It depends on where you are situated. Japanese Maples are from........Japan. Their climate is much kinder than ours and they also get significant winter cold and snow. If you can't replicate these conditions, then you are forever pampering them to try to keep them looking good. Personally I would prefer to grow a tree that I KNOW will work without the fuss. They are also fussy about soil and hot northerly winds.

It is just a great patio beer drinking table with a great view:) I couldn't get a picture of the table and the view because I didn't have the room with just a camera phone but this is the view from the top of the patio with it:)

The next time I decorate by a colour of the year will be the first time. Don't hold your breath. I have nothing against this particular colour but it doesn't work with all the things I've collected over the years, and I am not about to discard carpets bought after hard bargaining with dubious merchants in Istanbul or Islamabad because they don't "go" with a paint colour that someone voted "colour of the year." In its place, I think the colour would be quite nice (better than this years choices, certainly). It's just that my place isn't the right place for it.

Yeah, that is what i got when i looked it up it just did not clarify the bag or box, oll, thanks. I know tin roofs, we had those in FL, online does not clarify where, but started in 1700s, all over US. Maybe come from england since we both have? Meat pies we have. American is pot pies, spanish - empanadas, i forgot the name for greek and armenian. We fought for the right to vote, but it was forced on you? Can you go to jail? Sounds harsh. Although we normally only have about a 30% show rate. i do not know who they are, but since my guys never win? It isn't people like me. lol oh and i don't think we have balmain bugs.