Winter has been starting a little later and lasting a little longer here the last few years. In years past nearly all my trees had broken dormancy by Feb 15th. The past few years my trees have not been breaking dormancy until the first or second week of March. At this point roughly one third of my trees are just starting bud break. My best guess is that some trees will not break dormancy until the end of the month which is really late here. This was another cold winter by Arizona standards with many days 15-25 degrees below normal. Even so I expect to hear that this was one of our hottest winters on record. We heard last year that last summer was the South Wests hotted summer on record. In the fine print the South West had been re-done leaving out California and that day time temps were not included and that they shifted the summer season by three weeks. Anything that needs to be done to get a headline of "The Hottest" or "One of the Hottest" is all that matters to those who produce the data. If there is a way to say it was hot they will no matter how they have to twist and shift the statistics.

It can, Johnny, but last year even 4 sprayings did not take care of PLC. Plus, the copper dormant spray we have available these days in California is a fraction of the strength of previous copper sprays, which we can no longer get here in California, due to concerns with copper building up in the soil and water supply. So, I don't worry so much about the earthworms as I might have when I was using stronger stuff. You can see how you do with 2 sprayings, but I have such huge issues with PLC and just about every other fungal thing in my garden last year, it was really a struggle. I nearly lost many of my more exotic hibiscus, and my poor roses were pretty ugly there for a while. Not to mention many of my stone fruits. Patty S.

Tis' interesting that others in very different growing areas are having the same experience. My plants are huge, with little produce evolving. Finally had 3 tomatoes turn this week, there are dozens waiting, growing, but all green. And I just picked 3 cucumbers with no sign of more to come. Our weather dropped from high 90s (no rain) for a month to high 60s this week and downpours. I didn't check the low temps, usually drops 20 degrees at night. Even with the change, the garden had plenty of time to produce. With Sept. 2 weeks away and not unusual to see snow during the month, I just don't have a lot of hope for the garden. The norm would be to clear the garden mid Sept. Even my neighbor mentioned that half of the seeds she planted (flower/veggies) never grew, which was the same with me. We are not novices, lush gardens are the norm. What is up with all of this?

Still very sick. She does not have any energy at all to even talk today. She seemed fine yesterday but today she can not seem to eat anything. I don't like seeing her in that state. It upsets me..My father whom just got into the Nursing Home because he's loosing his mind wants to keep seeing her but I can't be taking him out so often. I can just do my best. I appreciate all the thoughts and prayers..If I seem a bit weird or sensitive lately it's not you guys, it's me...But I still need to come here to lift myself up seeing you all posting things I want and things I like to see))