Rob ~ Please ask LF to step farther away from the edge! Antics close to any pool's edge worry me because many years ago I lost a friend who was doing exactly as LF, only he was a bit closer (or maybe just arched a bit backward) and cracked his skull. Otherwise... wish I were there. Locally it's been in the 90s, both heat and humidity. Don't dare set up the wading pool because there are dry T'storms every afternoon. Well, wet t'storms elsewhere, just not over my garden. Lots of lightning and booms, no precip. Neighbor has rented his McMansion for the past several years to LawnGuy, who finally decided to buy his own lawn with an attached house. I think in a neighborhood of other lawnguys, so at least he will have companions. Neighbor finally found a new tenant, but tenant insisted that several of the dead/almost dead trees must be removed from around the house. DH has spent most of the week sawing and felling the deadwood, then logging into stove lengths. Not a pleasant job in these temperatures. Neighbor hired a Pro to log down one tree too close to the garage for DH to fool with. In less than 40 minutes, the pro took it down [in 4-foot sections] and left it laying in pieces. $750. I told DH that I hope neighbor appreciates DH's free work, lol. Local gasoline is $4.07 as of this morning. The radio cheerfully comments that we should expect another 10¢ per gallon raise this week. If my car gets 33 mpg, and I drive 15 miles to get gas 15¢ per gallons cheaper, how many gallons do I have to buy before it's a real savings instead of just another pretty price? This morning, a gas station ran a special for two hours: $2.50 per gallon. Local resident comments that same station had also changed its price immediately after Katrina: $5.99 per gallon. We have a tendency to blame companies for opportunistic behavior, as though the business were a soul with morals. But each company is actually run by people, and what we see as the company's behavior is really the expression of the human's morals. I just remembered that some folks use McMansion as a perjorative. I used it in the sense of being a house oversized and unsuitable for the area, and in the midst of houses which are not. The McM I referred to is a 12- (or maybe 14) room 3-story pseudo-Tudor house with attached garage (with apt) in a neighborhood of comparitively smaller 3or4-BR brick ranches. Sigh. Neighbors are very much like siblings: we don't choose them, we just live with them.

I sometimes propagate a few E. regnans and may have some next spring or summer. The tree pictured froze dead in December 2009 after reaching almost 70' tall so I can't really recommend it for most normal Northwest gardeners who don't like giant dead trees. I might have a couple pots of variegated Algerian ivy kicking around; I'll have to check. This plant and Podocarpus salignus did not sustain any damage last winter, so that is nice. Here's a preliminary report of how the eucalyptus fared last winter - I'll be producing a more complete report soon. Eucalyptus acaciiformis [Chiltern Seeds] dead to the ground Eucalyptus acaciiformis [Chiltern Seeds] dead Eucalyptus aggregata [Milligan Seeds] small one dead, big one dead to ground, resprouting Eucalyptus aggregata [Milligan Seeds] dead to the ground, resprouting Eucalyptus amygdalina [Milligan Seeds] dead to the ground, resprouting Eucalyptus apiculata [Milligan Seeds] dead to the ground, resprouting Eucalyptus archeri [Burnt Ridge] heavy leaf burn, but no dieback, also major resprouting Eucalyptus archeri [Celyn Vale?] no damage Eucalyptus archeri x nitens [Milligan Seeds] mostly dead, resprouting at 4' Eucalyptus badjensis [Milligan Seeds] both dead Eucalyptus badjensis [Milligan Seeds] dead to the ground Eucalyptus baeuerlenii [Milligan Seeds] dead Eucalyptus barberi [Wildseed] frozen to ground, resprouted Eucalyptus bicostata [Milligan Seeds] dead Eucalyptus bicostata [Milligan Seeds] still dead Eucalyptus bicostata [Milligan Seeds] dead Eucalyptus bridgesiana dead Eucalyptus bridgesiana [Frank] dead Eucalyptus brookeriana [Milligans] still dead Eucalyptus brookeriana [Milligans] dead to the ground, resprouting Eucalyptus brookeriana [Milligans] top dead, resprouting to about 8' up Eucalyptus camphora [Milligan Seeds] defoliated, but releafing throughout Eucalyptus camphora [Milligan Seeds] dead to the ground, resprouting Eucalyptus chapmaniana [Milligan Seeds] defoliated, resprouting from about 1' up Eucalyptus cinerea dead Eucalyptus cinerea [California] dead Eucalyptus coccifera [Celyn Vale] dead to the ground, resprouting Eucalyptus coccifera [Celyn Vale] dead Eucalyptus coccifera [Milligan Seeds] dead to the ground Eucalyptus cordata [Milligan Seeds] dead to the ground, resprouting Eucalyptus cordata [Chiltern Seeds] dead, resprouting from base Eucalyptus cordata [Milligan Seeds] dead to the ground, resprouting Eucalyptus crenulata [Milligan Seeds] about 70% burn, trunk severely split, but no real dieback, looks like it will be fine? Eucalyptus crenulata hybrid [Milligan Seeds] no damage Eucalyptus crenulata x nitens [Milligan Seeds] dead Eucalyptus dalrympleana [Burnt Ridge] dead to the ground Eucalyptus dalrympleana [Milligan Seeds] no damage Eucalyptus dalrympleana [Milligan Seeds] slight tip damage, 20-30% defoliated, resprouting Eucalyptus dalrympleana [Milligan Seeds] slight tip damage, 20-30% defoliated, resprouting Eucalyptus dalrympleana [Milligan Seeds] dead to the ground, resprouting Eucalyptus dalrympleana [Milligan Seeds] no damage Eucalyptus delegatensis [Colvos Creek] 50% burn but branches still alive, ought to make it Eucalyptus delegatensis [Milligan Seeds] dead Eucalyptus dendromorpha [Milligan Seeds] still dead Eucalyptus dives [Milligan Seeds] heavy leaf burn, resprouted at 2' Eucalyptus dunnii [Nindethana] really dead Eucalyptus elliptica [Milligan Seeds] dead Eucalyptus elliptica x nitens [Milligan Seeds] (little one) dead to ground, resprouting Eucalyptus elliptica x nitens [Milligan Seeds] (huge one) about 70% dieback, some branches alive? Eucalyptus elliptica x pulverulenta [Milligan Seeds] dead to the ground, resprouting Eucalyptus fastigiata [Milligan Seeds] 50% leaf burn. impressed that it's even alive Eucalyptus fastigiata [Milligan Seeds] dead Eucalyptus glaucescens [Celyn Vale] trunk split, no other damage Eucalyptus glaucescens [Celyn Vale] dead to the ground, resprouting Eucalyptus glaucescens [Celyn Vale] no damage Eucalyptus glaucescens [Chiltern Seeds] top dead. Resprouting @ about 8' up Eucalyptus glaucescens? Hybrid [Celyn Vale] dead to the ground, resprouting Eucalyptus globulus dead to the ground Eucalyptus goniocalyx? still dead Eucalyptus gregsoniana [Chiltern Seeds] 20% defoliated, trunk split, but ought to be fine Eucalyptus gunnii [no special provenance] dead to the ground, resprouting Eucalyptus gunnii [Silverdrop] no damage Eucalyptus gunnii [Silverdrop] dead to the ground, resprouting Eucalyptus gunnii var divaricata no damage Eucalyptus hybrid (nicholii x ???) defoliated, resprouting all along trunk to top! Eucalyptus hybrid [parvula x ?] (near gate) dead Eucalyptus johnstonii (hybrid?) [Celyn Vale] 10% leaf burn Eucalyptus johnstonii [Milligans] top dead, resprouting to about 10' up Eucalyptus kartzoffiana [Frank] still dead Eucalyptus kartzoffiana [Frank] still dead Eucalyptus kitsoniana [Milligan Seeds] dead to the ground, resprouting Eucalyptus kitsoniana [Milligan Seeds] dead to the ground, resprouting Eucalyptus kybeanensis [Celyn Vale] lower lvs/brs dead, but mostly fine Eucalyptus lacrimans [Celyn Vale] died back to trunk, resprouting from 5' up Eucalyptus lacrimans [Celyn Vale] no damage Eucalyptus ligustrina [Milligan Seeds] dead Eucalyptus macarthurii [Milligan Seeds] dead to the ground, has resprouted vigorously Eucalyptus macarthurii [Milligan Seeds] dead to the ground, resprouting Eucalyptus mannifera dead Eucalyptus mannifera praecox (E. praecox) [Milligan] about 20% leaf burn Eucalyptus mitchelliana [Milligan Seeds] no damage Eucalyptus mitchelliana [Milligan Seeds] no damage Eucalyptus moorei [Milligan Seeds] dead to the ground Eucalyptus moorei nana dead, resprouting from base Eucalyptus morrisbyi [Wildseed Tasmania] all dead to the ground, resprouting Eucalyptus neglecta [Milligan Seeds] 10% leaf burn Eucalyptus neglecta [Milligan Seeds] no damage Eucalyptus nicholii [Celyn Vale] was cut down before winter, did not resprout Eucalyptus nitens (Chilean landrace) [GIT] dead Eucalyptus nitens [Milligan Seeds] dead Eucalyptus nitens [Victoria BC] dead Eucalyptus nitens [Victoria BC] dead, resprouting from base Eucalyptus nitida [Celyn Vale?] dead Eucalyptus nova-anglica [Milligan Seeds] no damage Eucalyptus obliqua [Milligan Seeds] still dead Eucalyptus ovata? Yarraensis? [Milligan Seeds] dead to the ground, resprouting Eucalyptus paliformis [Milligan Seeds] dead Eucalyptus parvula [Celyn Vale] about 30% burn to lower lvs Eucalyptus parvula [Chiltern Seeds] no damage Eucalyptus parvula x nitens [Celyn Vale] no damage Eucalyptus parvula x pulverulenta [Celyn Vale] no damage Eucalyptus pauciflora [Mt. Buffalo] no damage Eucalyptus pauciflora subsp pauciflora [Milligan Seeds] dead to ground, resprouting Eucalyptus pauciflora subsp. debeuzevillei [Celyn Vale] no damage Eucalyptus pauciflora subsp. debeuzevillei [Celyn Vale] no damage Eucalyptus pauciflora subsp. debeuzevillei [Milligans] some damage to trunk/bark, top still growing fine Eucalyptus pauciflora subsp. pauciflora [Chiltern Seeds] 70% leaf burn, trunk cracked, but top keeps growing Eucalyptus pauciflora subsp. pauciflora [Milligan Seeds] one undamaged. The other dead to ground, resprouting Eucalyptus perriniana (mainland form) [Milligan Seeds] 60% burn Eucalyptus perriniana (Tasmania) [Burnt Ridge] dead to the ground, resprouting Eucalyptus perriniana [Celyn Vale] no damage Eucalyptus perriniana Tas. Form [Milligan Seeds] 30-40% leaf burn, ought to be fine Eucalyptus pulverulenta [Celyn Vale] defoliated, resprouted to 9' up trunk Eucalyptus quadrangulata dead Eucalyptus radiata [Milligan Seeds] dead Eucalyptus radiata [Milligan Seeds] still dead Eucalyptus regnans [Milligan Seeds] dead Eucalyptus regnans [Milligan Seeds] still dead Eucalyptus retinens [Frank] still dead Eucalyptus rodwayi linear juv lvs [Milligan Seeds] no damage Eucalyptus rodwayi round juv lvs [Milligan Seeds] no damage Eucalyptus rubida [Celyn Vale] dead to the ground, resprouting Eucalyptus rubida [Chiltern Seeds] no damage Eucalyptus rubida [Frank] dead, resprouting from base Eucalyptus rubida [Milligan Seeds] dead to the ground, resprouting Eucalyptus rubida x nitens [Celyn Vale] dead Eucalyptus rubida x viminalis [Celyn Vale] dead Eucalyptus scoparia [Forestfarm] dead Eucalyptus sp. aff lacrimans [Celyn Vale] 20% leaf burn Eucalyptus sp. was supposed to be saxatilis [Milligans] dead to the ground, resprouting Eucalyptus stellulata [Chiltern Seeds] no damage Eucalyptus subcrenulata [Celyn Vale] dead Eucalyptus subcrenulata [Milligan Seeds] 60% leaf burn, regrowing throughout Eucalyptus subcrenulata [Milligan Seeds] no damage Eucalyptus urnigera (Mt. Field, Tas) [Frank] mixed: some dead, resprouting; some fine Eucalyptus urnigera [Luke Isham] 90% burn, top half is dead, ought to recover Eucalyptus urnigera [Milligan Seeds? Not sure] dead Eucalyptus urnigera x dalrympleana [Celyn Vale] minor leaf burn, no real damage Eucalyptus urnigera x nitens [Milligan Seeds] 50% defoliation, top regrowing, and resprouting at base Eucalyptus v.was supposed to be vernicosa but too big no damage Eucalyptus v.was supposed to be vernicosa but too big no damage Eucalyptus viminalis [Celyn Vale] dead Eucalyptus viminalis [Chiltern] dead to the ground Eucalyptus volcanica [Frank] dead, resprouting from base Eucalyptus williamsiana still dead Eucalyptus youmanii [Milligan Seeds] both dead now, one resprouting from base

Wow those tomatoes sure look great, nice work on the containers also. Looks well organized, and you have certainly put the right amount of effort in, deserved of those great results! I too was thinking of using those containers for my tomatoes. I got some 7 gallon pots left over from a landscaping company instead, as they were cheaper (1$ a piece). However, it is extremely labour intensive keeping them watered, so I am thinking of buying those containers to create a "self-watering" system by placing the 'totes' under my 7 gallon tomato containers. Anyway, good job, keep up with the pics!

Donna - I have a lot of confidence that you will find some time to "play" next week, enjoy the time off! Besh - I agree, don't get frustrated, we have all been there and if you keep behaving it will only be a temporary gain. Suzanne - I love tarragon too, also rosemary. Dee - one of our closest friends is a dentist. I always ask him how it feels to have so many people afraid of you. He is one of the nicest men I know and I can only imagine that he is very gentle and compassionate as a dentist. He lives over an hour away or I would go to him. Marci - I have my gyn appointment in a couple of weeks - I dread it too, but necessary. How is DD doing (and you)? I can't wait to see DD#1 in a few weeks! Patti - if you are reading, we miss you, hope you are having fun being a grandma LOL. My MIL had been visiting since Sunday, she was suppose to leave on Sunday but became very bored and left today. I guess my BIL's house is more exciting (thank goodness). You can't even believe all the things we did with her and she is still bored. She had her hair done, we took her shopping, out on the boat, out to breakfast twice, out to lunch another day and out to dinner one night. DH went into work late so they could spend time together and 20 family members were with us Sunday and Monday. I wish I had time to get bored. QOD - No agenda and I hope it stays that way. I haven't had my house to myself since last Friday and it feels good to just be home. As much as I go out I am really a homebody at heart. Friends are coming up from FL tomorrow evening, so we will probably go boating if the weather permits. Enjoy your weekend.