I am in Zone 5 and my nanking cherry blooms before the other sweet cherries and I see no overlape for pollination. Anyway you have a good combo on your cherry tree.

Just yesterday I was looking up information that crossed that subject, but because it wasn't what I was looking for I didn't pay close enough attention. But my subject line was "apricot rootstocks" on Google. I seem to remember reading that there were delayed compatibility issues with tomentosa under sweet cherry, but I am not sure. I probably would try it myself just to find out. I have an Italian prune grafted to tomentosa and it is doing well in its third year, but is very, very dwarfed. It remains to be seen how long it will hold up. Good luck, Mark

In regards to Splenda, the only thing I have seen that has an unusual effect is Splenda in vinegar based pickling. Many sweet pickle recipes call for about five POUNDS of sugar! These same recipes have had a fairly sweet flavor by adding only one or two CUPS of Splenda. I use two types of Splenda here, one is the big bag type that is 'puffed up' and the VOLUME is about the same measurement as a cup of sugar. The other type of Splenda is a fine granulated version, usually found in those little paper packets used to sweeten beverages. Yuu would need far less of that type to sweeten anything. Needless to say Splenda would also work well for most any other acidic food that you would want to 'tame down' a little. With a little sugar added, a tomato sauce can be tasty and less acidic to the tongue. But if I used Splenda, a tablespoon or less would definately be more noticable. Using Splenda in most any jelly making or any home canning is quite safe. However, if its a jelly, you can't depend on the Splenda to set up the pectin (either added or natural). There, I much prefer Pomona pectin, as it needs no sweetener of any kind to set.

I have finished cutting back everything but a few grasses and perennials that I leave up for fall interest and cut back in the spring and clematis that get cut back in the spring. Dug up and moved brugmansias to the basement for dormant storage over the winter. Moved houseplants back inside for the winter. Dug and dried and stored various bulbs and tubers for winter. First year I haven't planted any spring bulbs. May look for some tulips to pot up and sink in the garden to use for spring displays on my deck. Collected and cleaned seeds from my garden to sow and share. Deck furniture moved in except chairs that will come in next week. Need a place to sit and visit during these late fall days when neighbors stop when they see me working in the front gardens. Have all the leaves picked up and mulched except for those on the neighbor's trees that drop late. Maybe tomorrow's wind will bring them down. I have also collected mulched leaves from the neighborhood to put on my gardens. Turned the compost pile and moved some compost to a new bed that will be planted next spring. Moved a Pagoda dogwood and planted hydrangeas and viburnum. Also divided and moved various perennials this fall. Put chicken wire fences around shrubs that rabbits find tasty during the winter. The electric company is burying electric lines in our neighborhood. Looks like I will need to move some perennials next week. Still to do: clean and organize garage. My garage gets messy during the growing season but is always neat throughout the winter. Create winter pot for front door entrance from garden seed heads, branches, etc. Rest and enjoy making plans for next year as well as getting ready for winter sowing.