Following up, a few months later... Things seem to be back to normal in the garden (thanks again for all of the advice and support). Nothing dead, and even a few new creatures -- a toad (must've come over from a man-made garden pond nearby) and a bunny (an unpleasant surprise -- living in an urban area, this is our first rabbit ever, in four years!). Birds are plentiful, and we're seeing a few goldfinches come by as the coneflowers dry up. I spent the summer enjoying the garden mostly from the inside... next spring will bring a clean slate and I can stop feeling funny about being out there (and about being here). Interesting, though: Like Hyta, I had not one Japanese beetle. Not a one. And I didn't spray anything besides all-season oil for aphids. Saw this in the newspaper today about more dangers from imidicloprid, this time about lingering dangers to honeybees: "Unfortunately, we are learning that Merit has some ugly side effects, namely causing what has been called colony collapse disorder, where thousands of honeybee colonies are disappearing for no obvious reason. Now we know that any plant that is treated with Merit and has blossoms that attract bees, those bees will receive a non-lethal shot of Merit. But it will cause them to lose their ability to find their way back to the hive. It also weakens the bee's immune system so the bee usually dies of some fungus or virus. ... "We yardeners can't deal with the bee problem in agriculture, but we definitely can take a look at how we are using Merit in our own yard. Some of the most effective and popular systemic insecticides for rose bushes have Merit as the main ingredient. Honeybees will always work over rose blossoms and so are exposed to a little bit of Merit -- enough to affect them badly." Provided the link for those of you who want to read more. (P.S. Maryl, I made sure to spray my clothes each time; thanks for the tip. And Joanne, now you must forgive me. I never have any e-mails about responses to a post. Still, please accept *my* apology for not responding sooner to say it's no big deal at all. :) )

Ah yes, MObile as in moveable. MoBILE as in Alabama. Love your traveling hosta circus. Where is your drink holder? In hot weather should have a big glass of ice and water with a lid on it nearby. I drink several of those all during the day, would be really a dizzy dame without keeping hydrated. I might be free associating and stream of consciousness and doing elipse circles all over the yard. Love the way you take your hosta for a stroll in the park. An altercation with the law reminds me of a joke. A guard watches this guy come out of the factory every day. He is pushing a wheelbarrow filled with straw. First day he stops him and goes through the hay finding nothing. Second day he does the same. Always bringing out straw. Finally the guy says to the guard, "This is my last day at work. I quit." so that gives the guard a chance to ask him....."I know you are taking SOMETHING but cannot figure it out. Since you won't be coming back, tell me what you are up to." At that point the guy pushes the wheelbarrow filled with straw off the property, and calls back to the guard, "It is the wheelbarrows." So instead of asking you about what you are doing with all those pots, the Law should have asked What are you doing with that wagon/wheelbarrow? Not so funny now. But it pointed out to me at the time, sleight of hand can keep your attention on the wrong thing....the innocent thing.

We went down this weekend, I think it was the longest trip of my life. Seemed like we would never get there. I just kept praying that I did not loose them all. I think Albert must have been looking over them, nothing was affected by the cold, not even the tomotoes and peppers. I just lost a lot of sleep, worrying. Barb

Brian, you are so right..I have been chasing storms for years..At least 16 and taking images of lightning and cloud formations...It use to be a time I never had to chase them at all, when we were surrounded by forest,,Those days are gone..I miss them. I'll bet Sugar would love to live here..It's is just plain ole boring with no rain all summer and then drizzle come the fall..lol Come to think of it..You are right! It seems that just as my trees start showing good growth and adjust, I have to bring them all again...I think I only get about 2 months of night time temps above 60 and then it's all down hill from there..I have to wait until the end of June before my temps average 60's by night and then as long as they take to roll in., they fly by..It will be below the 60's in a couple of weeks and then 40's in a month..Arg. To think that I have to pull out the plastic tarp and seal all my windows with plastic and then start bringing in my plants..I hate that when my plants finally look so full and pretty just to be tagged by frost!I didn't know that you lived up on a hill..You are right, the city holds in heat much better..You might be able to extend your growing season a few weeks now. I am thinking it's a great idea to get someone else to build that house...What about electrical and heat? What will you do buddy? Hugs Ubro, you are way too funny..I can relate though about not feeling like you should be outside doing things since when Christmas comes and I have the week off, there is a nice feeling about being warm inside and watching great movies, and ye, getting lots done in the house..My house is a disaster and ignored until the summer ends..lol Wyoming is very beautiful, but you are all right, not for me...I could't take cold nights and no humidity...I am the type of guy that LOVES high humidity and the warm temps that make me feel warm and comfortable...Love it..