Sounds like you have native trees as you descrive the nuts, very tasty and small. OK late fertilizatibn this time of year can damage your trees in the winter because the fertilization will promoting late growth causing your trees will stay active later than normal making them susceptible to freeze damage. Fertilize from April or just as you see buds developing until June monthly. Get your soil tested so you can see what you need. You want your ph to be about 7.5. Your soil sample results will tell you how much Nitrogen and Phosphorus you need and anything else. Were late in July now so water is the best thing you can do. With it this hot do not apply zinc as a foliar spray it could burn the leaves. If you just have to do that apply it late - late in the day so it will be cool outside. Keep an eye out for bugs and worms... good luck Paul

Scott, I didn't know 1999 was the best year! Of course, it was our first year here, and we didn't know a lot about the local area yet, except that the people were exceptionally warm and welcoming and we were so happy we'd moved here. You're right. Our pecan tree had no crop last year, but did the year before. I seem able to "thwart" the fruit trees' natural inclination to be alternate bearers somewhat, but not that of the nut trees. My one pecan tree in the yard is in the narrow band of sandy soil (about 20' wide and 40' or 50' long) that cuts across our property like a little "stream". It is VERY, VERY sandy/silty with almost no organic material, so it drains incredibly fast. I pile up all the mulch underneath this tree that I can every fall and winter in the hope that the earthworms will carry the organic material into the soil, and I think my plan is working, if slowly. The four o'clocks and cannas under the tree suvive even the worst drought with no irrigation and so does the tree. This tree had just begun to have a slight yellowing of a few leaves, and the dropping of a very few leaves, when the August rain apparently ended our drought. Nearby trees in clay soil had been dropping leaves for 6 or more weeks, so clearly the roots of the pecan tree can better access deeper soil moisture in the sandy soil, right? Also, because it is the only tree in the "yard" that provides substantial shade, both the guinea coop and chicken coop, and their fenced-in runs are there so they can benefit from the shade. However, since the poultry free-ranges all over the property all day long, I don't know that the pecan tree is benefitting from the poultry's natural 'fertilizer' as much as I had thought it would. I was going to tell you that if you couldn't find agricultural Sevin there and get it shipped, just let me know and I'd try to find some locally and get it shipped to you. I know it is hard to use Sevin, but sometimes Mother Nature doesn't leave you many options. I don't know of anyone around here who successfully grows pecans organically. I am sure it could be done, but I bet it would be incredibly difficult, time-consuming and expensive. Although I prefer to be organic and use as few chemicals as possible, I know it isn't always possible, especially with a monoculture orchard (not that ALL you have is pecan trees, but you know what I mean). If I had only 5 tomato plants, for instance, instead of over 100, I probably wouldn't have foliar disease or pests (stink bugs and leaf-footed bugs) to the extent that I do. All "pests", whether disease or insect (or those darned crows!) congregate where their target plants exist in larger numbers. I am glad you are keeping your pecan trees going as a viable (if not always economically successful) operation. When we first moved here 10 years ago, there were still quite a lot of people growing pecans commercially (generally as a sideline to raising wheat, hay or cattle). Ever since then, though, the number is less and less every year. It is more profitable, economically, to sell the land and its trees to people like us who want to live on acreage in the country. At least most folks like us keep the trees and don't cut them down, but a lot don't manage and harvest the pecan trees like folks used to. I used to see those pecan shakers traveling down the road every year and I haven't seen any in 2 or 3 or maybe even 5 years now. Most people around us have 2 to 5 pecan trees from which they still harvest nuts, even if they have let the "forest" grow up around/between the other trees. I need to pick your brain for pecan and blueberry recommendations for a 2009 planting, but we'll worry about that later when you aren't so busy with the pecans! Rain seems to be ending here, but I am a happy camper (and gardener) again. Dawn

I have the Sitram Profiserie set from Costco.com but haven't had a chance to use it yet since my kitchen won't be finished for another 6 weeks. The price of $150 seemed a bargain for induction capable and oven safe professional quality cookware. One thing to note is that it has a brushed finish inside and out. I have complemented the set w/ induction capable commercial non-stick pans and large stock pots made by Johnson Rose and a commercial non-stick try-ply griddle pan made by Vollrath, as well as a carbin steel wok and some Lodge Logic cast iron pieces. I acquired the commercial pieces from restaurant supply huses on the web for far less than All Clad or other top line consumer pieces. The Lodge I got new on ebay for a song. If you're willing to spend some time researching on the internet, there are some great bargains to be had.

Thanks so much for this info. Happyladi, that is SO helpful! I like to hear of first-hand reports from someone who has actually had the ReStor lenses. On the web, I have found more comments of dissatisfied results than good ones, although I think people tend to report back more if they are unhappy. I guess millions of people have accommodated to reading glasses, so I can, too. All my life I have had to contend with my nearsightedness. My array of eyewear is mind boggling. Regular glasses, prescription sunglasses, contact lenses, readers for over the contact lenses and regular sunglasses for over the contact lenses. Plus, carrying contact lens solution, lens container and my regular glasses just in case I need then while wearing my contacts. I had to wear contacts while skiing because the goggles didn't fit over my glasses. On the other hand, when snorkeling the water magnifies things so I could see fine without glasses. Of course, I had to have glasses handy for when I got out of the water!! For those of you with good eyesight, count your blessings!