Very interesting spring in IOWA! We are about 45 miles south east of Des Moines. When the storm hit on Saturday night we were in Knoxville Iowa eating, and later found out how bad things were outside! Sorry to hear about your damage junco1120! When looking at the hostas yesterday at most of the hostas unfurled, noticed that we must of had hail as there are many holes in the hostas. The hostas will recover. But what a spring going from 80* early, then freezes in between, heavy winds, now hail. See there are lots of Iowa folks on this forum. Come join us at the Russ O'Harra Hosta Society. Check out our page via the Hosta Library Link. Even if you arent a member you are able to join us for the summer tour in the Ames/Jewel area June 24. If you are on Facebook, we also have a page there. Need more info. Send me a messeage. Here is a link that might be useful: Russ O'Harra Hosta Society

Zip: Both pics you just posted are great. One way to create the 1st look would be to narrow down the walk thereby creating more of the flair up by the steps. I really don't want you to narrow down the walk, so you would have to enlarge the flair you have made to be wider than the steps. Not sure you would be happy w/ that, although it could be made to work. My fear is that it could make it look more like you mis-judged the width of the steps and were left w/ an "oops!". One way to get you that look would be to take the bricks and start the curve on both sides of the steps, starting at the foundation itself. Go out at least 3 ft and gently curve out and around the steps out into the yard, ending the curve about where you currently have it. This will give you the firm base needed for a large urn or pot on either side of the steps, plus a larger "chat area" at the base of the steps. The foundation plantings would then come out from the house as more of a deep border that would follow the curve of the bricks. I would rather see a really deep foundation bed at the house than runways down the walk. The large tree you have there should not be any further disturbed by even shallow plantings. And as you said... it will also leave more open play area for the kiddos. As far as educating yourself, since you are in the Carolinas, check out the older Southern Living Garden Annuals for lots of good plant selections and how-to's. These books are in the bookstores and may be at the library. I have several older ones (2000-04) that I reference and use as demos to my clients. SL also has a good Landscape Book and a great Garden Guide that are good research tools to have on hand. Three great sources for border ideas are Better Homes & Gardens Magazine Beds & Borders, Garden Gate Magazine Beds and Borders and Fine Gardening Creating Beds and Borders. BH&G and GG are special issues that are limited time magazine on stands now. The FG one is a book you can find at the bookstore. Zip: Both pics you just posted are great. One way to create the 1st look would be to narrow down the walk thereby creating more of the flair up by the steps. I really don't want you to narrow down the walk, so you would have to enlarge the flair you have made to be wider than the steps. Not sure you would be happy w/ that, although it could be made to work. My fear is that it could make it look more like you mis-judged the width of the steps and were left w/ an "oops!". One way to get you that look would be to take the bricks and start the curve on both sides of the steps, starting at the foundation itself. Go out at least 3 ft and gently curve out and around the steps out into the yard, ending the curve about where you currently have it. This will give you the firm base needed for a large urn or pot on either side of the steps, plus a larger "chat area" at the base of the steps. The foundation plantings would then come out from the house as more of a deep border that would follow the curve of the bricks. I would rather see a really deep foundation bed at the house than runways down the walk. The large tree you have there should not be any further disturbed by even shallow plantings. And as you said... it will also leave more open play area for the kiddos. As far as educating yourself, since you are in the Carolinas, check out the older Southern Living Garden Annuals for lots of good plant selections and how-to's. These books are in the bookstores and may be at the library. I have several older ones (2000-04) that I reference and use as demos to my clients. SL also has a good Landscape Book and a great Garden Guide that are good research tools to have on hand. Three great sources for border ideas are: Better Homes & Gardens Magazine Beds & Borders Garden Gate Magazine Beds and Borders Fine Gardening Creating Beds and Borders. BH&G and GG are special issues that are limited time magazine on stands now. The FG one is a book you can find at the bookstore. Get out there w/ a garden hose and play around w/ different configurations. Study and think about them. Take some pics and post for comments!

Good afternoon. I'm glad you are feeling better Kath. I slept in the recliner for a week after my surgery. It was much more comfortable than my bed. Jammer and I went to a local café for breakfast this morning. We saw lots of friends there and had a good meal. Then we went to church. I'm not sure what to think of this but about 5 or 6 people came up to me to tell me how good I looked. I ask Jammer if I've been looking so bad before??? Anyway, it was a good service and I had tears in my eyes for most of it. I know that worries Jammer, but I was just sitting there thinking about how happy I am, so the tears were good ones. Jammer is out tilling our garden right now, with the help of his 2 sons and several of their friends. We have already eaten some of the squash, we have peppers ready to pick and have lots of tomatoes. I am anxiously waiting for them to ripen!!! Hope you all are having a great Mother's Day.

I was going along fine until I read you were due 2 days ago! I sure hope your most important addition is not much later and the delivery is a smooth one. I guess this drama with the kitchen is good in that it keeps your mind off of being late. FWIW - my second son was 11 days late and was 9 lbs 5 oz. I have no clue what he was waiting for, lol. His delivery was much faster than son #1, as it took 2 real pushes to get him out (not induced). I guess I was beyond ready by then! When you are late, it is easy to want to rush it along. When you are in the midst of nursing every 1.5 - 2 hours, you may wish you had some more time to rest first ;) Best wishes for all your new chapters and hope you get pampered and taken care of in the midst of all this. Sleep is a real priority!