Gee, surprise, I agree with BeckyBeck again but think SFSteph might be onto something as well. It's really nice looking for a first-season lawn and it doesn't seem like the lighter areas are weeds or P. annua-infested, so that's not a problem. Given the patterning, it looks like some setting went on, and fertilizer washed there--plus it wasn't evenly down in the first place and that didn't help. However, none of that is poorly fertilized and there's no need to do anything specific about it at this point. And yes, 50/50 mix, 6", is eventually going to settle about 3". That could be a problem. Definitely wait for top growth to stop (whenever that is). Mine's slowing, but nowhere near done yet and the current estimate is late November. In zone 5a, growth stoppage may very well be next week.

Rita, you are such an enabler! My Brent&Becky's catalog has been sitting here for several weeks and I have been slow in putting together an order. Lo! here you come with the push I needed, and I just sent my order in. Got the 10% off, too, which did cover the shipping nicely. I got 7 different daffodils, 4 types of tulips (including 'Carmine Parrot' which I adore -- so gorgeous!), some Ipheion (new to me) and one batch of dwarf Iris. I think that will do me for now. This is the year I must dig and divide my huge clumps of 'Ice Follies' and spread them around, and I forgot I had potted up some daffs and scilla last fall which are doing well. Those will get put into various garden beds eventually. I so enjoy the photos of your gardens, now with the spring flowers and when the daylilies are blooming. Thanks for sharing!

I get to see all of the Grandkids photos, but I don't join groups. I stay in touch with some of my friends from work, and some from church, as well as a couple of old friends who live distant from me. I enjoy it, but am not a constant facebooker since I don't bother with a smart phone...I can't get over the people I know who seem to be connected to the phone by an umbilical cord , almost...and don't won't to do that myself. Thanks, I was just curious I do post a lot of garden pics on facebook since it is so easy. kay

I am wondering if the original poster moved up here or no? I've lived in Canton and Potsdam. If you can't work for the colleges, it will be rough to get a decent job. Negative 40 in the winter at times but not cooler in the summer unless you get into higher elevation in the 'Dacks. Very inexpensive housing, good apartments are hard to find since all the college kids get them. Flat flat flat, unless you go up to Russell and all the little tiny towns at the foot of the mountains where it starts getting hillier. The Adirondacks have a nice feel to them but yes, there are very poor "North Country" people there. I don't know how "colonial" or "New Englandy" the towns are up there. Ogdensburg, Watertown and Massena are larger cities that have more things going on. I agree with previous posters that Corning/Painted Post is a nice area with culture and Big Flats has the mall and lots of shopping. There are smaller towns in between all the larger cities, everything is rural. Bath, Hammondsport, Penn Yan are great areas too. Hammondsport was awarded Coolest Small Town. The Finger Lakes Area is one of the most beautiful areas; the lakes, wineries, small town feel are wonderful. Houses on the lakes are very pricey but out in the country they are very reasonable. They HAVE to be because there are barely any jobs or opportunities here. Most people who own the lake houses have these as summer homes and travel from the big cities. Buffalo, Rochester, Ithaca, Syracuse are larger and have more things available and you don't have to drive far to get back to the country with hills and farms. Actually between Buffalo and Rochester is a nice stretch of farms, farmer's markets, nice countryside. I grew up near Jamestown which is all the way west. Nice town but poor, again not many good jobs but there is a mall there, stores. Chatauqua Lake is also there and it's beautiful, as well as Chatauqua Institution which is well known for its summer cultural events. It's less than an hour to Erie, PA: lots of shopping, jobs and Lake Erie with beaches. A little east outside Jamestown are the Allegany Mountains which are neat. Anytime you are in rural areas, you will have hunting. Some people are so poor that they have to hunt to have food on the table. I hate hunting but it's something you just have to deal with here. Steuben County is extremely poor and there are trailers around, especially if you go way out into the countryside, but there are lots of nice houses too. Teens are always around, carrying on, but it's not a problem. Angelica is a sweet little town but you will have to drive a ways to get to a big store. Sometimes you just have to drive, visit and see how it makes you feel. You could always rent a house and then really travel all over to find the perfect spot. I haven't been to all of the towns that have been mentioned, but I never have felt the "New England" feeling in any of them. I have been to Lake Champlain but only once and just passing through so maybe it has more of that feeling.