Tiffany....Thanks..How much I wish I could live south where you are....I always wonder why the heck I was so blessed to live in the area I do when zillions of people live in all the warm spots I wish I could where I could sport t-shirts and shorts every night outside and sit along my fragrant plants! Toni....You and your soaking your plants! I give you much credit since I never do this and I thank God for some reason no critters are carried in my pots! I feel so bad for you knowing how bad your knees are and how supportive your son and husband are..right..lol I can't imagine you doing that all by yourself and in pain at the same time..At least I can minus the pain in my case. Let's hope that Praying Mantis did all the bug removel for you before you do..:-) I will spray all my plants again with Fish Emulsion and then pick and choose what gets systemics and what gets natural oils...If there are no bugs, the nothing... Stush..How have you been? So good to see you too! I have been keeping in touch with Chris these days and was thinking of you....I am hoping you and your wife are fine these days and staying nice and warm:-) Nothing of mine is inside at the moment....They enjoyed this day of over 75 and tomorrow again..Low's in the mid forties are ok just for a few nights... Hermie..Thank you...No worries...I hope your plants fared well too...Some plants just hate cold feet for sure and after growing plants for years, you begin to understand them and their dislikes well... By the way, watch for the new thread I am going to start about Pest's to benifit us all and Google if anyone should look them up! We need to help many others about the fears and worries of pests and how to deal with them in many ways....I think it will help thousands... Mike

Since your research suggests they like acid soil, MissSherry, I would be hesitant to add lime to the soil, with will raise the PH. I have managed to get Spicebush to grow 3 years and it always dies the 4th year - weird, huh? I planted my current one in the front yard amid pine tree, honeysuckle, hackberry, etc., so I can better monitor it. I have also been feeding with an organic fert called LadyBug John's (Austin, Texas origin). It is a 3-1.5-2 ratio, which is the ratio recommended by Al on the container forum. He's a physicist who has soil and nutrients down to a science, literally. Anyway, this organic fert is more of a soil builder than a plant fertilizer with micronutes and all. I have been giving in a 1/2 feed about every 3 or 4 waterings. It has responded well to this. My Spicebush is located where it gets shade to dappled shade to some West sun (only about 1 hour), like it would if it grew at a forest edge. So far, so good, but it's only the 2nd year. The true test would be the 4th year for me. Sandy would be helpful since she has had hers for a few years now. I'll be interested to see if she responds here, too. The problems with Sassafras is that it is so hard to transplant. I've tried 3 times and failed. If you could get a very small seedling or seeds to start with, it might be a better solution. I don't think the seed is viable for very long, with fresh working best. If you know someone who has Sassafras and get either fresh seeds or a small volunteer, that would be great! Susan

thanks dawn. i hope the water can get through all my leaves. out front i also brought in bags of leaves from neighbors, and so there is an extra amount in our front yard this year.

Hopefully another pair will come along for you. Here in WI in my yard it is a waiting game all the time. I usually start seeing Blues in late March but nothing usually ever happens with my nestboxes until May as far as the Blues go. TRES are everywhere right now but I haven't seen a Bluebird since March 19th. I am trying to be patient though since the last two years Blue activity and nestbox choosing didn't happen until May and I got two nestings both times. Right now I am having fun watching a pair of Dees excavate a nest site plus for the first time we have a pair of Red Breasted Nuthatches that are also excavating a nest site, can't believe I actually found it. Won't be able to look into it as it is at about 6 feet on a downed tree top. We have a small 3+ acre woods where they are at. Donna