Autumn Showers, Rose buying in Milwaukee really STUNK this year. Most nurseries are no longer carrying any Austin's because "they don't do well here"... I guess my 120+ Austin's don't know that. Some nurseries stopped carrying HT's as well. The only good local nursery that I still buy from is "Mileager's" in Racine. They have their rose stocklist on line if you're interested. http://www.milaegers.emerchantpro.com/ As far as gardens go, the one mentioned above is the only thing going around here... and if you ask me it's nothing to write home about. Rose buying season is just about over around here, so you'll probably find all the blackspotted, mildewed, chlorosis, and root bound roses you can handle. Good Luck, BC:)

Hi Betty - I assume that you are now in Kenosha. Are you interested in public gardens and/or nurseries? Just outside of Milwaukee in Hales Corner, the Boerner Botanic Gardens are lovely. We were just there early last month and enjoyed it immensely. They have trial gardens for perennials, annuals and vegetables. It was very peaceful. Mitchell Domes in Milwaukee is OK, but not my favorite. The CHicago Botanic is nice too (though a bit more crowded than Boerner). This summer they have a great model railroad/garden exhibit that is worth the extra $3. Just hop onto 94 or 41 and head south to Lake Cook Road. In Madison, I have heard the University Arboretum is good, but can not attest to it personally. The Olbrich Botanic is a little small, but very well laid out and fun to explore. My favorite nursery is just south of Madison in rural Oregon/Stoughton. Take highway 14 south out of Madison to county road A and take a left to the Flower Factory. If you like perennials you will think you have died and gone to heaven. Nice display gardens too. If you get close to Janesville, the Rotary Gardens are worth a stop. If you like Japanese gardens you may want to continue on to Rockford to see the Anderson Japanese Garden. It is a regular on the annual Garden Glory Tour and is open to the public year round for a nominal charge. If you would like to see private gardens on a normal city lot, I live in Woodstock IL (just south of Lake Geneva) and you sure can come tour mine, weary as it is in August. I will even supply the mosquito spray (we have a lot of shade and it has been wet this year...) I could probably convince my friend Linda to open hers up too. We are both primarily perennial gardeners with a special interest in hosta. Here are some addresses according to my book, the Garden Tourist 2000 Boerner: 5879 South 92nd Street in Whitnall Park, Hales Corners, WI free entrance, parking fee Mitchell Park Conservatory: 524 South Layton Blvd, Milwaukee WI $4, children $2.50 Chicago Botanic: 1000 Lake Cook Rd, Glencoe, IL Free admission, $7 parking ($5 on Tues for seniors) Olbrich Botanic Gardens: 3330 Atwood Ave, Madison admission to the grounds: free, conservatory $1 University of WI Madison Arboretum: 1207 Seminole Highway, Madison WI,free admission, donations welcome Janesville Rotary Gardens: 1355 Palmer Drive (Exit 175A off I-90, left on Palmer Drive) Admission free, donations encouraged Anderson Gardens: 318 Spring Creek Road Admission $4, seniors and students $3 The Paine Art Center and Arboretum are described in this book too. This 15 acre arboertum in is Oshkosh WI and is free, open Tues - Sun. I have not been there. Hope this has been of some help!

The front door is just ugly aside from not being very weather tight. During the winter it leaks a lot of cold air from all sides of it. It's a solid core door, that has been dinged up through the years, no window either. We want something which will let in light to the hallway. Plus, the existing screen door, is a cheap one with fake stained "glass" in it and is falling apart. We recently painted it which improved it's appearance dramatically but doesn't take care of the problems it has. Plus it does nothing for the overall appearance of the home. We've been able to stop some of the air leakage with weather stripping, but because of the way the lock is installed it tends to jamb and not close properly if we use enough to really make it as leakproof as it needs to be. Thanks for the links for the French door tho. I do agree with you on the point of it going to look like a front door in the living room if I use something else - which has been part of my problem all along and why we haven't yet jumped into replacing this one. I want to make sure I pick the absolute right door here or it's going to really look terrible!

My grandmother took me on a trip when I was 11 to Gettysberg, hershey park (saw the factory but no rides), We went to The Snyder Pretzel factory, Philadelphia to see the Franklin Mint, Liberty Bell etc.. and then to DC to see the Smithsonian. I loved it and I wasnt much of a history buff and still dont have much of an interest. Our 8yr old would love it, he loves to read about war. I also went to Lake Placid NY when I was 8, got to see Santas Village and lots of fishing spots if he likes that. I am not sure his interests, Our son would love to go anywhere fishing and canoeing for a week. Niagara Falls is not to far but to have fun you need lots of money for all the attractions.