Well Bob got the computer up and running. For the time being. It seems the XP program his computer buddy found on eBay cannot be validated by MSN so we aren't able to update it. I still want to buy a new computer and use this one as a back up. I'm afraid to upload documents and pictures in case something else goes wrong and I lose them. Jan, I have heard of maggots working wonders on infections. Not sure I'd want them in the house though! Yuck! His foot could probably use a few though. Some of the surrounding tissue is dead looking so I'm not sure if the doctor will want to cut that out or not. We will have to mention maggots to him and see what he says. he-he Not sure what the maggots could do for the bone on the next toe. That doesn't look so hot either. The doctor thought he might have to amputate all of Bob's toes. I guess he'd end up with a foot like the Chinese ladies of yore who had bound feet. It is unseasonably cold here in southeastern Wisconsin. The high is around 72 degrees every day and it goes down in the low 60s at night which is just fine with me. I just wish I could work outside instead of in our office where it feels like a morgue. At lunch time I go out to my car and sit in it with the windows rolled up. It takes me a few minutes to thaw out and it feels wonderful. I can feel the muscles loosening up. One day I will have to quit and apply for disability. It gets harder and harder to sit on a chair in the same position for 8+ hours a day in the freezing cold. Keep those prayers coming for Bob! As long as he is feeling good, I'm feeling good too! Love ya guys! Kathy

Cat, I'm SO EXCITED FOR YOU! This has been one of the BEST threads for learning, and MissSherry is such a great teacher because she provides us with not only narrative information, but visual information as well. Sometimes it's hard for me to comprehend a plant unless I actually SEE it. And you were going to look at the ranch and VOILA! You have ALs - I just can't believe it! I'm so happy for you! I'll be doing the YIPPEE DANCE today for you! I've been looking all over the internet at weed and native plant photos to ID my plants, and I think I've finally come to the conclusion they are some kind of plaintain that grows in lawns and yards a lot. No matter - I'll keep the plaintain to see if the Buckeyes show up. It is more green, but the stems are tomentose (hairy). Not likely cudweed because the leaves (kind of spoon shaped) are green both back and front, with little hair on them. The midvein looks slightly pink to red as well. Sometimes it makes me dizzy looking at all the photos for a long time, but I've found some great ID sites along the way that I've saved in my Favorites. Susan

@Tracey Fry, this looks just like my tree! The droplets of water I believe are collected to make perfumes, likely they press the whole flower bud and those droplets too. I believe they are coming from the interior flower. Once the flower blooms and doesn't set fruit pull it all apart you will see what I'm saying. I have done this to the ones that are not female & male, but simply male flower parts and there are little water droplets or sticky secretions inside the flower, towards the bottom where fruit should have been. OK this is a second post or the first post about this on my Etrog tree (citron) that I have been having issues with. I forgot to update this thread as well. I now am seeing flowers that are fully functional on my citron. I am watching fruit begin on it now. So far I have 4 flowers that are setting fruit. I will grab pics & upload them from my other computer's hard drive in a few.

To woodchuck.mo: About Hydrangea color Unless a hydranagea is the standard white variety, its color depends on the PH of the soil (acidic to basic). The soil must be acidic to produce the blue color. If the soil is neutral (ph 7) to basic, the color will be pink. It works just like litmus papar in chem lab: litmus paper turns blue in acid and pink in basic solutions. It is tough in SE Wisconsin to get the blue color due to the high limestone content in our soils. Sulphur compounds are available at garden centers to acidify the soil around hydrangeas, but I have found that the recommended amount hardly affect our soils. There is too much limestone just beyond the plant's root circle. The blue to pink hydrangea is an inicator plant. It indicates the ph of your soil The beautiful blue color seen in garden centers are of plants grown in a pot where complete control of acidicy is possible. If you plant, I recommend the new variety called something like "ever summer" (not the exact name). It blooms on new wood in June whereas the standard plant blooms on 2nd year wood. Blooming on new wood was important to my hydrangea this year. The plant came out of dormancy too early this year due to our warm March. Buds swelled on the old wood and was about to break open when April freezes killed these buds. Later the stem died also, but the plant revived in May sending up new shoots from the root and these shoots have new blooms that will soon be open. Without the ability to bloom on new wood, I would not have any blossoms this year. As the blossom ages out, it turns green and finally browns in the fall. The bloom is long lasting, and new blossoms continue to appear as the older ones age out. The plant is susceptable to deer damage; the dear nip off new blossoms as they appear.