Another great look, love the "bubbles". To post more than one pic in a msg, instead of using the "Link" as you are, copy the HTML code and go back to your msg, put your cursor where you want the pic to be and then on the very top menu bar of your computer, go to "Edit" and then to "Paste" - the code will appear in your msg - go back to your photopage and repeat copying the HTML codes for more pics and do the same in your msg - "Edit" then "Paste" - when you do the "Preview Message" button, you will see your pics.

Cass, I am a woodworker and builder as well, as it happens. I started gardening seriously in 1997, fall time. Unfortunately dried wood, especially any rot-resistant species, makes a poor additive to soil. Green wood in fact breaks down much faster, that is why the "wood chips" from landscapers during the growing season will break down pretty fast, with all that sap and green matter in there. Woody stuff in general takes a long time to break down as compared to grassy material. If you have heavy soil you can use a lot more of it than if you have sandy soil. In any case 80 cu ft of maple dust and shavings over the plot that size shouldn't do much harm, short term (but definitely add some kind of rapidly-available fertility at planting time), and of course long term goes to carbon in the soil. In future it is probably better to stockpile such materials in a shady area for a few years and then add to soil, and always with some fertility as well: compost/tea, manure/tea, saved urine, etc. Good luck, don't over think stuff, everything will be fine, but grass and leaves are much better than wood.

helenh, What hosta place was it? There are a couple of places for hostas: Posted by MOimpatientgirl: "I second the vote for hostas, also possibly begonias. Believe it or not, mine always come back, yes the little cheap 6-packs from WM, as long as they are semi-protected by even just leaves from last fall. If you REALLY want motivation, you should visit the Garden of Dreams (AKA Honeybranch Cave), out east of Sparta. It's off of Hwy 14 right before the Christian/Douglas county line. There's a sign. Go down the gravel road a mile or two. They sell hostas and other stuff. But they have a really large area (several acres) that is terraced with every kind of hosta imaginable, plus lots of other stuff thrown in. Definitely made a hosta-believer out of me! I think they're pretty much always open, even though it might look like they aren't." Garden of Dreams at Honeybranch Cave, on Missouri 14 near Elkhead (22 miles east of Ozark). Sparta, MO 65753 Telephone: 417.683.3733 Owners Bill and Judy Roston Also Hilltop Gardens http://www.hilltop-gardens.com

I agree with George that finished compost is not necessary. If you want, you can throw in a couple of handfuls of white sugar, or dry molasses is even better, and they will stimulate biological activity. Don't worry....compost happens without any 'starter compost' to kick it into production. Dawn