I've actually seen a little wasp like creature drilling down a cane I had just pruned but hadn't gotten around to sealing yet. I have also found tunnels on unpruned canes that go almost down to the bud union. These tunnels were almost always on brand new healthy basils or nice new secondary branching. They broke my heart as I continued to prune down further and further trying to see if anything was still in the cane and where the tunnel would finally stop. Perhaps I have two different types of borers (lucky, lucky, lucky). When the Raspberry Cane borer was first suggested as one of my pests I kept a sharp eye out for any damage to these new succulent canes near the tip (which is where they said the borer would make a slit in the cane and deposit her eggs). I've never seen any sign of anything, including damage to the top leaves, or slits in the cane. The only thing I've ever seen are those wasp type borers. So what do I do? I never spray insecticides for them, but I do seal the canes of any pruned area that's about the size of a pencil or even a bit smaller. This has cut down on the amount of damaged canes I encounter. At least if I have 2 different kinds of borers, I'm helping to alleviate one type of tunnel with the glue. If a person doesn't want to seal, that's up to them. Trial and error are the way we all learn what is in our own personal outdoor space. As I always say, it's your garden, so do what you think is best for you, not other people.......Maryl

Sorry, I got used to calling you Lucy so I will try to remember. I would love to come by some time. I still owe you some bags of compost or manure. Email me and let me know which so I can pick up some when I go back to Lowes. She has been a big help and it got hot so dang fast this year. We will have to do more planting and make more beds when the weather cools off. Hopefully I'll get to where I can do more digging as I heal up. John said the guy that did my flower beds owes him some yardwork he traded for mechanic work so he will get him to dig the the hole for the big pond thank goodness. I have 3 now and would love to have them come down the hill in the back yard and have them spill into each other somehow. I have big dreams huh, lol. I will have to rent a backhoe to be able to do all that.

Since moving, I've learned: North Central Florida is a completely different gardening world from SW Florida. Zones do matter. Zone 9a is entirely alien to zone 10a. Seeds you plant in early march may not come up, or may not grow fast enough to plant out for a spring crop. Plant them indoors in early February instead. On the other hand, I like the plants here better, because they are the same ones (by and large) that I grew in my home state of SC: dogwood, redbud, azalea. Citrus does grow and thrive in 9a -- just not all types. Southern peaches WILL grow and bear here, despite what UF/IFAS says Wild edibles abound! Blackberries, dewberries, mulberries, plums, choke cherries, black cherries, wild onions, and on and on and on. Wildflowers here are much prettier and more like things I would like in my yard: spiderwort, sweet autumn clematis, several beautiful colors of lantana (Yes, I know it's invasive -- skip the lecture, please). Musical Notes clerodendrum is not as pretty in real life as it is in pictures. It's rather tall and ugly, actually, if you don't keep it trimmed back constantly. Camphor trees are horrible things that drop leaves all year long, and come up everywhere. Having a "real" fall is nice. Raking leaves is not. You can have frost in late April in Florida There are bromeliads that survive freezing weather (this makes me especially happy) Organic gardening is just as hard up here as it is in S. Florida. Snails here like to crawl up the outside walls of your house - lots of them -- tons of them. They are very hard to get rid of entirely and multiply much faster (it seems) than in SW Florida. Camellias are beautiful and I had forgotten how much I love them. Idiots still try to grow mangoes and avocados, many from seeds, up here. I don't know why. There are bananas that will grow and bear in zone 9, but you have to protect them during cold spells. Don't feed and try to tame feral cats -- nothing to do with gardening, just an observation on my failure to get this adorable kitten to let me touch him after months of food and loving.

I was at first overjoyed to read sweet Boone was doing better, than saddened to read he had another issue, then another, and now my heart is literally breaking for the loss of your sweet boy, Oak. Know you are not alone in your tears as I weep for your loss as if it were mine. He knew true love when he looked into your eyes, and always remember that. The joyous memories of Boone and Gracie will last a lifetime. Take your time to grieve, but have an open heart to allow another little puppy( or two!)to thrive on the love you gave your 2 babies for many years. God bless (((you and DH)))for this unexpected loss.