It's 22 degress outside right now, warming up to about 37 tomorrow. I think the moon is going to have to wait until NEXT month, but thanks for the rooting section (so to speak. . . can't resist a pun)!

Bobert, I have been thinking about the layout of my yard for five years. I signed the contract to buy it five years ago today, my valentine to myself. It has come along and there are things I need to redo where I changed my mind. I'm willing to bet that you know as well as anyone that plants speak to you, and you'll have lots of little inspirations along the way as you work on the new landscaping. Don't rush into it, except to spend this first year getting the soil in as good a shape as you can manage for whatever is going to speak to you.

BTW--the best small commercial organic garden in the area, with fabulous produce, plants exactly the way you described. Mounded rows covered with black plastic, and slits cut for each plant to grow through.

My garden isn't going to be big, but with a half-acre yard, and the desire to move garden plots and try out new things, a tiller won't go to waste. If I buy an old big one or a new small one, either will probably work, but the big one will mean fewer passes.

Ooooh, but I'm looking forward to getting out there and getting my hands in the dirt! We've had the winter we needed to have a great spring.

SRS