There as many techniques for fertilizing plants as there are gardeners ;-) You are realizing that by reading the info provided by various 'expert' sources as well as various opinions. More or less they are all correct ;-) If anything I would err on the side of underfertilizing so ferting with every watering is not something I would do unless the plants were very lackluster in their performance in comparison to what I thought they should be doing. For example, a heavy blooming annual may slow down it's blooming. Give it a feeding and a week later it is in full bloom again. Experiences like this, over time, will give you a sense of what, how much and how often more so than any routine, one size fits all schedule will. I think a good 'starting plan' is to mix in a little slow release fertilzer (get one that is labelled as a "complete" food meaning it has micronutrients in it instead of just N-P-K) and then use a fert mixed with water every couple weeks at half strength. From here, alter the frequency and strength and wait a couple weeks to observe how the plants respond. It's a bit more complicated in that some plants need really high fertility and others very little so knowing a bit about the plants you are growing (you can just divide them into low, normal and high) for their fert needs helps. But, this comes with time as well. No worries, err on the side of caution with ferts and everything will work out fine. Waaay easier to cause problems with over ferting than under ferting.

Yellowthumb, this is kind of a long post but take from it what you will. I hope at least one suggestion below can help you, your wife, and son. I understand why you "walk" your son, it makes sense. But yeah, two hours per day is a lot. That's a very good compromise to replace the 2nd walk with indoor (rough house) activities you can do with mom around. Take advantage of the days when he is not real active (or when your late on your schedule and it's near bedtime) and do more quiet time things with the three of you. Like reading a book, practicing ABCs, numbers, etc. Have your son help mom sort laundry (going in and coming out). If he doesn't enjoy it right away with mom, you should alternate it with your wife so you/Richard can do it together and make it more fun (like a game). Maybe watching you do it will give mom some tips on how to be more creative/exciting for a 2 year old. Even if not fun, kids like to "help mom/dad" -- it also teaches good work ethic and gives mom a break from that chore. He will also pick up you are "helping mommy" when giving her a break from laundry. All-in-all, remember children love routine. The more your son can do with mom, as a routine event daily, the more he will enjoy it. I agree your son should be sleeping in his own bed, I struggled with this, too. Also, you shouldn't "run" to his room every time he calls. Even if it wakes your wife, she has to realize that if she wants him to sleep on his own and develop individualized self-esteem, you may need to loudly call back to your son "it's OK, mom and dad are here, it's time to sleep now" when he calls you. So far, he has learned that you will "appear" when he calls. Replace that with the sound of your voice. Later, don't answer every time he calls, he will probably go back to sleep the times you don't answer. Soon he won't need either. You might also try some quiet sleepy music. Are you *sure* your wife can't go back to sleep if woken up twice? I suspect there is a "fit" being thrown by mommy there... but I don't know her. In any case, she should be willing to not be upset at YOU during the transition period. Another suggestion: buy (used) a rear carry/pack for you to carry him. Mine looks like a hiking backpack. My daughter (two years in July) loved it initially, but likes being independent now when we're outside. However, she likes it when she's tired and wants to be held (which I WON'T do excessively) so I go outside and garden with her on my back! It's good exercise if you are physically able to do it. And I am constantly talking to her when she's in there. It soothes her to listens to my voice and learns the names of things in the garden (or the sky, the ground, inside the neighbors house by peeking over the fence, whatever). I agree with Calistoga Al and feel lucky your wife is communicating with you. You stated you realize women need to talk, share their day, communicate, to feel loved and make that "connection" with their mate. Men need sex for that same reason. It's how (most) humans are wired. Take care of her and you'll realize how (eventually) she will want you to be happy and cared for. Another suggestion: Be OK with the fact your son likes to spend time with you more. Those things can CHANGE! I have three kids and each of them went through that. Infants are usually closer to mommy (but typically look like daddy) when born. As toddlers many will then attach to the "fun" parent. It will likely reverse (or even out) later when in grade school as they detach from parents and become more social as well as independent. As they age, both boys and girls develop different needs they can get from either parent, AKA "special bonds", but in different ways. Your son "goes to mommy" for bedtime, just like my daughter does after spending all day with me. She can't run to mom fast enough some days. Other days, she won't go to mom or me at all. Everyone just needs to be OK when they act that way (as long as they aren't being disrespectful to parents). But it's also OK (and normal) for first time parents to be hurt by that; and you should share that in private with each other. One of the best examples you can set for your son is being a good husband. Show affection (kisses) and care for your wife (fetching her things, massaging her feet, whatever) in front of him. Some day he will be a husband, too. But you also reap what you sow.

If you added yellow pansies back in March, they may still be hanging on to help some of the "gap" time. For next year anyhow. I have the same blue-gap that you have. Unfortunately I put some blue pansies in there in March and they are still hanging on. (its not seen close up so I can get away with a little legginess for awhile) My soft yellow yarrow, 'Anthea' is blooming now but in another bed. I am going to move some of it to my May Night purple-gap bed. I also have a low sedum that is blooming yellow now. And Maltese Cross (deep hot orange!) just opened last week. Its still young but got lots of potential. I love the rich color with blue/purple. 'Autumn Sunset' climbing rose is soft orange buds opening to soft yellow blooms. Easy care, tough rose. And how about a yellow hosta: If you decide to go the pink route instead of the yellow route, there are lots of early pink geraniums that fit the bill. And blushing pink Knockout rose is absolutely awesome with purple salvia. I have some with E. Friesland in my pink rose bed.

sandy16 - IMO, it doesn't matter whether the cover crop is tilled into the soil or cut down and thrown on the compost pile and then tilled into the soil after composting. The total amount of N added to the soil is going to be about the same. The way I understand it, the longer a legume is allowed to mature, the more N is accumulated by the plant. But as it matures, the N is concentrated more and more in the seed as opposed to the roots. If you harvest the seed to eat it, you've reduced the total N that can be returned to the soil (there will still be some in the root nodules though). In any case, growing legumes causes a net increase in soil N. Compare this to growing corn, which fixes no N and if you don't add loads of N to the soil in the form of fertilizer, it will deplete your soil of N.