We sometimes report on the gardening setbacks of our crime reporter diva slash green thumb girl Stacey Mulick. Today, she reports a success. Read on fair readers:

Success!

For the first time in three years, I have fuchsia blooms in my hanging flower baskets. And I am completely overjoyed.

I don’t know if it was the Black Gold potting mix, the TLC that produced the blooms or the mild spring.

The previous two years, I’ve planted my own hanging flower baskets. My hope each time was to replicate the gorgeous hanging baskets – with their cascading foliage and abundant flowers - that are sold in the stores. (I thought I could save some money if I recycled my hanging baskets and planted starts of fuchsias, geraniums, etc.)

I haven’t delivered to that level, yet. Heck, I haven’t even gotten close.

This year, I told myself this would be my last attempt.

To be honest, my first try this spring failed miserably. I planted my starts and had my two hanging baskets outside when we had those days of late-winter, early-spring frost. The weather killed all but one of the starts I planted. (In hindsight, I should have brought them into the garage. When I went to buy more starts, a store clerk said she had puts her baskets inside her garage near a heater during the foul weather and they were growing terrifically.)

You see the results of the second attempt. I’ve got fuchsia blooms on several starts in both flower baskets. The other flowers in the baskets also are in bloom. I still don’t know if my baskets will look like the more impressive, store-bought baskets but I am happy with the results so far.

Success!

Tresa Nelson of Puyallup sent us pictures of her backyard with an amazing hillside. I'm sure there is a lot that could be done with a slope like this. But where to start? Geesh. I have no clue. I'd probably just close my curtains and pretend everything is fine (la-la-la, hands over eyes).

Wrote Nelson:

Our backyard ends with this hill -- I have tried terracing it -- planting it with rhodies, then planting it with fruit trees. It always looks terrible. I don't have the time to keep it weeded, so this is how it looks most of the time. I would love some ideas!!!

Ok wise garden readers, it is your turn to weigh in. Take a look at the pictures and comment here (or email me at sue.kidd@thenewstribune.com).