"just think when your kids are past the slide stage you can put another island bed right on that spot" bluespruce Funny you should mention an island bed. That's my next project. The 'Whitespire' Birch to the left of the new bed in the second to last pic is going, and the new bed will extend from its spot to the Picea pungens 'Bizon Blue' to the left of it. The slide in the picture is my neighbor's, but we have one too. It's on the only flat spot in my whole yard and is the future site of a Koi pond. The triplets just turned 5, so it's at least another 5-7 yrs. out.Thanks for the compliment. I really appreciate it. "It looks like you worked your rear off on this project. It is almost as much work mentally making something like this come together as it is a physical challenge" Dave The most frustrating part of the project was having to do it a few hours at a time. I usually like to knock these things out on an at-home vacation in a few days. Next project will definately be during a vacation. It's alot more relaxing that way. Thanks for the nice comments. T. I like Sempervivums too. Good suggestion. Thanks, Dan

we have the clouds and 70, but the rain isn't due in til night...did my walking today at meijers and actually remember a couple of items i've forgotten for 2 days, lol.. will have a full weekend and have to get the bath's cleaned...all the beds have clean sheets...besides mother's day, we're celebrating my only dgs's 4th bday...just saw his proposed party (pic-nick, cute right?) is suppose to be rainy...thank goodness, dd2 has a big enough house! with all the grands, parents and us, that's 17 alone...not mention his other grandparents, and friends... i so envy your ability to make a pie...i could never master a crust worth eating, although the fillings were good, lol.. you did remind me of ever present laundry...most is done but have a bunch to put away...

Ron, loving that blood grass too. I've read that blood grass can be invasive in some locations but for me it hasn't spread much at all and has been a wonderful companion plant for the many years I've had it. The green ground cover is Iberis sempervirens (Candy Tuft). It stays ever green and has dense white flowers. That reminds me, I need to plant more.

Hi 123, I simply use generic roundup that I buy for 35 bucks usually for 2.5 gallons and I eyeball the circles I spray. I have to do it four times a summer I would guess. Usually that one bottle gets me thru. In the past I used a 2-gallon pump sprayer which took a lot of time walking back and forth to refill with chemical. Now I have a 4-gallon backpack sprayer. It's great. Four gallons is pretty damn heavy though. I like three in the tank. Here you go Will: That garden cart came free with my Dad's mower. It's light duty but perfect for anything I do really. I've hauled big loads of logs for example. I put that 2 x 4 across the plastic cart with a couple screws on each side and that's it. It keeps the water tank from going forward or backward of course. Then I put the trays on the sides of the water tank to keep it from going side to side. Of course there's a rocker switch to turn the pump on the tank on and off and there's a wand that comes with the sprayer/tank to water with. Well I can't find mine so I put my finger on the end just like you would with a hose if you didn't have a sprayer attached. The tank comes with that long tubing/hose that must be 12'-15' long so I can easily do multiple trees parked in one spot. That's yer basic set-up right there. You should take note that the sprayer wand must be removed each winter and brought indoors. If you don't do that it fails every spring and you're stuck with purchasing another wand for 25$. And after 2-3 years the pump will go. Well, don't buy a replacement from the company that you bought the tank from. Go to eBay and get an off brand. You'll save a ton of money. Dax