There should be some extreme punishment for those who still harbor privets in their yards -- like being required to come weed out every last one of the hundreds of seedlings appearing under my trees each year, deposited by birds. I cut out the 12 or so large ones growing here within 6 months of moving in and have noticed, over the past decade, that most of the neighbors have followed suit (except one right next door, whose privets are also infested with oak root fungus and as a result are not only a menace but look dreadful -- grrrr! He also has some highly mildewed specimens of Dorothy Perkins hanging over the fence. I keep hoping these two problems will cancel each other out...). On the other hand, Geranium pyrenaicum "Bill Wallis" seeds itself around with wild abandon and I do not mind -- it blooms wonderfully all winter and spring, then is easily pulled out when it starts to look ratty. It is especially good at inserting itself in vertical rock crevices. "Bowle's Black" viola is also great -- once you've had it, there it is, no effort required. I also like what I think is Freesia alba x leichtlinii which was here when we arrived and gets spread around when plants get moved -- ubiquitous but not obnoxious. As long as the guest stays small, looks reasonably nice, and doesn't bully, I usually don't mind. Free ground cover.

Karly: That is so NICE that you and Patty are caring for each other. Now that makes me smile. I am happy for the both of you. Now where are mines?!lol I am happy form you in your new place too. I know how that feels. I started with a clean slate too and planted everything unique and fragrant and just built a pond before I broke my heel Have fun with our favorite trees! You should have some real fun growing your trees in both. I can't wait to see the pictures. Patty: Congrats on your new finding and friend! :-))))) Buylady! Look at your Gardenia! Wowowowow. It looks awesome. I think I see a pest on it. I hope not. What is those little white things on top of the leaves? Your tree is small enough to take care of pest easily. Your plants are looking so nice my friend. I would help you out too if I lived closer, believe me on that! Anything I can do for you:-) Mike:-)

Jim, what is the date of the GE fall trade? The Seattle Tree Fruit Society has a show November 1st I want to attend (I have an apple I need to ID). If the dates don't conflice, I probably have some cedar seedlings and seeds for yellow Zucchini (gold rush) and green zucchini as well. I'd be interested in your Ligularia dentate and the Chinese lantern flowers...no dahlias available until Spring. Christine

You have a lot going on with Black pine. If it's a seedling then you have roots that you want. The problem with Pinus thunbergii is humidity. That's where your plant will first become weakened. Then it's a chain of events. The humidity will lead to foliar diseases which upon insects will become attracted (immune system is failing) and when the species can't hack it anymore it will eventually die. Now that being said, if you bought a grafted Pinus thunbergii and do not know what the roots are that it is grafted onto, you may not have a compatible root-system for your soil. That attraction to Japanese black pine because of salt tolerance can easily be thrown out the window if it's not on Japanese black pine roots. Pines are easily grafted on other species, and that is what I'm talking about. No matter what though, whichever root system is in place, the foliage of Pinus thunbergii/Japanese black pine will not tolerate in the long run humidity. That pine will shut down just like that Prunus you bought. 15-years tops. You may get six or eight good years out of it before the needle issues fully develop. Sorry to pass along the bad news. There are people chiming in on this thread like myself that have been doing this stuff nearly 100% as a hobby/line of work for a long time or a very long time. Dax