>>I've been doing some research on pre emergents and I've settled on Tenacity, unless anybody has a good reason not to use it. If the expense doesn't bother you, go for it. Not that it's really all that expensive, I'm still using the small bottle I bought three years ago. It should last another five, and doesn't seem to weaken with age so far. It's a very short-term pre-emergent, however! One month. After that, reapplication will be required. Since your new sprouts will be too new for any other pre-emergent that touches the Poa genus, Tenacity would be your only choice. >>The only thing I don't like about it is that it's not granular. I'm worried about applying it evenly. I don't want to overapply or miss areas. Any advice or tips on this? (Or perhaps an alternative product with the same traits that does come as a granular) Tenacity is currently rather unique, although rumor has it that there are others in the pipeline (not yet available to us common folk). To my knowledge, there is no solid form as of yet. Great care when spraying is your only choice here. If you miss, you miss--Tenacity is also good as a post-emergent, so you always have the option and opportunity to kill it after it sprouts. I have the best luck killing P, annua and P. trivialis with Tenacity either moderately late in fall (October for me) or moderately late in spring (May). It may not actually kill it outright, but it weakens it very, very badly just before conditions get bad (winter or summer). That takes it right out.

Maureen, Thank you for your reply! Voles are a dreadful problem to have; last winter was one of the mildest and most open we've had for awhile in our our very cold-challenged location, so in some ways it was one of my "best gardening winters", however the terrible losses due to the wretched beasts were hard to bear. The day I discovered the lavendars was one of the most heartbreaking ones I have ever had in a long gardening life. I thought about making more cuttings this year, but even these three survisovors were so compromised that I dared not take any branches even for cuttings. By the end of the summer, each had only about 12 three to four inch long stems. Because they were set back so much, they didn't have time for side branch elongation (though they are hardening off nicely, now). Their growth pattern this summer was similar to a situation where they had been cut to the ground in early June, since they were forced to activate deeply dormant buds because everything else was eaten off at ground level over the winter, and worse, the roots were chewed up as well. I consider myself lucky to have these three. Next summer I hope to be able to make some cuttings and would carry at least half over the winter indoors, as safeties. I have pretty much decided to dig these three, even though digging large old lavendars can be hard on them. Still, with only three to do, and really big pots, I can take my time and try to lift them without too much disturbance. When I transplanted them from VA to here, it was a pretty harsh thing as they had been growing in that site for more than a decade. All the references that I read said old lavendars were extremely difficult to transplant, and frankly, discouraged it. I moved 12 big, old, bushes, and dozens of new cuttings made over three growing seasons. All of the old ones survived until last winter's attack; I had about 75% 1-year survival on all the cuttings but lost every one of those last winter, too. I expect the three survivors made it because they had enough stored food energy to push out those late, dormant buds, whereas the smaller, younger plants were completely consumed. I have debated about trying to carry them inside my house, but I think they will do better in a cold, even frozen state, in the barn, rather than in warm, but much lower light situation indoors. The space I am planning on using in the barn is the former milk bulk tank room and has a lot of light, though no heat, of course. Its other main advantage is that I can completely protect the plants from mice (the damned vole's indoor counterparts). As a side commentary on the vole problem, I carefully studied where the damage was worse and I think the problem was much worse in those areas where I had made extra efforts to build a loose, much more organic soil. The voles seem to prefer that over denser soils. I naturally have a very well-drained, somewhat coarse gravelly loam. In many ways it is superb soil for gardening of all types, and easy to add organic matter to, offering spectacular growth in most instances. But all that added compost does provide ideal conditions for the vile little voles. (So adorably furry, but I swear the day I discovered the lavendars I would have been capable of stomping on their heads, had I seen one!) Molly~

I am happy to report that the different fabric used in the border is barely - just barely - dedectable only if you know another fabric was used in a few places. And I dare that rider on the galloping horse speeding by my quilt to pick it out! Now, if I can just remember this trick next time I run out of the binding fabric..... Teresa

I'm glad people think it will look okay with different back treatment. Ahhh! V-groove is what it's called! I think that's what I want...painted Old White. If it looks too plain, I can add a silver tray or antiqued mirror later. Bmore, that's a good point about a side panel. The Old White's marble counter is 30"x48", and I was planning to use it in lieu of an island for cookie baking/cutting with kids. One could stand around the corner and two more along the 48" side. Putting a side panel or corbel would make it less accessible from the side and less functional. Would it look awful with just built-up vertical trim on the v-groove panel by the wall? Does that make sense? It won't look as good or hutch-like, but I think it may look okay. Sabjimata, I swear we're the same person!!! Or kitchen twinkies! I was thinking of lining the back of my glass-doored uppers with wallpaper! I'm not sure about doing wallpaper as a backsplash, but definitely am thinking about it. Love anthro's paper. Have you looked at Flavor Paper from New Orleans? Love that stuff. Here is a link that might be useful: Flavor Paper