How is the weekend going Jack? Well it's going. I have been trying to get the garden prepped for planting but before that could happen it needed some repair. Back around '96 I had some soil hauled into this rockpile, it was in a raised bed 48 feet long and 24 feet wide. Those cherrytone landscape timbers surrounding the entire mess rotted out years ago, last summer it was a task just to keep the water supply to the garden intact, this year I put down direct ground rated pressure treated timbers across the top of the garden for my water 'manifold' to set atop. Water Manifold From the manifold I have installed a solenoid operated valve, a ball valve and a barbed fitting to attach the half inch soaker hose to. The soaker hose is then laid into a 3" deep furrow the 24 foot length of the row and buried, it's hard to get even irrigation in the soil due to the slope and the subsoil which is porous, the soaker hose has proved to be the best method of insuring enough water for the plants. Soaker Hose Here I have 6 of the new valves installed along the top of the garden, I had two Honeysuckle bushes at the far end that I took out Friday and hauled to my daughter's place where they were replanted. That weed patch in the foreground are chives, grass, and some Strawberry plants in a strip 6 ft X 24 ft. Honeysuckle Bushes Here I have the Honeysuckles removed and all the valves installed, there is a Japanese Maple in a planter still setting back there, I need to replant that too, then retill that piece, set the furrows and hoses, then it will be ready to plant. Pssst!!! Don't tell Algore about the spontaneous combustion fire. Manifold Finished Some of the flora around the homestead. It's a full acre, might just as well be 40 acres, there is a lot to mow. Azalea and Pieris Camelias Apple Tree with a Star Magnolia behind and to the right. It keeps the deer out of the garden. Viburnum Tinus With a bit of luck I might be able to start planting tomorrow or the next day. I will eventually get the valves wired and on a timed schedule so when it turns hot each variety will get it's proper water, not more nor less than it needs just to satisfy the requirements of it's neighbor. We used to chase the irrigation all summer, moving hoses and sprinlkers, too damned much work, it reminded us both of our upbringing on the farm, when this is done it won't be near as hard to keep up and the soakers hoses help keep the weeds down between the rows too.