The Weigela might not have enought sun to flower well, and a Pieris, unless you get one of the few dwarf ones, will certainly get too big. It will also require acid soil. And if you have acid soil (and don't have deer), an azalea or small rhododendron would also work very well. Rare Find Nursery has awesome selections.

After re-reading my initial post, I see I wasn't real clear. I've already twisted off most of the stalks. The dry ones snapped right off. But others still seemed damp and not ready but I forcibly twisted them off anyway. With the dry stalks, the bulb is more or less "sealed up" inside. But with others, I worry that I've left them vulnerable due to the "hole" that was left from stalk. Not to be gross, but the only way I can explain my concern is -- like picking off a scab before it's ready and you're still raw underneath. I worry that the inside of those bulbs are "raw" and suseptible to water and rotting.

Hi WSgirlygirl, Here are two URLs for you to check out. The first is the dogpile search for Bioremediation with Mushrooms linked below. http://www.dogpile.com/info.dogpl/search/web/Bioremediation%2Bwith%2Bmushrooms The second is to a sight from that search. http://www.fungi.com/mycotech/mycova.html From the Mycotech / Mycova home page. ..."After several years, and redundant experiments to prove to naysayers that our data was valid, we have made some astonishing discoveries. (I am continually bemused that humans "discover" what nature has known all along.) The first significant study showed that a strain of Oyster mushrooms could break down heavy oil. A trial project at a vehicle storage center controlled by the Washington State Dept. of Transportation (WSDOT) enlisted the techniques from several, competing bioremediation groups. The soil was blackened with oil and reeked of aromatic hydrocarbons. We inoculated one berm of soil approximately 8 feet x 30 feet x 3 feet high with mushroom spawn while other technicians employed a variety of methods, ranging from bacteria to chemical agents. After 4 weeks, the tarps were pulled back from each test pile. The first piles employing the other techniques were unremarkable. Then the tarp was pulled from our pile, and gasps of astonishment and laughter welled up from the observers. The hydrocarbon-laden pile was bursting with mushrooms! Oyster mushrooms up to 12 inches in diameter had formed across the pile. Analyses showed that more than 95% of many of the PAH (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) were destroyed, reduced to non-toxic components, and the mushrooms were also free of any petroleum products. After 8 weeks, the mushrooms had rotted away, and then came another startling revelation. As the mushrooms rotted, flies were attracted. (Sciarid, Phorid and other "fungus gnats" commonly seek out mushrooms, engorged themselves with spores, and spread the spores to other habitats). The flies became a magnet for other insects, which in turn brought in birds. Apparently the birds brought in seeds. Soon ours was an oasis, the only pile teeming with life! We think we have found what is called a "keystone" organism, one that facilitates, cascade of other biological processes that contribute to habitat remediation. Critics, who were in favor of using plants (as in "phytoremediation") and/or bacteria, reluctantly became de facto advocates of our process since the mushrooms opened the door for this natural sequencing."... Terran Here is a link that might be useful: Dogpile search > Bioremediation with Mushrooms

David Don't give up the ship If the compost you mentioned is accurate that seems ok to me. Watering twice a week ? I watered every day unless it was raining. Even tho I had full confidence in my compost, I added some fish emulsion, and miracle gro each week. I had hanging baskets using MM that turned out great, flowers, and peppers were beautiful ' I watered my hanging baskets 3 times daily , however I made certain the water did not drip out the bottom. All plants I grew were started from seeds in growing containers, transplanted when time permitted. I started cool weather plants in August in the shade on racks outside.Watched them mature, then planted. These cool weather plants did not take off until the cool evenings came along There are some plants that do not take well to transplanting. Other plant seed need certain temp's to germinate, spinach for instance, will not germinate over 75 degrees F. I suspect your compost may just be the culprit, I never believe what's labeled in anything. Your own is the best. Don't give up, it will come and make you happy.. By the way, growing medium ? I am using MM all the way. I wouldn't be concerned about adding it to my garden in plants, There shouldn't be any soil in it. These are all my ideas, right or wrong I'm sticking to them, They have worked for me