Well, I didn't prune the two older ones (Bartlett Pear and Honeycrisp) any more than I did last year, which is to say, lightly-to-moderately pruned and they flowered fine last year... and I BARELY pruned the two younger apple trees, since they did not have much growth to begin with.... I just can't imagine how I would have pruned off every single branch with flowering capability on 4 different trees, unless I really pruned them super heavily, which I didn't. The Honeycrisp apple got the most pruning this year, but I followed various tutorials and felt I was actually probably not taking enough off. But I am new to this so I guess I could be wrong! In any case, the other 3 only got very lightly pruned. And, no, no flower buds ever showed up at all. I have to get my yard ready for a delivery of 10 tons of gravel thats on its way, but I'll try to take some photos later on so you can see how much I pruned.

Two years in a row? There aren't any cats in my neighborhood, mostly dogs, including my own. It's far enough from the street that I know a cat couldn't have wandered in the yard but then again, it could have happened somewhere else while she was getting food. I just find it so odd that this happened last year too! Another question, where is the father? I have read that both parents feed the babies, yet there is no sign of him either. Last year, the same thing, no mother, no father. Just this morning, I was out in the front yard watering some of my shrubs/plants and the wrens were squawking at me in their usual loud chastising voice. I too think that mom was killed, but wouldn't the male take over, or would he just leave the area? Yes, it is very sad, it's really breaking my heart to hear them chirping for food and there's nothing I can do about it. I tried saving the babies last year to no avail. Right now they are sleeping, I am not looking forward to tomorrow, if the mother doesn't make a miraculous appearance in the morning. Thanks for your input, I appreciate it. Linda

i've lived in cypress and now west of angleton (south of houston) and i've had many parsley of the flatleaf variety live 2 years and 1 lived 5 years the one that lived five years was planted in a container at the base of an enormous pine tree in two year old leaf mulch compost no soil at all i think they really can't stand hot direct sun over a long period of time and i know i never watered the one that lived such a long time i have several nown that are 2 years old and they're already suffering from being in the sunny raised bed they really like cooler weather her in south texas the ones in pots under the trees are doing much better, and the pots have to be large i've never planted the plants you mentioned besides parsley, except for mint and that is very thirsty stuff and you should really keep it contained i have some around the base of a lemon tree now and we'll see how that goes, we'll be mowing around that tree... herbs that i have kept alive for over a year and should have been able to keep alive because they're perennial are oregano, marjoram, several kinds of thyme, 2 kinds of sage, lemon balm and chives i am using these in a raised bed (about 12 or more inches high) made of rose soil they are growing as companion plants to roses and day lilies and some other small shrubs i can tell they really aren't happy after days of continual rain i think well draining soil and not too much water is the recipe for herbs--and the butterflies and other pollinators love the herbs

agree... you should be doing the 8 year happy dance.. not wondering why you didnt get year 9 .... as to longevity.. and our of curiosity.. how often did you change the media in the pot.. over those 8 years?? media is a water management system.. and it breakdown... and e.g... if you never changed it.. then your plant probably died due to soggy winter roots or some such ... death over winter.. when you are in a zone warm enough not to think cold kill.. is wet roots that rot.. usually due to drainage issues... but that is all wild speculation.. ken