ssgardener said:DC folks! The national arboretum native plant sale is tomorrow! @catmint20906, you might be interested in this! Unfortunately (or fortunately for my wallet!), I won't be able make it.

Thanks for the heads-up, SSG! Sounds like fun!

Becky, welcome to ATP--so glad you found us! I'm glad to hear Coleup is helping to let people know where to find us!

I am beyond happy I am still with you - had a tornado waaaaaaaaay to close to the house for comfort last night! That is THE most eerie sound ever, the tornado sirens!

Yikes, Becky! Do you at least have a basement where you can take shelter?

yikes, that sounds scary, Becky! glad you all are okay!

We don't have a shelter or a basement, have to use our walk in pantry and/or laundry room...this one took an unusual route, we have historically never been hit - was "only" an F2

Nice to s see you Beckie and your Mr. !!!

When you have time--can you show us all your garden plantings and how they all look now?

I think the last time we saw your garden was when you were just planting all your landscaping.

How are you both? happy Spring!! Gita

Thanks Gita, we are both doing great - I am nearly back to as "normal" as I will ever be Greg is recuperating nicely from open heart surgery in January.

Becky---I always liked your "normal".....

I got tired of bitchy people (in the AL animal rescue world) and decided a therapy break was in order, headed straight to the closest nursery and spent way too much $$ on annuals for the planters. Continued the self imposed therapy session by ordering plants online and I am now well rounded and happy again

Y'all know I have been involved in animal advocacy and awareness for more than a few years now, AL has been a challenge to say the least - getting better laws is like pulling teeth, trying to teach better pet ownership, and people are still very much "you cannot come here and tell us what to do..." well, I decided to put my money where my mouth is at, and I am now the district representative for the Human Society of the United States...I will be actively involved in (animal) lobbying and trying to get better laws! Tuesday is my first step in learning, I will be at the capital lobbying - wish me luck!

Good for you Becky! I've always had a real soft spot in my hearts for animals and appreciate all efforts for animal advocacy.

that's terrific, Becky--good luck!!

You go, Girl!!!!
I cannot imagine anyone in their right mind standing in your way when you start lobbying!
It will be more like standing in the way of a freight train.
I mean that as a positive support for what you are doing and confidence that you will get things done.

Here is my A nimal Activist daughter, Benita with her SO--Matthew--and Dublin--the dog!
They live in Rockville.

I 100% take it as support, that is why the AL state rep suggested I reply

gitagal said:You go, Girl!!!!
I cannot imagine anyone in their right mind standing in your way when you start lobbying!
It will be more like standing in the way of a freight train.
I mean that as a positive support for what you are doing and confidence that you will get things done.

Here is my A nimal Activist daughter, Benita with her SO--Matthew--and Dublin--the dog!
They live in Rockville.

nice picture, she's so pretty. I bet those are IKEA shelves.
You go Becky!

Gita, she's very pretty--looks just like you!

The county has been putting in rain gardens in my development. Our storm drains dump out onto a tributary that feeds the Anacostia, so these rain gardens by the parking strips are supposed to help clean the water and prevent a deluge of water from damaging the creek.

So far, the gardens on my street have been dug and the soil has been amended several feet, but the rain garden plants aren't in yet. Today's heavy rain has resulted in several inches of yucky brown water just sitting in these rain gardens.

I really hope the plants get put in asap. Otherwise, it's going to be the perfect breeding ground for mosquitos.

love the rain garden plan, and hope it gets finished. Mosqitoes could be a huge concern.

My friend heard of putting a few feeder goldfish in the rain barrel for mosquito control.

Sallly - see http://www.doityourself.com/st...

Excellent info, David!

A new (my only) water feature of some kind would be a really nice new thing for my new area behind the garage....

There was some good info in that article, but goldfish in birdbaths? My birdbaths are so small that I have to dump out the water every day. Those must be some big birdbaths!

Goldfish are great at eating mosquito larvae, but as long as a water feature has constantly moving water with no still areas, it won't become a mosquito incubator.

ssg, get a package of Mosquito Dunks and throw in little chunks every now and then until they plant them.