I did not have as many momarchs as last year. Last year was my first full summer to have milkweeds. By the end of October I had so many cats that they could not be counted. They ate everything and I had several plants. They disappeared after they ate it all. This year I planted more dreading when they all came, worrying if they would run out again. I still have alot of big healthy plants. This summer my cats usually disappear unless I bring them into my garage. I have lots of wasps, lizards, birds, and frogs. One Saturday I caught wasps killing my cats 5 times. I squirted them with the water hose. I did not count how many I brought into my garage or to school with me. ( I am a first grade teacher.) I know it was less than fifty. I have these last nine to emerge. One is getting dark today so I am sure it will come out tomorrow.

Julie, I too am disappointed in my produce production. I had great plans to can enough tomato sauce to last into fall. I have 2 qts. And no squash! Geez. I really kinda blew it, totally did not take into account the sun moving and planted squash in the wrong place. And when I was thinking I should put a tomato over by the arbor, I should have done so! So, my spring garden was not so good; but you know what? It is much better than last year - when I was too much the wuss to even try. Oh, and we are having from our very own garden salad yet again tonight. I might not have squash, but we've still got salad makings, broccoli and greens going gang busters. I've heard that spring time in Florida is the hardest veggie growing season. You gamble with late freezes and early heat waves and drought. You race the clock to get a harvest in before the bugs come along. Next spring, I am going to plant more early hybrids. And, I am going to plant in more places around the yard. And in more pots. To be better able to take advantage of where the sun is. I started a journal early on, then quickly put it on the internet. It is so handy to have my journal to hand whenever I might want to look something up. And I'll have it to hand next year to remember what I learned this spring. /hugs ~dianne

I was thinking about this thread as I was doing some reading in various places about humus. Even wikipedia puts it this way about stable humus: " this is organic matter that has been protected from decomposition by microbial or enzyme action because it is hidden (occluded) inside small aggregates of soil particles or tightly attached (sorbed or complexed) to clays. Most humus that is not protected in this way is decomposed within ten years and can be regarded as less stable or more labile." It also refers specifically to lignin being one of the main precursors to humus, and that black carbon (e.g. biochar) also seems to contribute a lot to stability. Interesting the way that OM gets attached to clays. I don't know if this is actionable information or what it tells us exactly about what to do in this case; but I'd be tempted to place an emphasis on woody/pulpy inputs (or composts from them) in adding organic material, or at least plant material (stems? corn cobs/stalks? etc) or paper/cardboards that have fair amounts of lignin and get some charcoal/biochar in there too. Just speculating somewhat, but hopefully logically. This will have implications for nitrogen and other nutrient availability - i.e. it might make growing some types of plants or getting good yields harder, at least in short term - but might have benefits in getting there to more stable soil in long term. FWIW.

Thanks so much, you guys. It sure means a lot. And lol Kelleg69. So...to the options above...no colors. I'm sticking with solid white subway or black and white cement. As you said, Oldbat, the black and white ones with the balance much more toward white are going to be the winners here. The first one you did for me heavy in the black made the whole room feel darker and sad. The blue floor in direct sun looks just like it does above, but is toned down a bit in normal light. I don't really need it to be the star, in fact I think part of the reason I'm looking for a pattern here is something to draw the eye up. With that said, another *expensive* option I looked at (specifically when I thought we couldn't do lino and were going to have wood in the kitchen) was glazed brick tiles. A couple of weeks ago I was at floor and decor and found some that were around $9/sqft I think. I wasn't so sure about them, because they didn't have a sample board yet, but I've found same or similar product online and I think they look quite good.