Tiffy, those milkweed just seeded in that one spot about 15 years ago and i never got around to pulling them out or moving them. Then my son and daughter who where 15 and 10 at the time, spotted the caterpillars on them. 10 year old daughter knew what they where and that was the end of moving them. I have just left that clump to seed and do as it pleases every year. and the monarchs sure love them. If my poppy seedlings, from seeds from the one in the pics, turn out half as beautiful, i will have nothing to complain about. Karen, I can't wait till end of July or early August either. I want home grown toms so badly right now. We've just gone into some heat and humidity again so it's hard to tell if they really will be later than past years yet. On the other hand, I have no complaints about continuing to pick ripe tomatoes when those that bought their plants are pitching them after labor day. I'm still in heaven picking mine. Last year the fall was so warm I picked my last ripe toms on halloween and then took off all the green ones and brought them into ripen indoors. booberry, I've been companion planting marigolds with my tomato plants both in pots and in the ground for 28 years and my grandfather did it with his 100 tomato plants on the veggie farm and he never had a bug problem in his career and I have never either, except for last year. One little tiny tim didn't get a marigold because of the tiny pot i put it in. that poor plant got the dreaded tomato horn worm on it. non of the others did. Didn't make that mistake this year. tiny tim is in a bigger pot and has it's own little marigold in there with it. I also companion plant 4 o'clocks around my plants that are favorites of the japanese beetle and I've never had a destructive season with them, the 4 o'clock leaves get nibbled and the japanese beetles die. the leaves are poisonous to them. i find tons of dead ones around the leaves they nibbled and i guess the message goes out to the others to leave my yard alone, it's a death sentence. Everyone I know that uses marigolds with their toms and 4 oclocks with their JP loving plants have no problems with bugs with them. Fran

Hey Bonnie, The link should take you right to our albums which show four pictures. One is the house gardens , another of the wood fired pizza oven and one of the profile picture..If you click on any of the photos it should open that album up.We have the page open for all to see so it should not be a problem,LOL, this is my first attempt at using it however.Everyone keeps telling me it is a piece of cake to use.I am going to try and put some tutorials on there with pictures as I get some time.I am going to try and do more pictures tonight since everything is changing so quickly now that we have some heat ..If you cannot get them open let me know and we will try something else.. Mary

Chris, I would be interested in any tomato seeds that you may have extra of. My hubby and I were just talking about what to put in the veggie garden last night. My family likes canteloupe, watermelon, tomatoes, cumcumbers, and green beans. Would be interested in anything unusual, fun for the kids! But if you've got everything ready for Patty, or have it mailed, please don't worry about me!! I wasn't able to send to everyone either. I really wanted to though!! Patty, I'm going to have my daughter mail off my seeds today. I'll post when they've made it to the P.O. Have a good day everyone! Karen

Hi Piantini, Nice pics! You are like me, you can't wait to start the seeds and then we have them too early. I still have 5-6 weeks to wait myself, but you'll be alright! My pics below show the different size cups that I use, starting the seeds in the smallest (using Miricle Gro Seed Starting Mix), then transplanting to the 8 oz cup when they get true leaves (now I start using ProMix BX), then, one last transplant to the 16 oz cup when there is about an inch between the dirt line and the first branch. (I cut off the cotyledon before putting it into the 16 oz cup.) I bury the plant deeper, each time I transplant, up to the lowest branch. The stem will root and make the plant stronger! I use mini blinds with Avery #8167 Ink Jet labels covered over with 3/4 inch "invisible" scotch tape from Staples. They last all season for me out in the garden. The second pic is a pic of my 4th of July on the left, a Basil plant in the middle, and a Campari plant on the right. Last year, I had ripe Campari toms on June 30th. The Campari beat out the 4th of July for the first ripe! The 3rd pic is my three shelf growing setup with two 4' floursecent lights for each shelf, and the lights are adjusted with chains. The fourth pic is a tray of my plants that I transplanted today. Their next stop is in the garden outside after I harden them off during the first week of May. Then I enjoy the fruits of all my work for the rest of the summer! Hope you have a great growing experience! If you have questions, ask in this forum. The people are very willing to help you. Paul