BUMP!! If you see this heading to the bottom of the list...bump it up! K

Once posted just like your words here they are there forever, no way to edit or remove once submitted. I guess if there is a significant reason for removing it one can use the contact us link below and ask the powers that be to remove it.

To woodchuck.mo: About Hydrangea color Unless a hydranagea is the standard white variety, its color depends on the PH of the soil (acidic to basic). The soil must be acidic to produce the blue color. If the soil is neutral (ph 7) to basic, the color will be pink. It works just like litmus papar in chem lab: litmus paper turns blue in acid and pink in basic solutions. It is tough in SE Wisconsin to get the blue color due to the high limestone content in our soils. Sulphur compounds are available at garden centers to acidify the soil around hydrangeas, but I have found that the recommended amount hardly affect our soils. There is too much limestone just beyond the plant's root circle. The blue to pink hydrangea is an inicator plant. It indicates the ph of your soil The beautiful blue color seen in garden centers are of plants grown in a pot where complete control of acidicy is possible. If you plant, I recommend the new variety called something like "ever summer" (not the exact name). It blooms on new wood in June whereas the standard plant blooms on 2nd year wood. Blooming on new wood was important to my hydrangea this year. The plant came out of dormancy too early this year due to our warm March. Buds swelled on the old wood and was about to break open when April freezes killed these buds. Later the stem died also, but the plant revived in May sending up new shoots from the root and these shoots have new blooms that will soon be open. Without the ability to bloom on new wood, I would not have any blossoms this year. As the blossom ages out, it turns green and finally browns in the fall. The bloom is long lasting, and new blossoms continue to appear as the older ones age out. The plant is susceptable to deer damage; the dear nip off new blossoms as they appear.

Adding pictures to posted messages may be easier than you thought. Some forums allow you to add a picture directly from your computer. Those direct upload forums are listed under GardenWeb Galleries, and display a camera icon by their name in the main forums list. All other forums require you to store the image elsewhere on the web, then link to that image using html codes in your posted message.   The Short VersionAdding a picture on any forum Upload your image (60K or less in size) to somewhere on the web for storage. Type codes into your forum message to add the image. To create a link to the image: <a href="insert image address here">insert image description here</a>. To display the image inside the posted message: <img src=” file location and name”>. Submit the message. Adding a picture on forums allowing direct upload from your computer Type your forum message and select Preview. Select Browse button to locate and add the image file on your computer. Submit the message and image file. &nbspTIP &nbsp To simplify entering codes and other repetitive phrases, consider using a macro program. I use ShortKeys Lite because it’s free, tiny, easy to use, and works in any program. I’ve set up macros for commonly used coding like image and page links. I copy a URL, then type in my shortcut “xim” and ShortKeys Lite inserts <img src=””>, or “xu” inserts <a href =””></a>. I then paste the URL in between the “”and add a descriptive phrase between the ><. Fast, easy, and no typos! Many macro programs offer similar abilities.   The Detailed VersionAdding Pictures to Messages on Forums Without Galleries (Like Hot Peppers Forum) Step 1: Prepare your image for uploading Make sure your image is in either JPG or GIF format (with .jpg, .jpeg, or .gif file extension), and is no larger than 60K. If your file is larger than 60K you will need to reduce the file in your photo editing software. The software’s help files will give specific instructions. You can also add any image copyright or text desired using image editing software. Save the file to a new name before reducing it so you retain the original version. Step 2: Upload the image from your computer to somewhere on the web Option 1: Use the free space provided by your ISP. Most ISPs provide free space for their subscribers. Check their support website for instructions on setting up and using your personal web site space. This is a great option because you normally have plenty of storage space and the images will always be available for viewing. Option 2: Use image hosting websites such as FotoTime, WebShots, PictureTrail, or Yahoo Photos. There are many image hosting sites on the web. Follow the uploading instructions provided for the particular image hosting website. Some services do not allow displaying images stored on their site on other pages (like GardenWeb posts), some charge an annual fee, and most limit the amount of images stored, so be sure you choose a service that fits your needs. Image hosting sites mentioned are examples of possible options, and not endorsed or recommended by GardenWeb. WebShots does not allow displaying images in other sites (even with a paid membership) so you are not able to show images from WebShots in GardenWeb posts. You can add a link to your WebShots page that contains the image. FotoTime allows displaying images stored on their service only for paid subscribers. Option 3: Use Hortiplex. Hortiplex is a database of plants which is part of the GardenWeb family of websites. It allows GardenWeb users to post pictures by scientific name. For specific instructions, see Hortiplex help pages. Option 4: Use the GardenWeb galleries available on other forums. You can post images to other GardenWeb forum galleries, but these images are not stored for long, so this is not always the best option. For example, your posted message on Hot Peppers forum may stick around for a couple of months, but the image on the Garden Photo Gallery may disappear after two weeks so you’re left with a “broken” image link in your forum message. Always make backup copies of any images stored online! Step 3: Add your image into your gardenweb message Copy the image address (URL). Go to the web page displaying the image you uploaded in Step 2. In Internet Explorer, Right-Click on the image and select Properties to show the image address. Select the entire URL (including the second line if necessary), then select “Ctrl C” to copy it to the Windows clipboard for the moment. Cancel the properties window. Switch back to the Post New Message form. Paste the image address into the message as a link or a displayed image. Option 1: Make a link to the image using the URL space in the New Message form. Select “Ctrl V” to paste the URL address into the Optional Link URL space provided at the bottom of Message Preview. Add a Name of the Link to show a descriptive phrase for the image instead of the link address. Option 2: Display the image in the message itself using formatting codes (an html image “tag”). Type <img src=” file location and name”> in the body of the message. For example: If your graphic is at wherever/~smith/garden/habanero.jpg, you would insert <img src=” //wherever/~smith/garden/habanero.jpg”>. Add an extra return above or below the image to group it with the appropriate text. Step 4: Submit the message Adding Pictures to Messages on Forums with Galleries Some forums allow uploading pictures directly from your computer to the forum's Image Gallery. Forums with Image Galleries display a small camera icon next to their name on the main list of GardenWeb forums. Step 1: Prepare your photo for uploading See instructions in Step 1 above. Step 2: Type your message into the New Post form and select Preview This is the usual message posting procedure. Be sure to add a subject that clearly describes the image. Step 3: Add the image from your computer Select the Browse button and locate the file you wish to upload. Once the file name has been added, select Submit to post the message and image. Step 4: Submit the message