Arlene (Abhege), I totally agree that 18" is too narrow! I've tried it too, and have decided that 24" is the bare minimum. (Unless, of course, I just HAVE to squeeze something else in...
. At times I feel like I'm playing the game "Twister" in my garden.)
Arlene (Pirl) -- I also agree about the gardening being the highlight of the year! I hope that once I'm too infirm to actually do the outside work, someone will still push me outside in my wheelchair so I can watch someone else do so