Please note spinosad though it approved for organic farming doesn’t mean it can’t be harmful. For example sulfur is approved for fungal issues but you don’t want to eat or drink it or get it on your skin, body, eyes. etc. You have detergents, things like floor cleaners, alcohols, bug sprays for indoors, etc but they will make you sick or kill you if ingested. Doesn’t mean because it’s approved for home use that it’s safe if used off label directions. People buy stuff all the time and never think to read the label or check the website for complete instructions. SPINOSAD is highly toxic to bees and I worry about it around any pollinators or even my hummers — anything around the flowers or pollen. I would never use when bees etc are active. So I use it before sun comes up and after sunset when most bees etc have gone to nests or settled for the night. Keep in mind besides the bees which you need to pollinate your veggies and fruits or even to get seed pods for self seeding plants or for seed to harvest and re- plant — if you are a butterfly lover — spinosad will kill them. So don’t use it around butterfly plants where they will lay eggs. Know the butterflies you want to keep, what plant they lay eggs on that then feed on the same plants as they become bigger caterpillars that then grow up to be beautiful butterflies. Check the National Pesticide Cemter for this synthetic man made chemical. Note — Spinosad topical suspension is a novel neurotoxin indicated for the treatment of head lice in children 6 months and older. I’m sure it’s effective but we need to keep in mind this is a relative new product (2003 I believe) and we haven’t had the time to see what it might cause 50 years down the road. I would use it in some cases but just know the way it works - some of the bugs still have to chew on your plant to get it in their system. Others like bees can be effective by just contact spray at that moment. Others have to eat the leaf etc and it stops their digestion and they die from starvation. It’s registered in Canada for example and as in other countries more careful with their citizens who can’t use even a fraction of the chemicals we are allowed — but in Canada it can’t be used for organic gardens or farm operations. S. spinosa was isolated from soil collected inside a nonoperational sugar mill rum still in the Virgin Islands. There are 20 natural forms and over 200 synthetic forms. We are all smart enough to know we are no longer getting the natural forms at this point. It’s all commercially produced synthetically produced. I don’t know how they get away with saying it’s natural whether it’s organic or not. It’s used all over the world for many issues.

thanks all. I've decided that roses in the snow will go to my sisters house this fall instead of the daylily sale. :)

Suzie, You're welcome. I always try to post high wind or high fire danger watches and warnings at this time of year because they can be just as dangerous as convective storms, and last April's horrible wildfire day is a perfect example of that. Today I think my seedlings will have to stay in the fairly dimly-lit barn because forecast winds here will be in the 20-40s with gusts as high as 55 mph here along the Red River. There's no way I'll subject all my flats of spring veggie seedlings to those winds. From experience, at 55 mph, we'll see trash cans, lawn furniture and even trampolines blowing around. I dread days like this. In the past, they have brought down power lines, started fires and even blown my tiny peaches and plums off the trees. I know March is supposed to come in like a lion and go out like a lamb. Here in southern OK, it came in like a lamb and I guess it is going to go out like a lion. Keep your grandscon anchored down! Almost half the state remains under a Wind Advisory today. Dawn

Well since I am still in the construction stage of the fireplace, I can put my mantle high or low. My builder feels I should have a stone FP to the ceiling - while I think that a nice dramatic look, I still think putting the TV up there will be an eyesore. BUT If I just put stone around the lower part - then the mantle - maybe do a recess for the TV - then I could put something over the tv when I'm not using it or don'twant vistors to only notice my TV. Maybe even a miror or tall iron decorative piece. I dont' know... But, I too want to be able to see the TV from my kitchen. I will have built-in next to the fireplace, so my cable box, video stuff can all be tucked inside there. I just had the surround sound speakers put in and they will be putting a sound strip right on the FP - so I guess I almost have to keep it on the FP.. I'd be interested in some photo's too. Lucikly, my wall is long - 24 feet - so I have room to work around the FP if I decide to do that. But, IMHO if you put the tv in built-ins that can be distracting from the FP too... Decisions, decisions. How can I find a photo of beekeepers kitchen?