I'm sorry to hear that the effort you have gone to with cherries has not yielded good results. I know from your other posts that you are having much better results with fruit raised in greenhouse setting, so at least something is working out for you. So far, it looks like we will have a decent crop of blueberries here. Blooms emerged on 4-17, and we had light frost on 4-18. I did not see any evidence of damage to the flowers, and by 5-15, the pollination was complete, & our shrubs were covered with tiny green fruit. I don't know how blueberries manage to endure a light frost without damage to leaves and flowers, but they do. Here in Wisconsin, cherries are grown in Door County, a narrow peninsula that reaches about 50 miles into Lake Michigan. I suppose that the lake helps keep the orchards from getting too cold in the winter. I wonder if they have a higher than average snow cover, and if that is what keeps the trees alive? I am certain that there are times when the north wind blows cold, even in Door County. I have seen blueberries growing wild, in a very exposed location, on the south shore of Isle Royale, located in Lake Superior, near Canada. These were not highbush, they were lowbush, and very small shrubs. Still, I wonder how they survive in that location. I would like to grow cherries, but after hearing about problems that others are having, I think I will leave this particular crop to the commercial growers.

No, they're easier than almost anything to grow if you buy good nursery stock that hasn't been damaged and keep it from getting damaged. If I can do it, anybody can, didn't know the first thing about it, but mixed in some fertilizer and planted them carefully (for me), and watered faithfully the first year, then never had to water again. I am getting up in years and was advised not to plant any more, if they don't succumb to something, likely to outlive me, sobering, don't know why the heck not, even if I don't use all the cherries or can/freeze them, people stop and ask for some and I don't care if the birds get them all. Those trees gave us many happy memories for me and my kids. Had a neighbor who used to come and love to pick them for half and pit them for me, grew up on a farm, gave him something to look forward to. So few want to clutter up their fancy yards with things like that now. I don't know why; they aren't messy and are pretty when they blossom and fruit. Just my 2 cents. NS is extremely hardy, was specially developed in Minnesota. For newly planted trees, that deep freeze killed a lot of things, saved most of my plants through that, very unusual that year B4 last. Mulberries don't compare to cherries imo. Never had a mulberry pie. I do happen to like them a lot, just pick off the tree and gobble as many down as I can reach, they grow wild here, but cherries are much more versatile to bake with, probably can better, too, I wasn't good at making jelly or jam. I'd grow black raspberries which I'm crazy for (JB's like them, too), but it isn't practical in my smallish yard, could squeeze some in somewhere if I wanted to fight with the canes. They grow wild here, too, if you can find some that got enough sun and water. The red are good, too, most people prefer them. But environmental conditions have changed drastically in the 30 plus years since I started my first ones, temps are not quite as extreme as they were then here generally plus new insects and blights, etc., have moved in. The Japanese Beetles got loose on the mulberries in the park, and it was awful, horrible, chains of the icky things I was told. At least I was able to keep them off those trees I replaced and they only ate the youngest leaves, that damage wouldn't have killed them unless they completely defoliated them which could happen. I think I just had a bit of bad luck, bought them impulsively at a big box store, they were cheap, and I was so determined once I made up my mind to haul and plant them (not so easy for me now), I didn't check them over very well, not much to choose from that night in the dark. I didn't want to spend the money it now costs at the good nurseries. Now it has ended up costing me a lot more but I feel good about it for now. I decided it's best but may not always be true, to buy your better plants from a good nursery in your area. It doesn't always pay to buy cheap or mail order (which I do a lot of now). I've had good luck with little stuff at big box stores, but I think a lot of inferior stock may get palmed off on them and then sold to unwary customers especially impulsive ones like me, but you can get lucky, too; it's a crap shoot. Lowe's had some NS that looked pretty good after I bought those Montmorency and planted them, what do I know? They were too heavy for me to deal with, too large, too big a hole to dig, make that two holes, I always like two for cross pollination but they say it really isn't necessary. All you need to do is have a reasonably sunny spot, 6 hours or so, average soil (mine's clay after the first 10 or so inches), plant them right, and water well the first year. The worst that happened to one of mine was my son years ago got goofy with his land cruiser in the yard and clipped the one really bad, injured it, surprised it lasted as long as it did, I was so mad at him. Plus not being careful with the lawn mower, a nick in them opens them up to the above canker or other malady. I think it was gall or a virus that got the one finally, looked out the window late one summer, and it had turned completely brown; the other I was never sure what happened with it. But 30+ years is pretty darn good for dwarf trees like that. Standards aren't worth the hassle imo. By all means if you want cherries and have room for them, I certainly encourage you to try them. Try to find a good fit for what will work best for you in your zone, not neccessarily what is the most talked about here. Sorry I rambled on so about it, must be a nuisance to plow through my posts for some.

Brandy, you are joking, aren't you? Me as an enabler? I am embarrassed. I doubt that this term would ever fit me. I just try to be helpful:-) In addition, next year you will hate me if some of the roses will not be free of blackspot. It will be all my fault! However; Sunset Celebration is a great rose. Almost every rose balled in that Âapricot bed after the rain we finally got but not Sunset Celebration. I just cut a few stems and brought inside. Good bloomer Well-being is very nice but it does not do too well for me here close to the coast; I doubt that it would do well without spraying. In addition I find it a bit stingy bloomer. As I mentioned, we didnÂt spray since end of April* this year and Well-being does not have many leaves left. Defoliation could be partially caused by spider mite infestation but in front of Well being there is Belle Ãpoque and that rose is gorgeous! Healthy leaves and stunning two-tone flowers that are fragrant. *(DH just sprayed today and I followed up with calcium treatment to fight botrytis)

Hello Friends, Thank you all for all of your nice words. This warm weather has been a long time coming and I am so happy that Spring is starting. Tim - Have not had any fruit on the Mexicola Grande yet, the wind has taken anything that has come close. Andrew - As always my friend, it is good to hear from you and Thanks for the compliments. Great to hear about your Carrie, it's pretty exciting huh? Check your e-mail, you've got mail. Tropicaliste - Thanks for the compliments and I will definitely put the age of the trees and their names. I know everything is helpful when growing in pots. Bo - Thanks for the nice words. I don't plan on Pruning the Jakfruit anytime soon. It seems to be brancing out quite nicely on its own. I plan on planting it out in the next month or so and hope that it will take off this Summer. That is so Awesome that you got the Violette de Bordeaux fig tree. You will be so happy with the Fruit. I have actually only rooted 1 fig cutting, I got mine already rooted so I don't have a whole lot of experience rooting Fig trees. Congrats on your new Fig tree. Mango Perro - I wish I was in Hawaii Ethan - My California Brother, thanks for the nice words and I will keep the pictures coming. Thanks again friends for all of the compliments and I will keep you all posted on the progress. - Jacob