Kitchenette, My first year growing butternut I planted 6 plants in a raised bed. The vines ran and ran and I was going crazy trying to figure out how to control them. They hadn't set a lot of fruit at the 6 foot stage and I worried that they'd be a bust. I found out that the plants need to mature a bit before they can handle fruit set. They are well designed "machines" and will set fruit when they can sustain them. Growth of the vines slowed some when they started supporting multiple fruits. At the end of the season I had vines anywhere from 8-14' long and harvested close to 70 lbs of squash. Let them grow as naturally as you can and they'll reward you with lots of yummy squash. I do feel your pain as I was a balcony gardener for many years. Happy Growing!

Well, I have to admit that I don't have a ton of experience growing cherries in the shade but I have a very shady part of my nursery where I planted some sweet cherries years ago. The spot gets almost no direct sunlight and has a huge sugar maple over it. The trees were prone to canker but one that I never sold is still reasonably healthy although the shade and my inattention has produced a tree too ugly to sell. I do manage a couple of montmorency that get total morning shade that are completely healthy. I don't look forward to the day when the earth heats up enough that we have Don's weather here. We seem to be just north enough to still be able to grow anything that grows down there but with far fewer pest problems. Weisman, I live in the county up from you, Putnam. Most of my customers are in the tony parts of Westchester and CT.

I've only found so far 2 garden plants that are self cleaning. Lilies and clematis. They drop their blooms and all I'm left with is empty stalks on the lilies and the clematis just stays green until the winter comes. Iris, daylilies, phlox, coneflowers, roses, lavender, the list goes on all require maintenance. That is the challenges of being a gardener and having a garden. I enjoy this time of year even with the challenges because around the corner comes winter and we hibernate till spring comes around again. You might consider just buying bushes on your next project that you just have to trim each season. There are many varieties that add color and texture to a landscape.

"FYI to any beginner sewing peeps DO NOT PICK ZIGZAG FABRIC!!! EVER!! " good tip - along with no fabric with plaid, stripes or nap! you could just do a quick cover - think of it like a fitted sheet or a pillow sham. You could use elastic or Velcro. I did that in my first apt. The 'sofa' was a wrought iron patio sofa with a creepy dirty cushion. I used a washable fabric - and elastic (fitted sheet style). Easy off to wash it and put back on. you could use what's there for 12/1 - 12/26 then use whatever you decide to redo it with. Next Dec - easy off again!