Don't apply lime when you're applying nitrogen in any form (including organic) ; it can lead to chlorosis, preventing the plants from absorbing nutrients. I'd never heard that it can't be applied to frozen turf - everyone I know applies it in mid-winter. I don't use halts, I use corn gluten, a non-toxic alternative. I apply it when the forsythia is finishing up - early to mid spring.

Susan, The first ripe tomato was from a Grape tomato. I had thought the first ripe cherry would be from one of the Husky Red Cherry tomato plants I have in countainers, because they set fruit before Grape, but Grape ripened first. Grape may have ripened first because the tomatoes are smaller than Husky Red Cherry. In containers, planted in March (I think), I have Husky Red Cherry, Grape and Better Bush. One of the Better Bush plants has two tomatoes and the other has three. All five of those tomatoes should ripen within the next 3 to 10 days, and we'll be eating the first BLT sandwiches of spring soon. About half of my container plants have fruit and the other half don't. In the ground I have a lot of small, bite-sized tomatoes that fall in one of the three following categories: cherry, grape, or currant. The plants' names and fruit colors are: Black Cherry(black), SunGold (golden-orange), Coyote(pale yellow), Orange Santa (bright orange), Rosalita (pink), Husky Red Cherry (red), Husky Gold Cherry (gold), Snow White (ivory-yellow), Dr.Carolyn (ivory-yellow), Ildi (bright yellow), Tess' Land Race Currant (red), and Sweet Million (red). There may be other bite-sized tomatoes, but that is all I can think of at this point. Of those, I think that Sweet Million, Orange Santa, Rosalita, Husky Red Cherry and Husky Gold Cherry are hybrids. The rest, I believe, are open-pollinated, and some are heirlooms and some are from the modern era. There's nothing prettier than a salad with six or seven different kinds of bite-sized tomatoes. It looks almost like a rainbow. I don't know about being the Tomato Lady....I think that title should go to Lisa Merrell as she carries on her dad's work. Y'all can call me the Tomato Nut or the Tomato Maniac. By the way, I am on the verge of hysterics. Something horrible is eating my willow trees....just stripping them bare. I thought it was probably going to be caterpillars, and you know that wouldn't bother me at all. But it is some sort of little black and white thing that looks exactly like ladybug larvae, except the ladybugs are grey and orangey-red, and these are black with white spots. I am pretty sure, therefore, that they are the larvae of some other beetle, and I need to do some research to figure out if they are beneficial or not. I have a sinking feeling that they are not beneficials--and there's hundreds, if not thousands of them, on that tree which is 5' away from my garden. Whatever they are, if they are harmful, I hope I have enough beneficials to take care of them. The willow tree will be stripped bare by this time tomorrow. Dawn

The melting has started. All the snow at my house it gone. Green grass in the yard. The stories of those who died or were stuck in cars really bother me. For Christmas I'm making up emergency boxes for the family. Each one is getting one of those hammers that will break car glass. gsciencechick, if you are familiar with the Galleria Mall, a friend and I went on Friday night. The mall was open and hardly anyone there which was a very weird sight as this a busy entertainment complex in our area especially at this time of year. Some stores were closed, other had limited staff but they were so happy to see customers I got an extra 35% off at one store. It was kinda of weird to be shopping when so many were struggling to get out of their homes, etc. but there are still driving bans in the hard hit areas. Apparently all this crazy lake effect weather is due to a Typhoon near Asia pushed the jet stream out of whack.

Very happy to hear that your surgery went well. I have printed off your follow-up care for my husband for use say in about 2 years when he develops a cataract. FIRST, on Sept. 30 he has to undergo a Vitrectomy for repair of a Macular Hole in his left eye - this is NOT going to be pretty. We live in Toronto and he will be having procedure done at St. Michael's Hospital. He is 59 and apparently is young to be having this procedure without a related health reason (diabetes) or having been involved in an accident. His eyes are extremely myopic (his lenses cost $1,200 to get "thin" ones so that he doesn't appear to be wearing Coke bottles on his eyes). I fortunately found a lady whose mother just went through the same procedure in Ottawa and she outlined the dos and don'ts and the general horror of it all - which was exactly what was needed as my husband was searching the Internet for "easy" recovery solutions. Their aren't any. The big thing was finding the place that rents the face-down equipment needed for recovery - easy to do in U.S. or Europe, but Canada, well the usual. For those who might need to know who live in the Toronto area or London area (the company covers both areas) the company is called Care Chairs (www.care-chairs.com). They seem to be the only rental provider of the "real" chair, sleep pillow etc. There is another company but they only sell foam pieces - and they aren't nearly as effective. Basically he will have to keep his eyes looking face down - kind of at his belly button for a week. The chair has a 3 way mirror to help him see what is going on. The pillow for sleeping will be attached between the box spring and mattress - unfortunately both beds in this house have footboards so will have to move to floor. I will also have to board our dog - a very claws and Jaws American Eskimo who loves to jump up and I know he would hit my husband right in the eye - not to mention the taking my husband back and forth. He will have to return for a follow-up day after surgery - so a special neck piece for trip in car. At least he is good at putting eye drops in as he wore contacts for many years. I am dreading it - and asked if they could keep him overnight in hospital - apparently not these days - not "medically" necessary. I am sure people who have undergone this procedure would disagree. I even thought of renting a hotel room downtown for first night, but then the equipment will be at home. Ed, yesterday I bought a pair of sunglasses at Shoppers that are designed to be worn over regular prescription glasses to help with the glare. The lady whose mother had the surgery had to wear them for 2 months to help with glare and the effects of the eye drops. My husband has the custom made clip-ons to wear with his glasses but they won't do the trick. They were $24.95 and I think worth every penny. I also bought a speaker phone, a "customer service" bell to put by his hand in case of an emergency and also found by chance a laptop cart that will work perfectly to place in front of chair for taking of meals - best to keep movement to a minimum and we will have to deal with the bathroom issue. I have threatened to sneak Immodium into his food. His main focus is watching TV - this should be the least of his worries. And because he is so mypopic, without his glasses on, he won't be able to see out of his "good" eye! I am thinking books on tape. Heck I was in the hospital several years ago for a week - TV didn't work and I was stuck in the bed hooked up to a catheter and other wires so if I can do it, so can he. But then I am a good patient - he is not. Even he admits it would be a lot easier on him as a caregiver than on me, because I can be trusted. He continues to work on his IBM Thinkpad - without a larger monitor - I told him years ago to ask for one at work and to up the font size - and to stop reading books with such small print. I turned 58 last week and still have 20/20 vision and I have my font at 125 and won't read the books he buys - and I always have my sunglasses on (hazel eyes, light sensitive - I don't squint, hence fewer wrinkles). He is also worried about washing his hair - Jeez - I have a lot of hair, if I could go a week, so can he and there are those "shampoo" caps at SDM Heathcare shops - or I could just run a facecloth over his head. Forget shaving - and he can't get water near his eyes anyway. He will have to wear pajama tops - and since he absolutely cannot roll over onto his back I am going to clip Chip Clips to his top - one person told me the tennis balls didn't work for him. He won't be able to do any heavy lifting either - much as in your case and this will go on for a few months. He won't be able to fly for 6 weeks or until the gas bubble disappears. He has a business trip in Sept., returning on the 21 - and then another Dec. 5 so hopefully he won't get bumped, sick etc. or anything else will happen to delay the surgery. Originally the surgeon had thought the surgery could be posted for 2 years - by that time he will/would have developed a cataract and they would have taken care of everything. But in the past 3 months the deterioration has been far greater than anticipated so will be having the surgery to try to prevent loss of vision in his eye. The cataract will still develop though. He has his father's grey/blue eyes - and he also developed cataracts, but he was 76 and had both removed at same time in hospital. Now if only his company insurance plan will pay for the rental of his rehab equipment. I am not optimistic. They wouldn't pay anything towards his $1,000 sleep apnea mouthguard or his $150 per visit eye tests with the super surgeon (OHIP doesn't cover these tests either) - and these tests cannot be claimed on Income Tax so that you get $2 back - BUT, if anyone is interested, apparently Hair Transplant surgery can be claimed on income tax. But we will try - apparently eyes fall into a different category, but at some point your eyes have to be considered a major part of your body for heaven's sake - it isn't as if he wants a pair of glasses to match every outfit. I did call the insurance company and they didn't point out how few claims we have made for family coverage - well I am allergic to most meds and he doesn't take any and they won't pay for anything he needs! It is going to be a very unpleasant experience for sure and he won't even be able to pick up the 22 lb. dog or do anything outside (which he prefers I am sure). Forget trying to find anyone to help - already did that re snow shovelling - stood at door on Hallowe'en and asked anyone my size or bigger if they would shovel for generous rates (I am 5' 8" - so wasn't asking 6 year olds) - but no takers. Kids around here don't shavel, rake leaves - zip. Apparently the easy way to earn money is to offer to walk people's dogs - as if that is going to happen. My little terror being walked by a 10 year old with no training. We have no relatives in Toronto to help - SO ED, HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO PLAY NURSEMAID! My husband just came upstairs so I will read him the account of your experience. Again, I am very happy that all turned out well for you. I sure wish this was over.