Grass not always greener in Augusta's gardens

Gardening requires lots of water -- most of it in the form of perspiration.

-- Lou Erickson

I dropped by the Augusta Gardens when it opened up for free on Saturday and was pleasantly surprised.

I have to admit I had not been inside the gardens in almost a decade, but you could certainly see the potential. The walkways and ponds and lakes and garden plots are all there.

All it needs to be a true city asset is some greenery.

It will be open again today from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Thursday and Saturday also.

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MAILBAG: Lloyd and Lynn and Michael Creech drop holiday greetings from New Orleans.

Rosemary from Clarks Hill, S.C., sends a Christmas postcard from Maryland. She says she took U.S. Highway 17 up and what she thought would take 12 hours took 20. And none of the towns she drove through featured a Starbucks.

Barbara and George and Dianne and Glenn send greetings from Disney's private island. Diane and Lionel Solursh send a postcard from South America.

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MORE MONEY: The discovery of missing money continues with Maydene Willard, of Harlem. She writes: "Ironing seems to be the last thing I get around to with my busy schedule. I don't hate it, but I have to work myself into the mood when it can't wait any longer. This happened last Saturday. I ironed everything. In a pair of pants that I haven't worn since summer, I found a nice clean crisp $5 bill. I was so excited! Since it was so clean, I decided to iron it. It was like brand new."

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MORE RESTAURANTS: Maydene also recalls some old Augusta restaurants. "There was Central Restaurant on Seventh Street between Broad and Ellis." And Howard's Coffee Shop beside the Modjeska Theater. "It was run by Hugh & Marjorie Cross. They had those little burgers like Snappy's. My sister worked there."

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TODAY'S JOKE: Here's one passed along by Bob Ross.

While shopping in a food store, two nuns happened to pass by the beer, wine and liquor section. One asked the other if she would like to try a beer.

The second nun answered that, indeed, it would be nice to have one but that she would feel uncomfortable purchasing it. The first nun replied that she would handle that without a problem. She picked up a six-pack and took it to the cashier.

The cashier raised an eyebrow when the nun put the six-pack on the counter, but she quickly said, "This is for washing our hair."

The cashier reached under the counter and put a package of pretzel sticks in the bag with the beer.

"That's fine, sister," he said, "These curlers are on me."