home out in the country we had built in 2007. I did it just like my father-in-law did in Texas many years ago.

Rewarded with abundant spears that season and left them alone for another two. The Sping of 2012 would have been my first opportunity to begin harvesting way more than the original crowns first put down.

The winds of change took us to Texas and now... someone else will be enjoying that bounty for the next 20 to 25 years. I guess I paid it forward. Since we're in a new development here in the Big Bend area, we'll be starting from scratch... again.

refreshing... Thanks, Mr. Peace!

toss-offs meet, nature does often find ways to soften our mess.

scientific name is Crassula Tetragona. They're usually hardy but with Chicago windy winters, take them into an area away from the wind and if there's an expectation of a dip in temperature below freezing. Through the winter, keep 'em watered with dry days in between. (No, not to keep them growing but to keep them from drying out)

outside bearfoot! Cactus, Yucca, goat head and thistle thorns are everywhere!

their own... bad, plant.

idea! Sure would save on the cost of weed killer or the backbreaking stooping of weed pulling.

The only downside is a possible collapse while boring... The solution though is easy... bore to the side of it. The only thing lost is a little extra drilling time.

in backyard areas where the homeowner doesn't want to put up ugly fences that distract from the scenery.

I can see where putting up a section of that unobtrusive netting some distance from that window would keep the birds at bay and not hinder the view looking out the window...