I have four Cleveland Select Pears and I like them and have had them for many years. Although one of the trees do have some saplings growing a few feet from the trunk. But there are only a few (not a lot) and I quickly cut them below the soil surface. I think it is because this one tree has a slope in front of it so then the main roots eventually reach the surface. The other three trees have not sprouted saplings ever that I have seen - those are more on a level ground which makes the roots stay further below the ground. (I am not a pro, but I have gardened a lot.) About any breakage, these are suppose to be the hardier of the pear trees. Only one tree had one larger branch broken off during one of the worse weather conditions we have seen in the northeast. We had snow or ice during Halloween one year!! Crazy. Leaves were on the trees then and so many of all kinds of trees fell and broke everywhere, not just pears. It was like a war zone where ever you went with broken trees and wires. I still have no problem with these Cleveland Select pears. They flower for a short time in May, which is pretty. The tiny make-pretend pears are cute to look at. The reason I picked these trees in the first place, after really researching many trees at the time, was that they also hold onto their leaves longer than other trees within my narrowed down selection of possible trees. That was important because they also serve a bit like privacy trees for most of the year when it matters the most when hanging out outdoors. And in the colder part of the year, the sun shines through their branches.

Hi, I'm interested to hear about peoples vermicomposting experience in a condominium. I want to make my own indoor compost, found these how to set up Here and Here. Anyone find red wiggler worms in KL or PJ? Eisenia fetida, known under various common names such as redworm, brandling worm, panfish worm, trout worm, tiger worm, red wiggler worm, red californian earth worm, etc., is a species of earthworm adapted to decaying organic material. I found this online Worm shop in Pj. And starter kit. Has anyone else tried this ?

Hi Laura, OK, where do we start ? - a lot will depend on your current location : Sydney has different conditions to Nowra, or Yass, or ... - when you have established your baseline re soil and water (how much, and when), you can begin looking at different species. - if you have access to a local chapter of the SGAP, they should be able to recommend plants that are endemic to your area : these will often be the best choices - as a general rule, there are certain species which do well along the east coast, assuming that you dont have problems with heavy frost. My personal picks are: Elaeocarpus Reticulatus (Blueberry Ash) Syzygium Australe (Creek Cherry etc) Melaleuca 'Revolution Gold' and 'Revolution Green' Xanthostemon Chrysanthus (Golden Penda) Harpullia pendula (Tulipwood) Low shrubs such as grevillea and banksia for shelter The list goes on and on, but you really need to check with local gardeners and nurseries to see what works best in your neck of the woods. Good luck, Artie

Lace Monitors, like "Gary", appear to instinctively not touch cane toads. That's what's saved them up and down the east coast. Most other goannas only learn by experience. They apparently need to have an ecnounter where they only get a bit of the toad toxin. Enough to give them a bad taste or mild sickness. They then learn to avoid the toads. However, that doesn't happen most of the time, hence the collapse of the goanna population. I'm currently being visited by one that's learned, A Water Goanna or Water Monitor, Varanus mertensi. Because they're aquatic (with a flattened tail adapted to swimming) it's around in my dam during the wet season but disappears later during the dry season.