The FB that I had 2 years ago effected all three of these varieties and I had to do some severe pruining on all 3, but no fb this year. I also moved DRD, so it spent this year acclimating itself to it's new location. I expect the first fruit from it next year. This year was the first year that Cauley and Summer Banana produced fruit. I'm a firm believer that you can't tell a whole lot from the first years' fruit. I don't let my apples carry fruit, until they are at least 5 years old. I learned that from David Vernon, who sold me the trees. All of that aside, both varieties produced a fair amount of fruit. Cauley is very hard, which I like, has a slightly yellow meat and a pleasant spritely taste, which I think will get better over time. It's prococious and I had to support many of the branches. I understand that it can produce fruit that can weigh up to a pound. Summer Banana is a totally diferent apple. It's mainly a tip bearer. The skin is yellow with white flesh that is somewhat bland to my taste. I didn't smell or taste any hint of banana, so i think the name is somewhat deceiving. I wonder, if Winter banana is the same. As I said before, I don't place a whole of value on first year fruits. I chose this tree because of the name and the fact it came from Marion County, here is SC, plus both of these apples have a historical significance. it's interesting to know what people ate here 200+ years ago. If you'll allow me to reminisce, I bought Bevan's Favorite because my grandfather used to have this tree in his backyard. I can remember climbing the tree, when I was a little boy, fighting my cousin for the apples. THEY SURE WERE GOOD.

Southdown Plantation is across Little Bayou Black from Hwy 311. It is on Museum Drive which you can catch on St Charles Ave on one end or Polk St on the other end. St Charles AVe and Polk St intersect with Hwy 311. Museum Drive is probably only a quarter mile long. People park in the Winn Dixie Parking lot on St Charles St and walk over. It is about a mile north of the Civic Center, if you know where that is. The Civic Center is at the intersection of Hwy 311 and Barrow St, and on the same side of the bayou as Southdown Plantation. Send me an email if you need directions from a specific address.

Any photos?

Lisa: I have three peonies that do really well for me. My first peony was a Festiva Maxima (actually three Festiva Maximas). White Flower Farm had them on sale about 7 years ago, more or less, 3 for $25, and they said that they were overrun with them because they grew so well. Sounded good to me, and I've never regretted it. They've been blooming for a while and there are still buds coming. Bowl of Beauty opens a little later and is just opening now. I think I moved this peony last fall to get it out of a bad neighborhood and I didn't expect too much this year. It has about 13 buds on it with maybe four opening. The third peony that does well is I think Red Magic. I got it at an end of the season sale in Manomet three or four years ago (two plants for $5) and it blooms much later than the others. This photo is from June 27, 2009. It has lots of buds now, you can see them behind the Festiva Maxima. The bloom time doesn't overlap too much but the "red" is good with the raspberry splotches in F.M. Peonies definitely should be planted in the fall, in lots of sun. --------------------------------------------------------- Not a peony, but a self-seeded digitalis has just started opening today. This foxglove obligingly seeded itself last year next to my big Rosa Rugosa Yankee Lady and the colors matched beautifully. Even more obligingly, it came back this year in the same spot. I ran around last year shaking the seed heads in various places so I'm hoping for lots of new foxgloves. Claire