Hello Image Paul2032,
In answer to your question about our location, we live near Sandpoint, Idaho. We're about 60 miles South of the US/Canada border. We live about a mile East of the US Hwy 95 and Hwy 200 intersection to be more precise.
The ground is almost solid clay. Every time I plant something I have to either dig a hole and add soil enhancement or just rototiller a bunch of soil enhancement (bags of garden soil) into the ground if I want to make some kind of planting bed. The place I'm planting the irises is a small bed about 5 feet by 6 feet. Last year I tilled 3 bags 2.5 cu. ft. each of the Miracle Grow brand into the soil. This last spring I planted tomatoes there. Tomatoes did pretty well. Of course they seem to grow anywhere.
Before planting the irises I added 2 more 3 cu. ft. bags of some other brand I got from Home Depot. I like going to Home Depot rather than WalMart which is across the street from them because Home Depot employees always seem to treat me with more courtesy. In addition Home Depot gives all veterans a 10% discount. Since I'm a disabled Veteran on 100% disability (believe me when I tell you this gardening thing is a challenge) I not only get their generous discount but the help is always happy to give me a hand loading etc. WalMart on the other hand has and shows no appreciation in the way of a discount or a hand. I know on a few things their price is lower but with the 10% veteran's discount it usually comes out about the same but with better service in my opinion. In addition I have never had a Home Depot cashier ask me to donate to a cause for which the store takes full credit for the donation as if they did this wonderful community service. I guess I'm one of the few people who realize that those big "local community donations" that WalMart puts on their bulletin board and takes credit for are strictly donations collected from customers at the checkout stand. You can confirm it yourself if you go to WalMart and a cashier asks if you would like to donate. I did and the cashier confirmed. The donations WalMart takes credit for as donations are monies collected by the cashiers from customers. The store doesn't put in a dime as I was told. Even if they did they need to give credit to their customers and not take all of the credit for their public image campaign. I'm sorry I got off on this tangent. I must have felt the need to rant. Please forgive me.
Anyway, if you know anyone who has served in the US armed forces who shops at Home Depot they may not know that they can get a 10% discount on everything they buy there. Give them a heads up. They will be glad you did.
Again I want to thank everyone for your help and input. I want to let everyone know up front that because of my disabilities I may not be very quick about getting back to this message board. I have constant or near constant fatigue. I don't get many waking hours in a day. I just want to make sure everyone knows I really appreciate your help and I'm not trying to be selfish or stuck up. You have all been very kind, helpful and friendly. Thank you very much.
Sincerely,
David
