Nancy, This past spring I did something very much like what you describe, I took apart and shuffled plants from four beds, because I needed room for what I had wintersown and also because I just thought things would look better together. I wish I had done it the fall before, gotten the stuff moved and amended the beds, and then replanted what I wanted, cause I didn't get to a lot of it as early as I should have. Everything I moved was in an active, "wake up it's spring" growing mode, and suffered setbacks. A lot of stuff didn't bloom, such as peonies, which had grown too big really for transplant. But I think they survived, they were just very floppy. I'll see how they look next spring. By the time I got around to moving my butterfly bush, it was too late, and it didn't survive being transplanted. Anyway, my advice is to move stuff around now. You still have plenty of time there in Zone 7. If you can afford to hire help, I'd advise it. My DH helped me spread compost and move the big clumps of daylilies and peonies, but I did the rest and it was exhausting. Also, anything that you're moving, make sure the spot you're moving it to is ready for it, even down to having the hole dug, before you dig it up. The logistics of doing that this past spring was a bit of a nightmare, especially since DH only helped on weekends. Hope my advice helps. I rambled a bit, but my main point is -- do it now, not in the spring. Alison

Hi Celeste.Love all these wonderful pictures for us to see.The poor daylily is confused and since the snow is melted and gone now, I guess it thinks spring is here and time to bloom.mY 2nd bud on HOT LAVAhalf opened yesterday, but never opened up like the first bud did.it still has more buds, but weather man says 29 tonight, so that maight do it in.The JOHNNY JUMP UPS are so pretty.I use to have a big bed of them, but not that color,I have never seen that color before, but its really pretty.I dont have any, no more.DARN DEER.That meple tree is really pretty with its bright red leaves.Larissa loves to bloom, dont it, its very pretty.Love the raised bed,Thats really nice. looks like it will hold a lot of daylilies, too.the picture of your parents is very nice.They loook like such a happy couple,and I am so glad your dad is doing better. will he live at home when hes all mended, by himself?His veggie garden is super, I dont think I have ever seen a more greener garden...Loved the photos of the kitties,and so glaf Lily is doing so much better, and nemo just getting more lazy :))and i think ZEUS thought them roses looks good enough to eat, so he just as well sample them, hes such a sweetie and so pretty.Lily is a little doll,shes so pretty.,i loved the photo of the snow on the mountain.It looks soo pretty.I love to look at mountains and the snow on them makes them that much prettier,THank you celeste for some beautiful photos again.i loved every one of them. Jean

caryscott, you have very valid points. I am winging it. Having been married to a GC for 18 years, I've heard a lot of crazy stuff -- and crazy stuff that turned out really cool. I am ab.so.lute.ly open to constructive suggestions and clarification questions. But in this instance? No. If he'd have asked, "For your cats? They can't use the regular faucet?" I'd have a different attitude. But he didn't. Words and wording is important. How one asks, IOW. I've been lucky. The only thing I've had to backtrack on is lighting. I want a couple moved a bit, and I've deleted some. I lived without electricity in a room without light for several years and wanted lights everywhere. In the couple of years since the windows are in, I've come to realize I don't need to be lit up like a cathedral. I guess I'm also changing the location of some of my cabinets, but I put them in, and it's as I find my actual patterns would be better served. Has nothing to do with someone not listening. liriodendren, I only have four. At the moment. I can tell someone's not well by the litter boxes. Gross, but I can tell. Water intake has always been hard to track, as you mentioned, but I guess the big bowl would be a good indicator. Luckily and knock on wood, everyone's healthy right now! :)

Since I am the city clerk he has been going around telling every one I am doing things all wrong and illegal yada yada yada. This is a tiny town and there are many that will listen to him as I am not a favorite around town after stopping a good old boy ring of old town rulers that were dipping from the city coffers. This is pretty much a bass ackwards kind of tiny town.Gives real meaning to red neck. The stress he has been causing me is of constantly having to prove what he is saying about me is not true.Frustration because I should not be having to deal with this crap. I work so hard for this little city. With my careful watch I brought this town in 15K under budget this year in the general fund. Considering the budget was ruffly 59K I did very well handling the tax payers dollars!!! Not me actually I do not run the city. BUT I kept the council appraised on where they stood at every decision financially. Before me they were running amuck. I could go on for hours on the waste before I came on scene. Needless to say bad boys are not happy I have lightened their and their relatives personal pockets. Any way all of this started another psoriasis flair up for me. I have not brought it under control yet. It is very painful with hands and feet splitting and bleeding at the drop of a hat. Sunday my hands were clear of splits. Yesterday I had 16 new bloody splits on fingers and palms. And I did not do this with my mosaics on the hoosier Sunday.See gadget thread on the other side here. Hoping now the election is over and bad boy lost and the rest of my council but one are great the next couple of years will mellow out. Sorry for the rant. I am still pretty wound up.