Yup, I remember from 7th grade biology that the phylum annelida (earthworms) regenerate the rest of their body if they are cut in half. So really, you're not murdering them, you're helping them with their asexual reproduction. Who knew that 7th grade biology would ever be useful? (I'm still scarred from dissecting a starfish-ewww, gross.) I spent the better part of last weekend planting cherry trees and relocating worms that surfaced to the veggie patch. :) I felt so bad for them- all sleepy and warm in their dark underground lairs and then being unceremoniously disturbed by me digging a hole. So, I kept making trips from one side of the yard to the other to put them in a more comfortable place... among my tomatoes and peppers! We're all living in harmony now. Care to join in a chorus of kumbaya?

Ok, I'll start! I think a green thumb is having a natural sense of how to grow plants. I think two things are involved (for me, anyway):. 1. I grew up surrounded by plants,. My mother jokes that I learned to walk by navigating around plants. Our house was one of those seventies style jungles with Boston ferns, untamed philos, wandering Jews, and spider plants everywhere. My mom hates cutting plants back, so they run wild. So, having plants in my home was natural for me. 2. Being in tune with plants naturally. I know when a plant is not right or happy just by looking at it. To others, it would look fine, but I know something is wrong. And I am right 100% of time, even if it's just something simple like the water is not draining right and the plant looks annoyed. Part b to this:. When I cannot figure out what's wrong with a troubled plant, I sit down and think about it, look at its roots, and think, "what does this plant need to be happy?" And, no matter what the advice people say, I do that. So that is part of being in tune with them. In a sense, I try to think of them as sentient feeling beings that need certain things to be happy. With all that said, I am tremendously fortunate to have encountered you and people like Josh Greenman, who approach plant care with more practical logic. Learning from and watching you--and listening to your advice and knowledge--has allowed me to be able to create better conditions for my plants. I now have a wider range of options to choose from when I am deciding how to best meet their needs. In other words, I can make them happier and fix them when they are troubled because I am more well informed now. Also, I can turn to experts such as yourself to help me when my intuition is right but my methodology needs fine tuning. Final: I was looking at a pencil cactus yesterday in Ace, which I did purchase btw, and a guy walking out said, "I can tell you really love plants." So, I guess a person who picks up a plant in the store and touches it gently like one would handle a kitten is a person who is likely to have the connection with plants that gives them a "green thumb."

A PVC pipe cover over the rolled up screens?

I haven't seen other homes with this exact presentation but several homes have arches out front but more traditionally creating a courtyard look. This was one house that we liked but didn't work out. I did a mock-up with more of that house's color scheme. I like it as it's easier to paint a garage door and trim vs the wood option which would have to replace these items. But it's giving me a general idea of what could be done with it. I think I'll seek out some professional thoughts. I'm sure there is plenty I can't even think of. Oh, and I tried out some Spanish-style corbels to give it some more dimension.