wine-maker, there isn't much prettier than seeing those clean mow lines in the grass on long runs and healthy green leafs on all those trees. What will you do with all that fruit?-besides making wine, of course. I still haven't figured out what I will do with mine (whenever I get it), besides cider and giving loads of it away to family and friends. Bob, currently I am in the process of mulching whole rows. that will make it way easier to lay down tubing without the worry of mowing over it or burying it. I am in Wisconsin, so I will have to pack it away every fall and roll it out every spring (at minus 30 plastic tubing is extremely brittle.) It won't be fully automated, instead I will put a post at the end of each row with a hose connection and a splitter before that so I can turn on four rows at the same time. With 2gph emitters that's about the max I can run anyways. Otherwise it takes me about 4 hours to water everything by hand. For some reason I seem to be an advocate of doing things the hard way, maybe to convince myself I'm not lazy. I am 33, but my back is telling me I better start finding easier ways.

Thanks everyone :D Tiffy...hey gurl! I bet yours looks really pretty in bloom against the wall. Do post pics! Actually the JPW was one of the first perennials to show itself this year and then it cooled down again so really I'm surprised it's as tall as it is now! The angle of the picture makes it look shorter, but it's actually about 2.5' tall right now. Earlier in another post re: the JPW I stated about 3.5....I'm a liar after I measured it this am LOL! My chives are really tall themselves too so that does make them look like smaller. squirrel_girl , Yes, tomatoes and carrots help each other out, but not sure why you think the tomato has to be sacrificed? They'll grow right along with each other, but that bed is much too small and filled up for adding a tomato...the only ones left to plant are the Black Cherry and it would have to be planted in the middle of my narrow path :O Got more pics to post later, but right now its so nice outside and I've been hiding indoors too much this last week

I really enjoy the different moods that sunsets provide. They're kind of like women. Wildly unpredictable but in a terribly exciting and inviting sort of way. ;) Thanks for sharing your pics, Joan.

Joan, your pictures are beautiful, as usual! I just read that sunspot activity is about as low as it has ever been so there's not much chance for northern lights right now. In more active years we used to see them often in August and September over Minnesota lakes. I'm in Florida now and miss them so much! Kate