I'm well north of Ken in Michigan. We had pretty much the same weather as he described, except our May was just like April, with amazingly high temps for both months and adequate rain, so no stunted growth in my gardens. Everything was big & lush & EARLY - three full weeks early, including huge prickly weedy thistles, and some 6 foot tall weed (lots of it) in my shrub border that I have never seen before. The spring bulbs were covered up by too early perennials. My daylilies bloomed in early June (they usually start at the very end of June). ALL of the daylilies bloomed, pretty much at the same time. I guess they couldn't read the plant tag's Early or Late notations. I know we have a pretty compressed daylily season here, but this was ridiculous. It was also a riot of clashing colors - I needed sunglasses and a machete to walk through the garden. By mid-July my gauras, asters, obedient plants, black-eyed Susans, oriental lilies, etc., etc., were blooming. Then the rains stopped. After 5 weeks of no rain, high temps & humidity, I actually had to start watering my perennials & some of the established shrubs which were looking poorly. My "wet" garden still has big clay cracks in it. The last time this happened was 4 or 5 years ago. We finally had a big storm, complete with hail & high wind, & my neighbor's tree fell over into my yard. Fortunately, my very large Bradford Pear (stupid choice, I know) which I had heavily thinned last year, withstood the storm, so my neighbor hates me. :))

Yes Val, Lloyd does have a big one... um, compost that is. Got to keep on topic here, so yes, moderators, we are talking about compost and women do like them too. :O) I knew that response to a previous post would come back to haunt me one day Lloyd. Taking photos of the evidence was an OOPS moment. Me bad! As I said, I'll return the milk pail full of compost they produce to you in a couple of years. :O) Thanks Terrene, and for Karen, here's a couple of encore pics and one of 39 Monarchs which they helped raise this past year. This was my last 'baby', a male, released on October 8th. Paul, Nothing like a Cape Bretonner (I think you are...) lashing out at a mainlander!! LOL! Yep, I show them on my garden tours. They are part of what I do and actually the interest is quite amazing. Especially when you tell them they can do it for free. It's funny because I actually migrate towards compost piles when I visit other gardens... Folks sometimes think I'm up to no good. They probably fear me taking their compost away, and rightfully so. So you'd better keep that watch dog out when I visit, eh? :O) Idaho, My husband and I get along quite well when it comes to the compost. We have an agreement. He doesn't touch my compost and I don't touch his books - he's a worm of another kind. As long as my compost results in an increase in property value, which it has, and his books stay organized, then we are all good.

For Richard concerning pvc pipes for watering, here are 2 links. I suppose that his reference to a rock is for a cap on the pipe instead of a pvc cap. http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf19058273.tip.html http://www.doityourself.com/stry/how-to-make-your-tomato-plant-bigger With respect to this thread and grooming tomatoes, it is just common sense, and even we geologists can figure it out. SOME grooming of tomatoes is beneficial as more energy is available for fruiting, but if too much is done then there is insufficient leaf area to produce vegetation and fruit growth. Also, removing some leaves and stems is in reality an injury to the plant and produces a reproductive response in it, which results in more flowering and fruiting. So groom judiciously, keep plants spaced sufficiently apart for adequate sunlight and water (pvc pipe?), prepare the soil well so roots can grow easily, and be sure to put seedlings as deep as possible for greatest root production. Now to the good stuff. Nutrition! A retired physician here in Tucker, GA has published in our local free rag his tomato "secrets" which he acquired from another gentleman in Buford. In one season from 10 plants his production was 2281 tomatoes weighing 752 pounds. He used hybrids (I will grow ONLY heirlooms) consisting of 1 Parks Whopper, 5 Beefmasters, 2 Sweet 100's, and 2 Better Boys. Of course the Sweets being a cherry upped the number count and lowered the average weight considerably (0.32 lbs), but accounting for that my guess is that the average non-cherry plant yield would be 100-140 tomatoes averaging a pound each. I'd be happy with that any day. This is what he does. He uses new soil every year, although I feel that this is optional, as the soil adjuncts should be sufficient after the first year. He digs holes 15X15 and fills with bagged topsoil mixed with potting soil and Natures Helper. I use just Natures helper and a little sandy loam I dig up from the woods (a former terraced farm) behind my townhome. With clay soils here the sand helps considerably. He then mixes in: a) handful of 10-10-10 b) handful of lime c) handful of Epsom Salt (critical, as tomatoes are magnesium hungry) d) 2 handfuls cow manure e) 2 tablespoons baking soda After planting he covers the soil with pine bark nuggets to help keep the soil moist. At 3 week intervals he adds around each plant 2 handfuls 10-10-10, a handful Epsom Salt, and 2 tablespoons baking soda. So after the first year of new soil and Natures Helper try just the a-e adjuncts and see what happens, especially if you do not wish to excavate many holes and have no place to put the resulting "used" soil. The method says that the soil is important, but I think that it is overemphasized after year one's conditioning. This is "Dr Dan's Tomato Recipe and Method" from the February 2010 issue of Up Close and Personal in Tucker, and has been reprinted each year since. Dr L. Dan Johnson was shared this method by the late Mr Ralph Pass of Buford, GA, a former patient of his. A golfing buddy of Dr Johnson's told him that "Thank God you do not grow watermelons!"

Martinca, I will never forget an article once in one of the very chi-chi decor magazines, about a woman and her decorator who remodeled her private jet(!). The line that will live in my mind was one of those obnoxious humblebrag little jewels along of the lines that the Mrs. 'just wanted a new bathroom cabinet with a drawer for her makeup on the jet'. Oooooookay ;). As for us, we had a wonderful 4th. We're down in the Keys house for the week; my daughter and her lifelong BFF (we think of her as our second girl) are down from DC-fun fact, it's been cooler in Florida than where they live!-and my DIL had the day off so was here too-son had to work. My sister came down and we went to the local parade which happens to stage and launch literally at the end of our block so a coupla folding chairs and bingo, morning entertainment. Then another friend of daughter's drove down, my dad spontaneously decided to come as well and we also had my cousin, her husband, his sister and BIL who sailed their boat down for the holiday week. Some folks went out diving while others lounged beside or in the pool. We did a simple cookout, and by early evening some of the young folks went out to party and see fireworks, the local visitors went home, my sister decided to stay overnight and a wonderful time was had by all. This house has turned out to exceed our wildest hopes as a gathering spot for holidays so another lovely memory of a perfect day is in the books.