktrees

I don't think I've ever really dug a flower bed. I always put the leaves and other mulching over a spot and then left it alone. In a while, whether a year or maybe just six months, with repeated application of the organic material, the worms dug the bed for me. That's how I've done things for many years. The front half-moon flower bed at this house was not dug. I outlined it and put material from a derelict old garage with no roof on it, on top of the space, and left it alone. Where I could not put a shovel into the ground before, it became quite easy to dig. Of course I buy multiple bags of Black Kow and Mushroom Compost and such as that. (I consider it increasing the amount of property I OWN.) Basically what I have done is an informal version of "lasagna" bed-making. But over time, it sure does get rich and I do not have to worry about drainage. There is a slight slope between our front yard at the street and the long edge of this bed. So it has a natural way to drain. True enough some spots in this part of town have percolation issues. The holes you dig do not drain properly. You can test it yourself by digging a hole, filling it with water, and timing how long it takes to drain. I give you a link to properly checking it for yourself. See below. Hope you solve your drainage issues so you can enjoy growing your hosta. Here is a link that might be useful: Do a percolation test

I sympathize and empathize with you. My last place was also a lot of earthtones, reds, gold, copper. I moved here last summer and was ready for light and fresh and coastal but my darn orangey cabinets and brownish granite are not helping me go in that bright fresh direction. I am resisting going back though. I am sticking to neutrals. My LR is oatmeal/chocolate with some splashes of blue and green. The rest of the space is neutral and some more light green. It's not the bright white colorful modern look I had in my head, but it is warm and not as colorful as my past place (in a good way). I'm pleased with it. It is a new spin on the old me.. I did the bathrooms and bedrooms in light and fresh and airy and blue's so I got that out of my system. The whole place still has continuity because of all the neutral-ness going on. The bits of blue and green tie it together just fine. Green seems to be a good connector color to bridge the earthtones and neutrals with the coastal tones. I've never used much green before but I like it a lot.

First, a suggestion for removing blood (your own): the most effective solvent - even for dried blood - is the saliva of the same person. Just spit on it and let it soak in and then rub after it softens up. it may take a few doses but it always works. (Saliva of the same person is best; then same blood type, then same species, but when you get down to cross-species, it's not as successful at least not in my attempts on cat or dog blood.) Hydrogen peroxide is good, but saliva is completely non-damaging and an excellent first step. Generally, I don't need anything else. I find that bleach is insidious - you successfully shift the stain, and all seems well, but actually you've damaged the fabric and a hole is just waiting to happen. Now, for the mends, here's what I would do: With closely matching thread sew a row of very small backstitches about 1/32 inch from the torn edge (or more if you've a lot of fraying) along the edges of the tears or holes. This stabilizes the edges. Then darn over the hole, either by hand or with a machine. When carefully done you'll have the visible equivalent of a bartack/buttonhole stitch over the hole. And the mend will seem very inconsequential after the case is ironed. You'll never feel feel it in use. These types of mends on cases are very common in my household because my cats often jump up on the bed and the down pillows seem a little unsteady to them so they extend their claws. If I don't catch it right away, then a little tear gets bigger in the wash. Molly~