"Yard is very fond of that tree/shrub treatment; many of us are not." It's a curious "take"... what you're calling a "treatment". Is it any different than what people do to the plants they call "trees"? I think it is not. What strikes me as odd is the idea that trees above a certain size are acceptable ... but trees below a certain size are not. To my thinking, almost all sizes of trees are acceptable for some purpose and I can't see a reason to be against the smaller trees--so useful in so many places--any more than being against little people. I mean ... why? Also, having experienced the forum for a while now, I can see that quite a number of people might line up being for or against this or that, but what's popular among some doesn't necessarily have a relationship to a subject's value. Also, no one can know what the tally is. Either viewpoint on this could be in the minority. (But I've never waited for someone else to declare their preferences before deciding for myself if something is good or bad!) If valid, persuasive arguments are put forth against using small trees, then maybe I'll change my mind about them. Since I've been listening, no argument like that has been postulated. I've only heard, "I don't like them" which is an opinion, not a persuasive argument.

Ah, my curiosity is at last assuaged! Glad you could ID it. The link is interesting too. It doesn't seem to bode well that it is becoming a "dominant life form." I see them on porch and patio, though not in great numbers there. Landlady has a huge stand of oleander hedge. I may be misconstruing but I've seen the little milkweed bug in cozy association with the fallen dried-up blossoms. There must be something there it uses as food source, possibly a seed. Further searches yielded some more interesting sites: http://insected.arizona.edu/milkinfo.htm http://themarvelousinnature.wordpress.com/2010/04/05/tay-meadows-tidbit-small-milkweed-bug/ Again, thank you.

How delightful-adorable-amazing detail! The way you've honed your skills to take professional looking photos with that point and shoot, you should be killer with a DSLR if you ever choose to get one.

Then you're area is warmer than ours in the winter. I guess I'm still not sure about using the cloth as opposed to a heaver mil clear plastic to keep warmth in. I do know pre-watering helps with freezing. I'm up early enough to remove anything if needed. RE: hardening. A friend told me to use a leaf blower on the lowest setting, at a distance if necessary, to harden off - I thought that was rather unusual, but perhaps it helps, LOL! I didn't have time this year to start anything early (we're remodeling and trying desperately to finish up in the next few months - it's already been over a year of living in a mess). Why are you thinking of changing to some spray heads? Curious if I need to alter my plans. I'd thought the spray heads hit the lower branches and sometimes promoted rot, disease, and pests... am I wrong? So new to this, and any advice appreciated. Your dripworks setup is similar to ours. I just ordered the small kit to start, as I wasn't sure how much of what I wanted and needed only very little mainline. We've got pvc buried underground from the spigot at the house to the interior of the larger fully enclosed garden... The chicken wire 'wall' that separates the two areas is where it comes out and where the filter and restrictor are located. I'll run the mainline all the way around the 1 x 12 that separates those 2 areas, drilling holes in the 1 x 12 as needed to run the mainline. The driplines will come off the main tubing. I've left the drip line off for now as hand watering this winter is easy, and I want to blow out the water in the buried PVC to winterize. ETA: Aw, here's a pic: I've never heard of straw bale gardening, but then I'd not heard of winter sowing before either, and that was a monumental success for all the new flowers this year. I think I'll plant a single dwarf tomato plant in a planter on our patio... I know it'll need extra watering, but it'll be a good test to see if the birds peck at it. Past tomatoes were decimated if not covered. Lost every gooseberry and blueberry this past summer as I'd not covered them adequately with netting... I'd picked off most buds anyway to promote root growth (first year). I'll be better prepared next summer. The rock stacked around the perimeter won't be mortared - I want to be able to access teh 1 x 12 around the garden to remove it when it rots away. It acts like a raised bed, but isn't. Everything is screwed, not nailed. Alright, I've another question - and by the way, thank you Jamie for guiding this vegetable newbie! I've room to plant 6 tomatoes plants this spring without overcrowding. It's just the 2 of us. Will I have enough to freeze or can? I'm guessing the answer depends on how much I harvest, right? Heirlooms of 3 varieties, but not sure which. Also, for what it's worth, I've been burying all my veg scraps and every so often coffee grounds (no citrus, no meat) in the garden area I've not planted. Hoping to have it compost naturally. Sound ok?At some point, I will quite bombarding you with questions!