Henry wrote:


Actually, I'm not. I'm from Bethesda. Back in the early 1960s my folks
bought a piece of land in PA (just north of Gettysburg) and we go up
there quite a bit. We call it "the farm" but it's not. It's just land.
We added a pond in the 60s and spent a summer in the 70s building a
cabin (no heat/water/electricity). Over the years we've put in about
5,000 White Pine and Japanese Larch and plant a couple dozen spruce
every few years and we cut our Christmas trees from those. My father
grows fruit trees and bushes and some ornamentals.

Sounds cool

The funny thing about what I wrote above was that I went up to put the
plastic down, knowing my dad would be there, planting some new trees and
working. When I got there I found that he also have a 20' x 100' piece
of plastic to lay out to prepare another area. We had both been to
different Lowes stores that morning and bought the same brand/size, etc.
except his was black and mine clear. We're taking bets on which kills
and cooks the grass faster. He's going to be planting berries, I'll be
doing something with roses and perennials and perhaps a Franklinia he
started from seed. Should be fun. My rose wish list is longer than 40'
by 50' will hold but it's a good start.

I'm betting on the black plastic. It'll absorb heat more.

As for where I live, I'm just off 355 near downtown Gaithersburg. I'm
in an older neighborhood and have lots of large oak trees in the yard. I
really don't have enough sun for most of my roses but I try anyway. If
the trees weren't so big, I might cut some down but I can't bring myself
to do it. I also like sitting in the shade.

I know that general area. I'm just off the intersection of Quince
Orchard and Darnestown Rd. Near the Kentlands and across from the
Lakelands.