Claire, I just took pictures of mine to show you the differences - yes they vary. This is the leaf and flower of the tree in the picture above. It is the unnamed variety kousa from the arborist. I have gotten a few babies, maybe 3, gave away 2, and this year there is another little guy next to mom, but I'll wait till fall or next year. This is a $3 pot I bought from a woman who propagated solely in pine bark mulch. Different leaf and bracts and grows like it's on steroids. This is a transplant from the first picture (arborist tree) which has not yet bloomed - another few years maybe - but the leaves look more like the one above which I 'imported', if you will. This is the one I stumped 4-5 years ago and has bracts that overlap whereas the others do not overlap. And lastly, what may/may not be a rough leafed wild dogwood out back that has struggle for a decade, but produced offshoots which I'm leaving in place. They are too close to the root of a large maple, but they planted themselves there, so let nature take it from here. The wild struggler that I hope someday will succeed and bloom. (that is persicaria polymorpha in the background) There is a Golden Shadows dogwood tucked in in front of the persicaria and this was its best year - until the deer came. I was too late spraying and it cost that poor dogwood a lot of leaves and young branches. (damn) Whatever you have, and who knows, some may be pink tinged, they're a gift and seem happier in full sun. Jane

The mycorrhizae enable the plant to more efficiently use what's available. It's like root extensions: the plant can get it from more places than just what happens to be right by the root. Sure. The question is, what is the real life effect of that? The plant lasts 10% longer? 20%? You get 5 days instead of 4? And what does that amount to? It needs to be quantified. You save 2-3 waterings across the span of the entire summer, maybe? It doesn't pass muster to me as far as cost (no fungicide, risk of turf loss) vs benefit (skipping a couple of waterings).

Treat Your Knee Pain Naturallly - Sunit Sanjay Ekka

Cindy, we have relocated 2 chipmunks this weekend...never just one of them either. Hope your strawberries are safe for now. Coons seem to be more wary and harder to catch. Fortunately, we don't seem to have many around...or they just have not found us yet! Looks like we are in for a week of hot and muggy weather. It should get the tomatoes, peppers, and squash growing better. I hope to get out early tomorrow and get some fertilizer on them. I may look for something the use on the tomatoes for fungus...this week looks ripe for that. Usually I don't spray but I have a feeling it might be good to do this year if I want my plants to produce for any length of time.