Paul, I do agree that price is not a minor issue, especially in this economy. I think it could put smaller nurseries in a bind though, isn't that right? Someone posted that nurseries need the support of their customers to stay in business. I can see that point too. I am willing to give support to nurseries and I can adjust my gardening to try to do that. I don't want to give support to a nursery that is not meeting me half way though, and not keeping in mind that all their customers are effected by the economy too and trying to save them money as much as possible. Trying to manipulate me into buying a hanging plant that costs $50. by using a very popular plant only in that hanging basket and eliminating the less expensive six packs of annuals, doesn't make me feel so supportive. I was told that the nursery that went out of business last year was spending what sounded like a small fortune for oil. The owner had been having health issues too, so that made it difficult to just keep up let alone be innovative and in the end, he needed to let it go. Yes, you are correct, changing an existing greenhouse to solar may be very expensive. Constructing one from scratch to begin with might be cost effective in the long run. Ken, I think you may have missed the point I was trying to make about plants not being watered at a box store etc. I wasn't complaining about the lack of expertise at caring for plants there, or expecting any, but a business that allows such losses of their inventory and then passes it along to us. mxk3....yes, I could express some of my dissatisfaction to management at more of these nurseries, but I have already done that at the large nursery that I don't like to shop at, with no effect. Sometimes I think that most people, companies included, don't really want to hear complaints or suggestions and are not very open to doing anything differently then they are doing them. I do respond though to a company that expresses an interest in what their customers have to say.

You had posted the five home tests awhile back, and I did those. One of those was worms. The news isn't good, although they aren't non existent. Sadly, when I was digging the soil for my testing, I think I came across a total of four worms. I only had to actually pick one out of the buckets of collected soil. I dug several shovel fulls out, then did a slice, per each test. So about 15 or so digs...I think four worms. My compost bin is right next to the veg garden, and in early March, I planted my lettuce/spinach/greens right next to it (because it gives shade). As I worked that little patch of soil with my fork, that soil was LOADED with worms. Either they were enjoying some goodies that were leeching out of the bin, or the bin was full and they were going back and forth. I remember posting about another one of the home tests, and that was smell...my soil had NO smell, good or bad. The other tests were okay, the tilth and the drainage.

LOL You are right Rhonda. Unless we are having more snow our "big winter storm" for the Windsor area fizzled. When it comes right down to it those weathermen even though they can see the weather pattern on the radar they really don't know what Mother Nature is going to do. We were told to expect between 10 inches at first which then went to expect between 6 and 8 inches and the snow was to hit at midnight. Snow didn't start to fall until after 3:00 am so I knew it must have missed us. We ended up with about 2 inches and it is already starting to melt from the trees. So much for that. LOL Everyone was expecting this major storm and was excited about it. Neighbour Tom had his snowmobile out of the garage in hopes he could use it today. Winter snows aren't what they used to be and even then when we had lots of snow the weathermen didn't get all excited about it - they didn't have the technology but aren't we supposed to expect snow in winter? I think from now on I will forget the weatherman and just look out my window to see what it is doing outside. LOL Enjoy your snow. Anne

Gee terri,he's cute and looks sooooooooooooooooo big .My GS is also 8 and going into third grade,and he's a little peanut.But he has all his teeth alredy and wears braces as well.Got his braces after this picture was taken. Here's Markus: Kathi