Yes, I haven't had any vermiculite around in too long to talk about, but there are no plants still alive here that had that in their pots... Not that it will kill your plants, but like said, it gave me a false impression about the moisture in the pots. If memory serves, it acts a lot like peat but isn't so hard to get wet again once it dries. I feel your frustration about taking the pics. And I so often take a pic while I have a plant separated from the herd, getting a drink, then people say, "it's too wet." Glad this was just an optical illusion. It really looks like the rocks in the pots are swimming in water, puddle in the saucer of the Dief. The moisture on the clay pot looks real though, concerning if it's not looking much more dry very soon. You should be able to adjust the exposure after you put your pics on your computer. Sometimes that's not enough, but helps a lot of my pics look as bright as the scene is in reality. A lot of plants I just have to move to get a good shot of them though. Don't tell DH but I sit a lot of them on the bed for a minute to do it. Hey, that's something. If your plant isn't dry enough to sit on your bed, it's too wet.

Just too wet and cold, they are rotting. You may be able to save some of them, by taking them out of the soil to dry out. If necessary cut off all of the leaves, save the root stock and plant late April. YOu live in No. Cal. Wait one week and water, putting the rootstock in the smallest container that is possible. If it is shallow you will see results faster. This happens to many of us this time of year, they just can't have water all winter, if it is also cold, meaning below 55% at any time. Plant what ever is left of the leaves, that are not rotted. (cut off the rotted stuff then dry out the bottom of the cut, this is one time I would recommend rooting hormones. Set the leaves into a shallow container no deeper that 2-3" or use a larger container and fill it half way. Put in as many leaves on one species that you can.Don't forget the label. Make haste, you have no time to lose. I'm so sorry that this happened. Norma

Diclemeg, yes that was bird tape and it worked wonderfully well! We have a murder of crows that patrol the neighbourhood here and are very mischievous and get into everything. I'm very surprised the tape repelled them, wily things that they are, but I had no issues at all with birds. I took it down once my seeds sprouted and the plants were around 3 inches tall. I also sprayed Liquid Fence around my boxes, I'm not sure if it was that or a combination of the two or just plain good luck. Bel

I believe crime is further down the list way below economic conditions of the neighborhood and here is why: Crime makes news story in an upper class neighborhood as it is abnormal. We know crime happens everywhere in every neighborhood but upper class folks don't like to be disturb with it or have it lower their image so cops are called in, etc. e.g. Beverly Hills Middle class neighborhood also may make a news story but not as shocking as upper class. e.g. Irvine In lower class or depressed neighborhood - it barely makes the news as it is expected. That doesn't prevent more criminals from setting up shop. e.g. Watts or Compton We must keep in mind in the US many neighborhoods and their social economic were forecast by US government policies after WW2 and it is no shocker that interstates/highways (Interstate Highway Act) cut through previously good neighborhoods and some inner cities are predominately one group or another. Until you have a renaissance those communities will attract crime and less than ideal living conditions resulting in unattractive housing market for outsiders and businesses. No business owner wants to risk opening shop in a poorer or increasing crime neighborhood if they can pay a little more in rent and have business in the 'good' part of town unless it is fast food or church. The next biggest attribute to neighborhood downfall in the US - is companies/business relocate to cheaper or elsewhere. E.g. We have heard of Walmart killing a downtown or example Schenectady, NY which was HQ of GE until they moved elsewhere and it went from one of the most desirable destinations in NY to one of the most depressing (never able to turn itself around). Most of the mid-west cities follow the exact trend of losing a big employer footprint while continually receiving low-educated residents looking for employment/future. You are left with uneducated folks without money in a place with little upward opportunity. A family with no job and kids will probably foucs on some type of illegal activity to obtain $$$ eventually (even if they can hold out for a long time) or some dependency (gambling, drugs, gangs) to escape their desperate condition.