Thanks guys. Mary, that's only part of it..you should see the rest, lol. ALOT more hard work to come. Energy? HAHAHA!! I had absolutely none today, coffee didnt help at all..and my foot is bothering me again. Dog clipped me, I twisted my foot & fell on my hip about a month ago, (of course right in the mud, lol) and now every once in awhile it hurts so bad I can't even walk. So I didnt get to fill the preform today with soil for the lotus like I had wanted. All I managed to do was spray the brugs for bug prevention. Kristy, I can try..do you know when and how I should do it? It's not bushy, it just has the one main stem with all the buds at the top. From what I have read it will die down to the ground after first frost and return in the spring..So, if I cut it down to the ground in the fall, or even halfway..I can send you that to root? ya think? Or will that kill the roots? I will save seeds as well. My lotus pot is as deep as it is wide. Had it in a barrel liner at first, cuz I knew wider was better than deeper, but I just felt it wasnt deep enuf. I have half composted manure and half household compost mixed together. Only a thin layer of pea stones. I am using the Jobe's tomato spikes for feeding. I just stuck 3 more in there the other day. My feeder fish I put in there died. I cant get Gambusia here. That's too funny about the frog, I'm surprised the cops didnt show up, lol. Maybe mine hasnt bloomed yet cuz the weather hasnt been as hot as yours. I hope I get one soon. I'm just so curious why your leaves are shorter like that. Thanks Kylie! :)

I have the same problems with deer and rabbits. The deer knocked down a 5 foot galvanized fence to get to my pacific/western yew tree and 'moonglow' sweetbay magnolia. Both have been completely defoliated and eaten back to 1/4 to 1/2" diameter branches. Smoke started coming out of my ears when I found the damage. The yew was just finally starting to put out some good growth and looking good. I used granular plantskydd this winter in my fenced in "tree nursery" where I store all my potted stock before planting it out on the property. In winters past, I have had a high mortality due to mice/voles getting in and eating small seedlings to the ground and girdling larger trees. This winter, with plantskydd applied, I had very minimal damage (not zero damage, but very minimal). I will definitely use it again next year. My in-laws use the liquid form to deter rabbits and deer from browsing their garden plants. They spray their plants once in spring/early summer and then place a pill vial tied to a short stake every 10 linear feet in their garden beds. As the liquid in the pill vials evaporates, the scent diminishes. However, when it rains or they water, the pill vials get refilled and the scent returns full force. They have little to no browse damage on unfenced plants with this combo spray/pill vial technique. They have quite the deer population in their area as well. To keep the herd from defoliating the entire neighborhood, they do a bait and shoot once a year. FYI for anyone who thinks bait and shoot is terrible, all the meat is used in soup kitchens with nothing going to waste - their deaths go on to benefit others in need.

Thank you one and all for your kind words of encouragement. Other than the Hawthorn which I have no hope for, my downed trees are now right side up and staked as needed. Time will tell the true damage that's been done. David, no need to apologize, indeed I am in NJ, central NJ about half way between Princeton and the shore. Until the recent zonal revision, most of NJ was rated as Z6, and that's still what I consider myself. I can't remember the last time we got down below -5 *F though for that matter. Ken, these pics were taken as the storm was receding and the ground was well beyond saturated. That said, my soil is fairly clayey and like many recently developed properties, it varies in its nature from spot to spot. New plantings will be made in raised beds with imported "topsoil", for that reason. Thanks again everyone. Alex

Karen, your purple wreath is beautiful. Love the fairies on it and it even has a purple peacock feather.Wow! Your parents potraits are wonderful. Must give a warm feeling walking down the hall. Elegant santa and neat vignette on your vintage glass-case table in the LR. Neat stand! Fancy pinecone and lantern candle holder.Nice! Seeing your bottle brush tree reminds me I have a gold one that needs to be brought out for the season! Glad to see you didn't give your wall tree away. So you used some spray paint on it huh? Looks great all decorated. I can't get enough of the deer used in all the decor. Those bright blue balls, ornies and sprigs really topped it off. Pretty gold elf and wreath. Do I see another wht & gold deer below them? What a great find on your Cardinal Cookie Jar. It's beautiful and I like that you sat it on a wreath. The branches and berries behind it are neat too. Thanks so much for sharing for all of us to enjoy. Punk