How thick is the retaining wall? If it's planted only a couple feet behind the wall, it's only a matter of time before the wall cracks and crumbles. I know around here it happens all to often... retaining walls aren't meant to retain a massive root system. Even dwarf trees, given enough time, will knock it down. It all depends on time. If your 80 years old it doesn't really matter so to speek lol... if your 20 years old and plan to live in the house for some time almost any tree will cause damage. What about some tall grasses to block out the neighbor. The type of grasses that get 5-6' tall with pink or white flower spikes then some cool stuff like Juniperus horizontalis 'Mother Lode' that drapes over the wall?

I've grown a lot,, and don't grow for size, taste is what I'm after but here's some that I think have very good taste and have the potential to grow big ones, and have for me, in the 2-3 # range: Dester Cuostralee Red Barn Zogola Omar's Lebanese Large Pink Bulgarian ... and that in a good season and not every season is a good one b'c of all the variables that go into maturation to large size, as well as taste, which is primarily determined by the specifc genes that a variety has. Carolyn

I was typing up my response above when montana and sue responded, sorry! I do like the wood hoods but I do also like the stainless hoods. I also really like the mantle hoods. I have the same problem with granite ... I like almost every one I see. Too bad I'm not building several houses, haha ! The website for kitchensource is great. There are so many different style hoods to look at there. Thanks ! If I went with the Omega National hood (which looks just like the one that was option 3 above from the KD), what would you suggest for the looks of a custom topper ? I have played around with different ideas for that hood but have not come up with a very good one yet. According to the KD, that one has to attach to cabinets to the left and right, correct ? (we are using cherry) Got a phone call back from KD. We will save $800 by not having them provide any kind of hood, so that's money we can put towards other options if we do stainless or a different wood hood. He had an idea for the stainless hood and the problem with the duct from the ceiling not lining up with the hood's flue. His idea was to have a metal worker "box out" the top of the stainless hood to hide the pipe. I mocked it up in my 3D program and also the custom hood pictured in the original post (the hoods below may not be exactly to scale but this gives a good idea of it, and of course the wood hood would match the cabinets). (click on picture for enlarged view) Florantha, yes I posted my plans last year (link to the old thread at the top of this thread in the first post). Kudos to you for recognizing it!! I thought this day would never come when we would be almost finished building !! Interesting point about downplaying the hood. Which option do you favor or do you have another idea for venting ?

For Echinopsis hybrids its diameter size that determine if they are big enough to bloom. Depending on the cross if smaller or larger growth type but most on average begin flowering at 3" and larger in diameter. Most Trichocereus hybrids need 12"+ in hieght on average, also depends on perticular variety. Most likely the growers you mention that they did not bloom for them after several seasons; thats most likely due to they probably never fertilized regularily during the growing season or have not even repotted them with fresh soil mix ever. Echinopsis are heavy feeders and if given food-fertilizer or fresh soil mix, they will bloom over and over during the warm season. You can see for yourself starting Feb usually in full bloom though from March thru October at the nursery as we are open most weekends Epicacti.com