While this forum is probably the best place to get your specific questions answered, I don't think anything matches having at least one reference book preferably with beautiful pictures. The local libraries have pretty good selections to try out and see how you like them. Here are two good choices: http://www.amazon.com/Month-Gardening-Florida-Month---Month/dp/1591862353/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1291059204&sr=1-1 http://www.amazon.com/Florida-Gardening-Newcomers-Survival-Manual/dp/1893443094/ref=sr_1_11?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1291059204&sr=1-11 (only black and white pics) Michelle

Well, I went to my first Aldi today! It was the one in Saint Cloud... I have a mail box there from when I used to live there so I stopped because I was in the area anyway doing errands. It was very clean! Of course it is brand new. I was a little overwhelmed and only spent about 15 minutes in there. The problem for me is that if I see junk food, I will buy it. If I buy it, I will eat it! So, at a regular grocery store, I COMPLETELY skip the cookies/crackers/chips aisles... I don't even look down them! At Alidi, junk and convenience food abounds! It is right in your face because the store is so small. It's in colorful packages at cheap prices, and it's very hard to resist buying! I managed to walk out with a ham for half the price I saw them for at Wal-mart and a gallon of moose tracks ice cream. I wanted to make split pea soup, and have been waiting for a better price on hams (20 bucks is jut too much for me to be OK with spending for one ham!). The young lady who checked me out at the register was friendly and fast. She was sitting on a stool... and had blond hair, half of which was spray painted pink! Certainly not your typical supermarket! I told a friend about Aldi, and he said he'd shop there just because they let their cashiers sit down! I caught myself wishing that some dominatrix had been standing at the door ready to apply manacles to me before crossing the threshold so I wouldn't have snagged any junk food during my Aldi endeavor. Alas, my self control was enough... after all, I only bought the ice cream for medicinal purposes. I woke up with a sore throat today (really I did!), and bought the ice cream solely to numb the pain.

The little compost bins come in all styles - ceramic, metal, etc. Some people just use a large can with lid and park it under the sink (functional, but unattractive).You can get biodegradable bags from your grocery store, Amazon, etc - they hold about 1 gallon, which is about the size of the bin. Every day or two pick up the bag and toss it in your big compost bin that you have outside. The bag will rot in time. Don't put meat scraps in your compost. Egg shells are fine, but they don't decay as well. Coffee grounds are wonderful for your compost and garden - you can actually get them for free at many coffee shops! Anyway - toss dried stuff, like chopped up leaves, etc., in with your food scraps. Smaller stuff is better, of course. Stir the big compost bin once in a while. A good compost pile will NOT stink (contrary to popular belief). You can go crazy with composting - there are even classes that teach you how to do it really well - become a Master Composter!. Or you can take a simple approach, like I've described. This doesn't take much time, of course, but you won't get a fresh batch of really great dirt (finished compost) every 8 weeks, either.

Welcome back Ed!!!! Love seeing your pictures.. Sounds like you needed this vacation and I'm sorry to hear about your family member. I hope all goes well ... I would love to visit Naples Botanical Gardens sometime when I'm down in Florida . It Sounds like a beautiful place to see a huge variety of plumeria as well as other awesome trees!! My friend in Florida is looking for some different varieties of Mango trees and she is visiting a nursery that will let you sample the different varieties so she can make her selection! Sounds like my kind of nursery!! ;-) We have been busy here working on the yard and repotting trees. As well. It's a great way to relax!! Welcome back!!! Laura