We use a combination of Nickel Plus and K-Phite. It's working great. We spray with both, using a sticker-spreader we got at Tractor Supply. We also add their blue dye now, because it helps us see where we have missed a spot. It isn't very easy to see through goggles, with sweat pouring down in your eyes. Just avoid spraying any blossoms, unless you are really desperate for a blue daylily. We were advised to spray once a week for 3 weeks, then wait 3 weeks before spraying again. I've only sprayed once this fall, since it has been raining off and on ever since. Occasionally, I will have a plant that shows sign of rust, but nothing like it was before I started using the nickel. I wouldn't use anything else. Well, let me take that back. I am going to try some Actinovate on just a few isolated and unimportant plants to see how it works. The only thing I don't like is having to don all that protective gear, but I wouldn't have it otherwise. I'm very cautious. We use goggles, a special pesticide mask we bought at Lowes, chemical gloves (also at Lowe's), rubber boots and a yellow rain slicker. My hubby and our yardman refuse to put on a garbage bag drawstring skirt, but if I'm doing the spraying, I wear that, too. I'll have to get my hubby to take a picture of me in that fancy outfit so everyone can get a good laugh. When the weather is warm, we get very sweaty in all that garb! We start very early in the morning while it is still cool. We have a big tank sprayer on wheels we pull behind our riding lawn mower. It runs on the lawn mower battery. We got an extra length of hose so we can cover more territory. One of us drives the lawn mower while the other sprays. I could do it by myself, but it takes longer to have to keep stopping to move the mower ahead. We wash the tank out thoroughly after spraying and run clear water through the wand when we have finished. Aren't you cold climate people lucky??? Nancy

Thanks all! Last night I processed 4 quarts of hot packed whole yellow tomatoes (garden peach) and 2 quarts of "green" whole tomatoes (not actually green as in not-ripe, but variety called green zebra). They are beautiful (although one didn't seal)! Today I am doing batches of yellow tomato sauce (made from garden peach and yellow heirloom), orange tomato sauce (made from Pineapple tomatoes and sungold cherry toms), and red tomato sauce (from cosmonaut volkov, black krim, roma and rose de berne). Should be a lovely rainbow of jars. This is addictive... By the way, my name is actually Rachel. Screen name cindylouwho came from the grinch (long story...). Again, thanks for everyone's help. This site is a savior. Rachel P.S. How do you keep your kids from eating your labor-intensive canned peaches while peaches are in season? Mine have already gobbled down all but one quart. As much as I love that they love them, I cringe each time it takes them about 2 minutes to inhale a quart that took me hours to peel, cut, pack and process...

That's sounds interesting! Thanks Mia, I'll be inviting both my sisters. :) Alexis

Just got here from reading that blog mentioned above! LOL! Yes -- I do have all of Faudree's books -- and his new one is coming out on August 11th! Interesting to read the blog -- and note that his style has changed over the years too. Charlotte Moss -- Have several of her books including my favorite one that contains quotes from literature (she collects them) about "home" -- it is called "The Poetry of Home" Bunny Williams -- yes -- have all of her books -- and my fav remains "An Affair with a House" Also have books by Betty Lou Phillips -- a Dallas designer that specializes in French Country. I love her older book "Villa Design" Also -- Henrietta Spencer-Churchill and Caroline Clifton-Mogg. Lots of books by them (now pared down a bit!) Also -- Michael S. Smith Elements of Style -- and his new book comes out this fall. Also -- a book about the designer John Fowler. Love it! Also -- "Rooms" by Mariette Himes Gomez. I do have to weed out my books -- just enough that works on my shelves in the living room. Sigh. Hard to do but a very necessary task. Sometimes I sell them on EBay -- or take them to Half-Price Books for a bit of instant cash. And you should see my "Pre-Order" list at Amazon!! LOL! Another great load of books coming out in time for Christmas and the Holiday season! To check out Alazon's up-and-coming lists -- go the Home & Garden category of books THEN click on Decorating THEN re-arrange that huge list in "Publication Date" (from the pull-down menu just at the top of the list. Jan