I posted this last year to show how Chaulker-Scott oftentimes goes WAY overboard in her assertions. There are more examples but this is one that is fairly typical IMHO. As to Chaulker/Scott - she makes many overblown statements in her myth papers IMHO. From the old post: One example deals with her conclusion that bone meal is detrimental to plant growth due to its inhibition on beneficial fungi growth. The detailed study below shows some basis for her conclusions but the bonemeal was not nearly as detrimental on beneficial fungi as she opines IMHO. In fact, in one test bone meal was beneficial for fungi innoculation! Plus the fact that bone meal can help grow plants in and of itself. Well at least it has always helped me in my gardening as well as millions of other gardeners. Look at the last paragraph and see where bone meal, peat, mineral soil and innoculated fungi WAS NOT detrimental to fungi innoculation. So sometimes bone meal might reduce fungi development, sometimes increase it, sometimes nothing - but to say that it prevents fungi innoculation is way overblown IMHO. This is typical of Chaulker/Scott IMHO. Not that bone meal is required, this is just an example of Chaulker/Scott's exaggerations. Do not believe, at 100 percent, everything you read from her myth papers IMHO. Quote: Mycorrhizal inoculation of organically grown tomato plants Siri Caspersen Department of Horticulture, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 55, SE- 230 53 Alnarp, Sweden Improvement of plant nutrient uptake and protection against root pathogens by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) might contribute to a reduced utilization of soluble fertilizers and pesticides in agriculture and horticulture. For organic cultivation of glasshouse crops, regulation of nutrient supply and of the balance between nutrients is a major challenge. Common nutrient sources are green and animal manures together with plant and animal residues from the food industry. The recommended soil nutrient levels for glasshouse cultures are gerally high and based on easily available nutrients extracted by water or weak acids. Thus, for P in particular, luxury levels are common in the soil and the risk of P leakage is evident. When tomatoes are cultivated organically in the same soil for consecutive years, root pathogens may also become a problem. Root colonisation by mycorrhizal fungi in combination with the use of slowly soluble P- sources might be desirable both for bioprotection against root diseases and for a reduced risk of P leakage. However, establishment of mycorrhizal root colonisation is difficult due to the normally high soil P concentrations in combination with a widespread use of peats, which have a low P- fixing capacity, for pH regulation and for soil structure improvement. The aim of the presented work was to investigate the influence of organic and slowly soluble fertilizers and of inoculation with AMF on mycorrhizal root colonisation and on plant growth and nutrient uptake of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum cv. Delito) plants grown until planting stage (six weeks after sowing) in soil- or peat- based substrates. In sterilized soil: sand (1: 1, v: v) amended with apatite and bonemeal, we observed a strong plant growth response to inoculation with an isolate of Glomus intraradices. Plant growth was lower and the mycorrhizal response stronger in pots where the slowly soluble Psource apatite was added alone in comparison with pots where apatite and bone meal were added together. Mycorrhizal root colonisation and sporulation were reduced by the addition of bone meal. The positive response of plant growth and nutrient uptake to mycorrhizal inoculation in the soil: sand was probably related to an increased P uptake of the mycorrhizal plants. The effects of inoculation with Glomus intraradices (BEG87) and addition of bone meal and/ or blood meal were investigated for tomato plants grown in a substrate containing mineral soil and peat (4: 1, v: v). Root mycorrhizal colonisation was high (60- 80%) in pots containing either bone meal or blood meal or none of them. When both fertilizers were present, however, AM fungal colonisation was reduced. Inoculation with G. intraradices increased shoot dry weight in comparison with the uninoculated plants for all fertilizer combinations, and in particular for blood meal alone where no growth response was observed for nonmycorrhizal plants. It is possible that an AMF- mediated increase in plant the uptake of P was necessary for a positive effect of blood meal on plant growth. As the mineral soils in the substrate had been partly sterilized, however, introduced microorganisms were probably quite important for the mineralisation of bone and blood meal, and effects of other microorganisms associated with the AM fungus on plant utilization of the organic fertilizers can not be excluded. End quote.

Good question Kathy. Thanks for posting that link, Saucy. I was looking at Wikipedia last night and really didn't see an explanation that was clear cut either. [g] The explanation I read suggests that all ponds are man made and lakes are not.....among other things. That didn't seem possible to me? So I went looking at the history of this particular pond and couldn't determine whether it had been man made or not. It seems pretty large to have been dug out. If you notice in Photo #2, there is paving....that circles the pond and makes a great walking, running surface too. Kids bring their bikes, lots of in line skaters sometimes and it is Dog Heaven....lol. Very unusual to see it so empty. There was not a car in sight and not a person out there yesterday. If you notice the paved area, there is water on both sides. Looking in one direction you see the small side that is very still with the evening primrose in the photo and the one above it. The sky in that direction was lighter too. On the other side of the pavement it is larger with more movement to the water. All of the dark photos. This might give you a better idea of it's size on the larger side. It is about 2 miles around to walk it, perfect size. It also has some different unpaved trails to explore. I have seen photos taken there of Herons and Osprey but have not caught one myself. I've seen the Heron when I didn't have a camera with me, naturally. [g] This is hardly the nicest natural area around. But it is in an almost urban area which makes it more special and it is well used, safe as far as I've ever heard. Always lots of friendly people using it all year. Thanks for the catch Norma...I had to look it up...Cygnets. Evidently swans are from the Genus Cygnus. I was wondering where they came up with that name for the babies....you learn something new every day. I love photos of the sky too Michelle. I think it is because I can't see the horizon from my property at all. Saucy...we caught the babies when they were still small and fuzzy one year which is a lot of fun to watch. These would have been babies in the spring. Yes the parents are very protective and will attack, but with all the people walking along that paved path, they are well used to people. I was able to get about 4 feet to them, but when the parent's back was to me. When I tried it from the other side, she went on the alert and would have charged me if I took another step toward them. I have a photo of a swan in attack mode, chasing off another swan who was evidently overstepping his bounds near her territory. She had her wings out and was moving at top speed after him. I didn't get the photo of her on the shore with her wings flapping before she went into the water, but here is the one I was able to get.... Thanks for looking... :-)

Lots of problems can befall Japanese maples that will result in this sort of appearance - a tree species that is probably more sensitive to climatic or cultural stressors than just about any other. There is no point prolonging the inevitable - this tree is never going to regain any semblance of its former glory. But I would really like to know what's going on before suggesting you replace it with another JM. Some diseases will linger in the soil for extended periods of time and replanting with the same species just results in a similar grief down the road. And this amount of dieback does look like a pathogen rather than just a summer heat or water issue. Take photos and samples into your local extension service for an accurate diagnosis. They will be able to tell you if you are safe in replanting with another Japanese maple.

I dont usually bother padding the seeds that I send. Never had a complaint but I am sure some seeds were crushed in the auto sorting process. But, the bubble wrap is a great way to ensure they don't get damaged. I have seen some send them between a couple layers of cereal box cardboard. Some people use small bubble wrap lined envelopes or other padded envelopes as well. I usually send enough so that if a few get ground up, it isn't a big deal and I send them inside their individual coin envelope with a folded sheet of copy paper surrounding them before putting them in the mailing envelope. If I was selling seeds, I would go the extra mile, but I am usually sending free seeds or trading at the most. Bruce