Looks like your pics are working okay. Could just be an internet connection. At least it all didn't go into cyberspace LOL. Cheddar Cheese is so bright. Does Jamaican Music have a good budcount? Nice photos Jean. Julia

NHL, thanks! :-). I'm liking this potting experiment - #1 reason is the hostas look really good and are too high off the ground for the slugs!!! I admit I've been good this year, not as lazy, and sprinkling bait around occasionally. I love how beautiful they are. DD, thank you very much - you are too kind! I'm just the water provider, the hosta lover who speaks in a regular but low voice to all the "stars" in my yard. Lol Funn, >> thank you and yes, good observation! You remember - separated both Junes last year. At the end of potting so many hostas I ran out of one pot at the end and put a small piece of June in with the "revert". I so enjoy looking at them together that I have not yet separated them. These two will definitely grow beside each other :-). >> I noticed recently I have one blue leaf on a June that may be getting a bit of colour in it...I'm observing it for changes. I will have to twist (ouch) it off if it stays blue. The ones last year had good eyes to cull but so far just this one leaf. >> Oh, you SO got it - I love rearranging them! and having them at arms reach is so gratifying! Just this morning, while having coffee, the Queen and I visited (QOTS) while I was checking her for bugs, etc. cleaning off a few errant leaves from the small dogwood. The best thing about having so many in pots, to plant, will make the job of placement a bit easier when you can switch colours so easily. It's reaching the final decision that is difficult! I have to say that I think plants are like people...they respond to touch. I can't resist running my hands over the tops of seedlings as they are growing, or any plant for that matter! I read that if you want good strong roots, touch them, ruffle their tops...similar to patting your doggie - he'll waggle his tail, love you even more, and be the happy and healthy dog that he is meant to be.

Yep, I'll be glad when the March Winds let up and also the April Showers, lol. Middle of May it's supposed to be more settled weather.

Kitchen scraps are going in milk jugs and then set on top of the compost pile out back. This way they should go through several freeze/thaw cycles before being finally added to the bin. Late December in northern-Illinois and you don't know what you'll get - today was the first real snowfall of the season but tomorrow is supposed to be back to low 40s F. I thought about the reusable grocery bags but gave up on them after a while. I am thinking one would work well if I need to store VC before we thaw out for next season. For the most part the bags are made of non-woven polypropylene. UV from the sun will eat that stuff up before a season is over in the garden. As for a bin it would be a good test. It will have a high surface area to volume ratio though. Expect to water it a lot is what I think. Would a small bag like this make more of a batch process compost cycle than a traditional bin?