"Mulching resulted in exceedingly high plant growth, even though higher nematode populations were also observed. Under mulching conditions, soil temperatures at 5-cm depth seldom rose beyond 30°C throughout the year. Cover plantings of non-hosts, which had been selected by earlier inoculation tests, indicated remarkable retardation of plant growth of black-peppers, evidently due to the competition, and this also reduced the nematode population. Macroptilium atropurpureum (siratro) gave the smallest growth retardation of black-peppers. From these results, a combination of three procedures, i.e. Temic or Furadan treatment, mulching with grass straw, and cover-planting of non-hosts such as siratro, is recommended on black-pepper plantations for better plant growth and eventually better yield of black-peppers in the fields infested by root-knot nematodes." -- Integrated control of the root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita, on black-pepper plantations in the amazonian region. Minoru Ichinohe1, Instituto Experimental Agricola Tropical da Amazonia, Tomé-Açu, Pará, Brazil. It isn't just us, they're everywhere in temperate climates. Here, agricultural crops are rotated every 3 years in different fields, and farmers like to grow peanuts behind well-tilled bermuda grass. I have some flower beds in which certain plants will not grow. Sometimes I just fill a bed with marigolds, which are reported to help decrease the nematode population. I'm not sure that helps, but the marigolds thrive and I feel good about it. One thing I do is to pull and discard plants including those disfigured roots rather than leaving them to plow under or cutting off the tops. As I mentioned before, I keep a list of plants that are most resistant and a list of plants that I'm just not going to plant again because of these devils. Sometimes I read the literature on plant research, but stopped cold today when I read about an infant who had soil nematodes causing a rash on her skin. Nell

Cindy, thank you, I do love a variety! Isle of Zanzibar still mesmerizes me when I see it bloom! Lisa, I've had Morrie Ott for about six years in my garden. It is one of my all time favorite mini's. Some of those pretty edges you refer to had a hard time opening this morning. Mississippi Memories being one of them. Sharon, thank you. Enchanting Esmerelda is one of those that need to be in the garden for its performance and beauty. Will always reside here! Julia, I love my neck of the woods because the dormants do well here as well as MOST of the southern breds. I feel I have the best of both worlds as far as what I can decide to grow here! I've had Cerise Masterpiece three years. It has not increased rapidly for me here. Started as a single fan, now has three fans and the blooms still are not pristeen. Hopefully it will show itself off a lot better by end of this season! dreamingdaylilies, I moved Way Past Cool to my new deer protected bed last fall, so this picture really doesn't show it in its full beauty. I'm sure it will settle in nicely tho. As far as Morrie Otte goes...I've never had a problem with Morrie here. You might be right as far as temps being too cool. Rita, one of the reasons I like looking at all your picks! You have so many things I don't that I get nothing but pure enjoyment looking at yours! I have to admit purple being my favorite, I still fall for all those pinks with gold edges! Thank you all for taking the time to take a peak into my neck of the woods! Nancy

Aputernut what are the origins of your kings? They are magnificent!! DH and I took a trip to Bronner's this fall. #1 on my bucket list was a visit!! I am sooo embarrassed and feel so STUPID. I was not interested in the video of the history as I knew it and saw much on Youtube, so avoided the "Program room". I did peak in at one point and it was dark as a show was going on...The next day, an hour outside of Frankenmuth I began reading their literature. To my GREAT frustration I discovered in that dark room are cases of 150+ nativities from 50+ different countries!! I have been begging and the Bronner's Facebook page has begun posting pictures of some of them. Unfortunately they do not post as many Creche sets as they do ornaments. But they are not for sale--they are a private collection so I get it. ANYWAY I added a camel and cow to my outdoor set..and I am scouring ebay for a few more shepherds..there are some older characters out there I would love to get my hands on!! We also went to one large spot light. DH is very into cutting our wattage use DOWN. I have a star hanging on the back of the light pole, and we have enough snow to cover the blue extension cord so it is all very nice IMHO

No snow in Orlando but its going to be in the 30's for the next few nights. Your snow pictures are pretty. its easy for me to say, I'm not out there shoveling and scraping! What kind of dog is Harry? He looks like my dog.