As fate would have it, I left my computer at the point of entering in my credit card info and when I returned later, the order info was GONE, meanwhile I had researched varieties etc in more depth and have now decided that I will wait to get the fruit trees. The cherry trees probably wont make here (not cold enough) and the one apple I have has been fruitless for 4 years or more, one more season shouldn't matter. The grape vines are a good deal, they are only $5 each and they are 2 year old stock. And I plan to order some blackberries from them too, also decent price, for triple crown, 5 for $12.50. I will check out the place you mentioned too Chuck...All the better if they are kin to you ;)

You will normaly find leaf drop indoors is down to compost temperature being too cold, leaving the blinds closed would not have that effect Was it dropping leaves before you watered it? , Was the water unusualy cold?, in the winter its best to water with 85F or so water to warm the pot up If you post a pic someone will be able to see if theres any signs of any insects etc on it,or nutrient defects etc

About berries... here are a couple web sites that will give you tons of valuable information from OSU and U of Arkansas. Just copy and paste. http://www.aragriculture.org/horticulture/fruits_nuts/default.htm http://pods.dasnr.okstate.edu/docushare/dsweb/ApplySimpleSearch Below are a couple berry farms in Arkansas that ship bare root plants. Give them a call with any questions you might have. They will be shipping blackberry plants within the next few weeks after the first good frost. I just placed an order for Ouachita blackberries and some Wye berries (blackberry/raspberry cross similar to Tay or Loganberries but hardy for this area and supposedly much more productive). http://www.alcasoft.com/pense/index.html http://www.alcasoft.com/pense/index.html

I've had quite a few young stone fruit trees die in the past two years. But I now realize that most of them will sprout new growth from the lower part of the tree, and they will regrow pretty fast. Give them a few weeks at least. Any new growth above the graft union is a good sign. I had a one year old Jefferson plum die almost all the way last spring. Every bit of green shriveled up after a few weeks in the spring and everywhere I scratched was brown. I cut it off at about 16 inches and meant to pull the stump out later. after a few weeks new growth sprouted from the bottom (6 inches above the graft) and a dozen branches grew 6 feet. This spring it was loaded with blossoms and has 2 plums forming. This year I had 6 plum trees girdled above the spiral guards due to high snow. They all started to get a little green, then the leaves shriveled up and dropped and scratching the bark above a foot was all brown. Sure enough, new growth has sprouted low and is growing fast. (zone 5 Ohio)