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["Robert Walton" <waltonrp AT gmail.com>]

> Perhaps it is ditches of which I am ignorant. Now, I believe I know
> the dictionary and popular meaning of ditch. Do you feel that ditches
> in your part of the world are in any way unique from ditches in other
> parts of the world?
>

Probably not. I'd like the one in front of my house to reflect the
best of ditches around here.

I planted cedar trees just outside the fenceline. In 20 years, when I
am 67, those should serve as fence posts. I'll not be wanting to set
many posts then. I like a tree lined road and ditch.

I'm letting select honeysuckle and creeper some up. There is some
clover and vetch, I'm going to throw a little more seed out next
winter.

The ditch lillies are cheap (free), multiply, and are hardy. Also when
I dig them, the roots are full of worms.

The ditch lillies will benefit where I dug them. It thins them out so
they can grow better,

They bloom just about all summer.

One of the most beautiful ditches around here is on a farm just south.
It's cedar lined, masses of wild roses grow up in the cedars, there
are ditch lillies, honeysuckle and other flowering stuff.

There is another one that is sunny with masses of maximillian
sunflower. I've got a bit of that thrown in mine, too. Another plant
that once started won't go away.

Someday when I'm dead and gone, I hope that people driving by here and
the ones that live here will say that

Keith posted a nice piece on lillies. I mostly like plants that
produce food. But every now and then, I think that it's important for
a homesteader to think about asthetics. Ditch lillies are a great
homestead plant.

Rob - Va