Yes, it is sort of a "crapshoot". I've had pretty good luck with the drop and grows in the past......although I think one of them started out pink and ended up white. I guess you get what you pay for. I'm really surprised this previous lily didn't make it through the winter. I had it buried in the ground in a very protected area outside the house. Oh well......maybe it just got old. I have the new tuber in water and maybe it's my imagination, but little brown bumps on it are starting to enlarge. We'll see how it goes. Funny thing.........I cut one of my water irises in half, to thin it, and threw the one half on the ground. We had an extremely cold, snowy winter.......and that thing is growing like mad, just laying on the ground. hahaha

I had dahlias for the first time last year, and did a lot of reading about how to store the tubers. There were so many different ways that I wavered, trying to decide which to use -- and then we had a freeze and it was time to dig. It was getting close to Christmas and I was short on time, so after letting the clump (unwashed, just had the dried dirt brushed off of them) sit in my (55-60 degrees) kitchen for about two weeks, I dusted them with cinnamon (I read that was an antifungal but it could be an old wives' tale), tossed them into a paper bag with dry peat moss, and stuck them on the steps to the basement (about 50 degrees). I pulled them out this spring and looked at them . . . and they didn't look so good. Kind of dry and shrively. Even after looking at lots of pictures, I wasn't very good at finding eyes, and I certainly didn't see any on these. But, things oddly have a way of resurrecting themselves in my garden, so I went ahead and planted out -- the whole clump -- to see what would happen. One week and then two went by, and nothing -- I was sure they were dead. A week later -- foliage!!! I was thrilled. So, it lived!! Same story with my glads and cannas (my first year for those again) -- didn't look good, but came back strong. (Half the cannas had a little mold . . . apparently didn't deter them!) I don't know what a healthy tuber is supposed to look like after storage, but I think no matter what they look like I will always give them a shot! I don't have too many, so it's not difficult to do that. Was I supposed to moisten the peat? I did not do that. Humidity in the area they were stored was likely about 60% -- it's pretty low in the house but the stairs are above a damp basement. I'm also guessing that if I start the clump in a big pot, once I see some foliage, I'll be able to tell more easily where the eyes are? If that's the case, I can divide at that point to get more dahlias. The clump that started as a couple of tubers last year doubled in size by fall; it'll likely do the same this year. Anyway, I was pleasantly surprised that although I'm completely clueless, it seems like all (or at least most) of my overwintered tubers/bulbs came through. Surprised the heck out of me :). :-) Mel

Spectracide Weed Stop is a common broadleaf plant killer containing 2,4,D, Dicambra, and something else that does not come to mind right off. While it is not a really good product to use and while it can also kill plants you want to keep if due care in use is not observed, it is not quite as bad as some others mainly becasue the formulation is not really very strong. It is not quite as bad as maifleur makes the stuff out to be, and the manufacturer will simply tell you there is no problem. The most bestest way to control "weeds" in your lawn is to get that lawn into a good, healthy condition and that starts with a good, reliable soil test. Contact your counties office of your Colorado State University Cooperative Extension Service about having that done and also dig in with these simple soil tests, 1) Structure. From that soil sample put enough of the rest to make a 4 inch level in a clear 1 quart jar, with a tight fitting lid. Fill that jar with water and replace the lid, tightly. Shake the jar vigorously and then let it stand for 24 hours. Your soil will settle out according to soil particle size and weight. A good loam will have about 1-3/4 inch (about 45%) of sand on the bottom. about 1 inch (about 25%) of silt next, about 1 inch (25%) of clay above that, and about 1/4 inch (about 5%) of organic matter on the top. Drainage. Dig a hole 1 foot square and 1 foot deep and fill that with water. After that water drains away refill the hole with more water and time how long it takes that to drain away. Anything less than 2 hours and your soil drains too quickly and needs more organic matter to slow that drainage down. Anything over 6 hours and the soil drains too slowly and needs lots of organic matter to speed it up. 3) Tilth. Take a handful of your slightly damp soil and squeeze it tightly. When the pressure is released the soil should hold together in that clump, but when poked with a finger that clump should fall apart. 4) Smell. What does your soil smell like? A pleasant, rich earthy odor? Putrid, offensive, repugnant odor? The more organic matter in your soil the more active the soil bacteria will be and the nicer your soil will smell. 5) Life. How many earthworms per shovel full were there? 5 or more indicates a pretty healthy soil. Fewer than 5, according to the Natural Resources Conservation Service, indicates a soil that is not healthy. which can guide you toward a good, healthy soil that will grow a good, healthy lawn that will crowd out "weed" growth so you don't need those poisons. Here is a link that might be useful: CSU CES

I feel your pain. No fun living next to irresponsible neighbors. Took me a nasty home owner's association to appreciate the joy of being able to do my own thing without Mrs. Busybody peering over my every move! Now, at our new property, we are in county, so weeds abound! JD doesn't really want to mow, so a putting green will go where the lawn once was, and dwarf citrus for a border there. Yes, we have weeds on a rocky hillside made of huge boulders and decomposing granite. But Fig trees love that stuff!! We have, and will continue to tuck orchard trees between boulders and weeds. When we drive into town, it amazes me all the houses with weedy lawns, dead landscaping, junk chairs in front, and nobody ever parks their cars in their garages! Seems like they all have at least 5 vehicles, of which 3 are broken trucks, and they all proudly park them on these dead lawns. I'm very happy living in county property, but I would hate living next to these irresponsible people who just don't care. Their lack of "caring" hurts your property value! Good luck to you! People here at GW really hate landscape fabric, but living under the HOA rules for 10+ years, we had it under river rock. Now and then a weed peeped through, but a weekly trek through with Round up keeps everything looking amazing! I wish you all the best, and hope this has a happy ending! Suzi