Shade cloth is a great idea. How did you set it up?

started Hippeastrums, Habranthus, Zephyranthes, Crinums - geophytes of various kinds... Say that 3 times fast!

Anna, you can surely have cuttings, but they might not like to root in the heat of summer. Might be easier in fall.

Linda, we have the automatic timers and they work really well. We bought them when we all had to go to IL at the same time, so I had no one to come over and water for me while we were all gone. (Now I have a neighbor teen that can do it if she chooses).
We hooked up the one out front to come on at 4:30 AM and run for 30 minutes. It covers most of the front yard. I have one spot out front and the Hell strip that have to be hand watered. In back, we haven't set anything up yet, but we can "group" the pots in various spots and then run zones off one timer...it worked great when we were gone and nothing died for a week in the heat of summer last year. We used sprinklers and sprinkler hoses. Wasn't purty...but it did the job!

Yes, I already have Y connections and and enough hoses, just need another one more good sprinkler...they go bad so fast with our water that it isn't even funny! I do like the idea of early morning watering, but 7:30 a.m. is as early as I want to get up. Just not a very early person. So far no fireworks that I've noticed here, but still tonight and tomorrow to go! Hoping for blessed peace and quiet...and no fires.

Sandy, thanks, I will wait. I am trying to figure out where to put those clearance plants for now.

I don't even go into the back entrance of Lowe's anymore. I know I'll find some plant I have to take home....so I just don't do it. I was up way too early this morning, and went out in my PJs to water those dern brugs again. I didn't water anything yesterday, as we were in and out running errands. The brugs in pots just caved. All better now.

You can certainly try a few cuttings if you'd like. I didn't mean to discourage you. I've just had better luck with salvias in the fall when it cools a bit (or early spring). Then by Feb., they're ready to bloom like crazy.

Anna - my GH is 40' x 20' wide....and I bought a shade cloth mat'l to that spec from a horticultural supply company. when I remove the plastic covering (for my winter protection) in the Spring....I store that away and replace it with the shade cloth to protect again the blistering sun of June .....and July.....and August. (I'm trying to upload pictures but somethin's not workin' right)

Anyway.....the shade cloth essentially drapes across the framework and fixed in place after being pulled taut corner to corner.

That sounds like a great set up. Sandy...you are absolutely right....I really need someone to slow me down. You should be proud of me...it is garbage day(isn't that sacrilegious on the 4 th?) today and I stopped myself from picking up two hanging pots still with live plants.(Well , I thought I could throw it in the compost, but thought maybe someone else might appreciate it more)

Hmmm...I don't know if I could have resisted two free pots! You get a gold star!

I'm not so sure about that 'smarter' thing today. I was out there planting iris bulbs this morning. It took about fifteen minutes for me to give up for all the sweat in my eyes. I did get about half of them in though. I'll finish up around 8 tonight.

Linda, I wrote the article on gardening making people happier for the garden club newsletter! Thanks for posting the link. Just got it out yesterday. I think I may have too many hats to put on lately. I did get up early today and hand watered out back. DH couldn't find me when he got up. I was in the Secret Garden.....just enjoying the last of the cool morning.

I need a secret garden. I have plans for one, but a lot rides on DH with his table saw. That thing scares me so I have no plans to touch it.

I just posted some pics of Tyler's secret garden on the Show Me Your Gardens forum.....go peek..

And stay away from the table saw. One of our lake neighbors showed me where the end of her index finger was missing from "helping " her DH push a board thru.......

See, that's the thing Sandi. I have a lovely potting bench that he made for me last fall....and while he was ripping the boards for the bottom shelf (which were on the narrow side) he wasn't using a push pin like he should have. That was not an enjoyable trip to the emergency room. He still has his thumb, and the nail grew back, but it's kind of distorted.

yikes!!!