Dawna, Thanks for tolerating the whining. I remember how much you watered (as did I) and how we lost plants in spite of it. It was a hard year. I know now that La Nina will tend to affect us that way. Our winter this year is very much like the winter of 2005 so far, and that is what scares me. I hope we get some rain this week too. They even have a brief mention of snow in our forecast, but I'm not expecting any. I kept 'treasures' packed up and was ready to run, also. BUT, we were always away fighting fires and I worried I wouldn't make it back home in time to save the animals and my treasures. Luckily, it never came to that. I cannot believe you had fire on three sides of you at once. THAT is scary. We had fire east of us (just across the road) twice, once very close, and a second time not quite so close. We had it due south of us once, but it was almost 1/2 mile away. We had it north of us three times, but moving away from us twice and towards us only once. We had it west of us, between us and the Red River, only once. But all of those except the fire west of us (it was in July) were in the Jan.-Feb. timeframe, so it was hard to sleep for a while there. This year there's been quite a few fires, but they are more in the northern parts of the county and we live in the southern part. Only one fire has been very close to us this year (on our street), about 1/4 mile north of us, and it was started by welders a couple of weeks ago. It was moving away from us and towards a brand new home. Our guys got there fast and kept it from reaching that home. I think the weather this week will prevent a repeat of last week--on at least 2 days last week, all 14 of our county's fire departments were out fighting fires. Only 2 fires yesterday and 1 so far today. Now, if only it would rain! Of course, with all the dormant vegetation, rain doesn't help for long. All that will help at this point is the spring green-up. So far, our spring wildflowers are pitifully few and far between because so little rain has fallen this fall and winter that most of them haven't even sprouted. Dawn

Annie, your gardens are just glorious! I totally understand how difficult those health problems make it to keep up with all that needs doing and especially with all the things you still dream of doing. Like I am learning to do, smile at what you have accomplished, because you can be very proud of your successes, and do what you can, one day at a time and it will come along the way you want it to. I'll be keeping you in my prayers. I hope you'll take more pictures, more often, as you progress with the various steps you take in your potager this summer. You are already an inspiration to many of us. Hugs, MeMo

Penguingardener, I am really hungry for garden space. I lack of that and something every year gets compromised. Last year i had to settle down with only straberries, tomatoes, peppers, and one eggplant. NOT THIS YEAR! I was very excited to find out about square foot gardening. the solution of my problems!. My eggplants also reach 4 feet high, but they are not as full as tomatoes plants. If i cut suckers off the tomato plants and keep them in one or two stems and provide vertical support, even if they grow to an enormeous size i should be ok, at least i think. thanks for the Marigold input, i did not know they grow so large, maybe i should find another place for them and not plant them in the new beds. In regards the cilantro, i never had much sucess with them, i planted a row of 6 plants, and they only grew about 1' or so. They looked healthy, problably they lacked fertilizer. So i let them die last fall in hope of them regrowing form the seeds they drop. To answer your climate question, i am in between zone 6 and 7 (i think, i leave in RI) I tried composting this year for the first time, but its a problem here in the city, atracts all kinds of animals to my property. Specially RATS!. So i will have to find out where to get organic compost, of at least 3 different sources. where can i get this fish tea?. Thanks for answering the amount of feeding time per months, i was really looking foward somebody answering that question. P.S. I just planted indoors my fourth of July Tomato seeds. My goal is to mimic in the link below. Everyone here in RI plant tomatoes outside on or after memorial day to be on the save side. Last frost is supoused to be early may but we have seen snow here in May. Weather is crazy in New England. I can problably plant them early may, but i problably have to cover them or provide protection. Here is a link that might be useful: First tomato, July 24th!

Happy Saturday!!! Yes I'm seed planting now - but in different ways. I cannot plant until after the last frost day - normally in Ontario Canada it's the 3rd weekend in May. Right now I am starting some stuff to grow indoors - even a few tomato plants. I have ample south facing windows. Some of my veggies are to share with friends too. Things like some of my slow growing flowers - lavender - I like to start a huge tray indoors. Since the onion seeds are from big onions, I'd be lucking in spring to have small bulbs from the seeds. The herbs will eventually go outside. My next venture is using water jugs I saved from the summer to do 'Winter Sowing' - had lots of success with that over the years everywhere I lived. Trudi who started it all now has her own website and has moved on but left terrific FAQs at GW. My other focus for this week is challenging others to tackle a box a day to declutter (it's on the KT). Makes this unpacking a little more fun. Misery loves company! LOL. Last night we had friends over for dinner and cards. We had a riot. I had waaaaay too much fun. Let myself go too much but mentally it was all worth it. Haven't laughed like that in some time. Besides laughter burns energy. I'm carrying on today. Did not get my cook ahead done because DH and I spent the afternoon giving this place a good cleaning over (felt fantastic afterwards). My new friend Catherine last night mentioned a nearby town (she lives just outside) is starting a quilt club. She's interested and so am I. We're going to check that out. While we go quilting our boys will enjoy male bonding. I'm getting more social activity in the country than I had living in the city. You can take a bus in the city to a shopping venue or park but that's not socializing. This is better than prozac! Besides I have a ton of quilting magazines I might find good homes for. So lets really get out there an enjoy this weekend. My continued love and support to all of use - my arms are open for sharing hugs. Take care everyone - let's breath, find something beautiful in every day. Today we take another step forward, together. Whoooo Hoooooooo! Peggy