Oh, Rodica, I am so sorry for your loss, and I totally understand your desire to deal with it in your own way. I hope that as your heart finds it's way, that you know and remember that although many of us could be classified as 'cyber-buddies', so many of us truly care about you. I miss you girl.

Brenda

Thanks everybody. It's been a very hard time and I am trying to get back into my old routine, one day at a time.

*** THIS SPACE WAITING TO BE FILLED ***
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LOL! And, yes it is! I am growing several things inside right now... just waiting for frost danger to pass. Historically, that is not until June 1 - ish. I bought some astilbes from a coop here on cubits, and they have already set buds! They're going to be blooming before they are in the ground! Also dug up some hops rhizomes from the Pub garden... they are taking off. Have dahlias and cannas to pot up, hopefully tomorrow. But everything has to wait, including me! Meanwhile, the shade garden has gotten a few new things and facelifts on others... still working on some of that. We had very light snow flurries today. Still hard to deal with, but last year at this time we still had a couple feet of snow in places, so I can't complain. It is supposed to be in the high 60's this week, fingers crossed! Thanks, Susie, for getting me ready to post some pics! I ♥ you!

Ya what Aguane said. (HINT, HINT)

Well, I have a clematis is starting to bloom already, and of course some daffs and tulips... and the bleeding heart has just started blooming too! I'll try to get some pics posted. Meanwhile, here is my new 'Living Wall' that I just made!

KEWL!!! Does everything grow just from the medium in the slats or is there a space behind it that holds soil? How oft do you have to water it? I everso want to do this too now!

I love that, Brenda! Very kewl!

I got the idea from here: http://www.birdsandblooms.com/...
There is a pretty lengthy thread on DG about this project in Trash to Treasure. After much discussion on how-to's, I just jumped in and did it my own way, which I do NOT recommend, LOL! I backed the shutter with burlap stapled all around, filled with soil, then stuffed sphagnum moss in all of the slats, then planted. If I were to do it over, I would flip the shutter upside down, put a layer of sphagnum moss down first, then the soil, then staple the burlap to the back. Or, one poster suggested making a shutter/moss/soil sandwich... shutter facing down, then moss, then soil, then more moss, then another shutter. That way, you could plant both sides.

Here is a window box I planted up the other day... periwinkle paint is getting lots of use this year! Luckily, the fuchsias didn't freeze last night... we did have a frost but apparently my shade garden has it's own microclimate and it's protected from the wind.

Doggie topiary is back living outside... he spends winters inside.

BTW, DN, I'm not sure how often I'll have to water it as I just finished it a few days ago. However, I used all succulents so they can tolerate dryer conditions.

More pics soon!

WHOO HOO methinks I could make that without mucking it up too bad Thanks dear Brenda. I was thinking of seedums and semps

Brenda,

The only thing that frightened me when I saw the shutter is what's behind the shutter. Is that wood panel? Or is that the same stuff they use out here on the side of houses? If so, it's a paneling that is made out of a particle board type material, and does not like being wet at all. It will warp and start falling apart on you. Then that whole sheet will need replaced. It just concerns me something like that, that you water, being up against the side of the house. If I'm worrying about nothing, tell me to mind my own business...lol!

Alan

No, I am sure that it shouldn't be up against the siding. But, it will come off for the winter and come inside the house, and honestly, i am hoping uit won't be a problem. Let's check back on this in the Fall when I take it off...

Methinks I'm going to just lay mine down on the dahlia bed for the winter. The shutter will age faster with the snow but methinks it's the best way for the plants to survive during the time of the cold and the dark.

check this thread out re succulent on the walls...
http://cubits.org/sedumandsemp...

Thanks, Susie! They have other great ideas there as well!