The APSnet paper Henry linked is research from Auburn (Hot and Humid) Alabama. The full text version is available there for free as well. Straw helped, but not a lot for long term control. Some of us might remember a very expensive fungicide that was the only one ever ok'd for three week cycles of application; that's what worked best; that's also the one not on the market (internationally it's used for Bananas and a Plant Pathologist told me that we who eat Bananas have it in us in measurable quantity. When Henry threw diamonds into the mix, he didn't mention atomic structure. The Carbon in diamond is bonded in x, y and z directions as well as -x, -y, and -z. Try to think of it as being at the center of a three dimensional graft grid. Ya' know, Graphite isn't very useful either, and it is sheets of Carbon atoms with only a few (but enough) bonds that are at a right angle to the sheets. Graphite is slick because those sheets are strong, but the bonds holding them to the adjacent sheets aren't as strong. So...are you thinking of graphite as so many sheets of paper stuck together by not very good glue? This leads to clays - which are very thick sheets of paper with a great variety of atoms in them. The basic framework are Aluminium and Silicon atoms attached to Oxygen atoms. These surfaces are not smooth, but lumpy and there are a lot of other (mostly metal) ions attached. The link below shows just how complicated some of the clay structures are (I expect some folks actually remember this, I don't and I thank books for retaining the knowledge.) The way that things weather in nature describes what will be left after time. And here's where we come back to Silicon, the atom. If time and more time still leave Quartz (SiO2) in tact, how could putting horsetails in a blender break it down? Maybe what's in Equisetum isn't classic SiO2, but a less stable form? But what does it break down to? Here is a link that might be useful: Weathering and minerals.

I plan to cut back in 2019 by 50% to allocate more raised bed space for pepper production. My 2019 grow list is as follows: Amazon Chocolate Black Magic Bolseno Brad's Atomic Grape* Brunete Captain Lucky Cherry Bomb Clear Lake Heirloom Couilles De Taureau (Heuvos de Toro) Dora Druzba* (Overall best of 2018) Esterina Fabulous Dark Cherry V* George Detsika's Italian Red Gordo de Pantones* Grandma Oliver's Chocolate* Iva's Red Berry Lithuanian McMurray #10* Mikado Chernyi Missouri Pink Love Apple Monroe* (Trying this one again) Moravsky Div Northern Lights Oregon Spring Pale Perfect Purple Seek No Further Love Apple Stupice Sunpeach SuperNova Unknown Mexican Market Black F2 (Black w/Green Shoulders) *Invited back from 2018 2018 Review AAA Sweet Solano - Fair, would grow again Aunt Lou's Underground Railroad - Low production Big Orange V - Good, would grow again BKX/Prairie Star - Grew out as Prairie Star - Low Production Black Bear - Good, would grow again Black Early X PBTD - Very Nice, would grow again, good looking fruit Black Giant - Low Production Blackberry - Low Production Blackstar - Low production Bosanski Stari - Very nice red, would grow again Brad's Atomic Grape - Very Nice, big seller, good production Buffalo Soldier - Low production Bulgarian #7 - Moderate production, great taste, would grow again Bulgarian Old Sort (No Name) - Moderate production, great taste, would grown again Butter 'n Eggs - Mellow, great production, not a big fan Calabacito Rojo - Little ruffled tomatoes, not a big fan Druzba - Great production and taste, overall #1 for 2018 Dwarf Arctic Rose - Did not do well for me Dwarf Iditarod Red - Did not do well for me Early Glee - Nice, good production, would grow again Fabulous Dark Cherry V - My best cherry for 2018 Faelan's First Snow - Moderate production, great taste, would grow again Forest Fire - Super early, decent production, I wish I would have planted more German Johnson Benton Strain - Fruit sizes and shapes all over the map Gordo de Pantones - Huge and tasty red beefsteaks, very nice and would grow again, one of my 2018 top performers Grandma Oliver's Chocolate - Probably my best black for 2018 Indian Moon - Not a big fan Lime Green Salad - Had several plants that produced a few tasty fruits Maglia Rosa - OK, would grow again Matsu Express - Fruit sizes and shapes all over the map McGee - Good, would grow again McKinley - Nice large pink beefsteak, would grow again. Top 5 for 2018 McMurray #10 - Another large pink beefsteak, would grow again. Another Top 5 for 2018. Medovaya Kaplya - OK but was expecting more Milka's Red Bulgarian - Decent, would grow again Monroe - Moderate production, pretty good, plant succumb to disease early. Would like to try again. Morado de Fitero - Great, would grow again. Moruno Anta - Another good one, top 10 for sure Moruno de Madrid - Low production Napa Giant - No production Negrillo de Almoguera - #2 black for 2018 Negro de Cuenca - Nice red, would grow again Orange Cream - Did not do well Our Own Pink - A very beautiful and large PL plant, low to moderate production, few but great tasting fruits, would grow again Perth Pride - Did not do well Pink Pioneer - Great, ranked right up there with McKinley and McMurray #10 Reverend Michael Keyes - Decent, still in search of good red cherry Rosella Purple - Did not do well Scary Larry - Would grow again, good production Spike - Would grow again, good production Summer Cider - Low production but sooooo good Sweet Ozark Orange - Another one with low production but great taste Tasmanian Chocolate - My best dwarf Texas Star - Low production Vorlon - Good production, decent taste, #3 of my 2018 blacks Wherokowhai - No production Shell

I am SOOOO sorry to hear. RRD was one of my concerns that sorta kept me growing roses years back Right now, I think I might have boxwood blight. Took some cuttings for analysis to get confirmation. Sadface on , as these boxwoods I have nurtured since they 3G sized to full grown....and they grow like a measly few inches per year at most. I hate the diseases we speak about cause it's not a single plant virus/disease. It can setback your hardscape by wiping out X Y Z

No perennials in these letters, but my garden will perennially feature zinnias because the butterflies love them. Varieties pictured include 'Super Yoga Rose' which I can sadly no longer find, 'Mazurkia' and 'Exquisite'. Thanks, GardenHo and Peren.all for hosting this fun event! I have enjoyed looking back through last year's garden, and thanks to a weird warm winter, this alphabet has carried me right through to blooming flowers in this season's garden! I really appreciate seeing everyone's gardens and all the lovely comments and feedback on my photos. I hope your gardens have a great season! (And thanks Ken for suggesting we steal the hosta forum idea!) Happy meteorological spring, all!