I was cleaning the kitchen after dinner and rather than toss out the water that my kids didn't finish, I brought it outside to water my zinnias. And it was then that I noticed that two of the leaves, had that famous lacy pattern. I said outloud, I wonder what's been eating you. And I looked around and sure enough, two Japanese Beetles were munching away. I went into the garage and pulled out my neem oil, mixed up a batch and set off spraying. Dang, I hate these bugs. This will be my first year using neem, so I hope it works well. Oh, both buggers are no longer of this world!!!

yes, RITA, But i thought I had the real one last year, until you said its not right.Glad its right this year,THANK YOU.I just think its a beauty, too. NANCY, AND LINDAA, Thank you for the nice comments. Jean

I agree with the above suggestion - start earlier. Mid-March at the very latest in your zone. You can purchase some row cover cloth and simply wrap it around the cage (like the one you have is fine) until the plant takes off. That will protect it from the winds while still allowing rain to penetrate. And if you put it over the top of the cage as well (for the first few weeks) that can also protect it from any late freezes and still get plenty of sun. But for now, if the winds kick up again just wrap any lightweight cloth around the cage to protect them (just make sure the cage is securely in the ground!), or around the entire garden. It also functions very nicely as a shade cloth when the sun starts to intensify too much. It looks like yours are doing fine, healthwise, though I don't know anything about your soil mix, sun exposure, etc.. I'm in central Texas (zone 8) and mine were already larger and staked to a cattle panel when the winds came, so they didn't even flinch. Also, it really helps to mix some worm castings (you can buy them or 'make them') into the soil of the hole you dig to transplant tomatoes. They love it. Add a little to the soil for all your plants and I think you'll see them respond nicely (health, productivity, etc.). It's also an excellent addition to the soil medium used to grow seed. Here is a link that might be useful: The Benefits of Worm Castings

First of all, if your SIL does decide to pursue the possibility of TPLO for her dog, you can help by researching board certified orthopedic surgeons who are additionally certified in performing TPLO surgery. Not all surgeons are board certified orthopedists, and not all board certified orthopedists are certified in TPLO. If she's going to shell out big bucks for this surgery, she should make sure it's being performed by a qualified surgeon. Second, the xrays should be taken by the surgeon, NOT by her regular vet. TPLO xrays are specialized, and they certainly don't require anesthesia unless the dog is a maniacal, uncontrollable nut. TPLO is generally considered the best cruciate surgery, but it's certainly not the only alternative. Traditional suture surgery is another option and much less expensive, though the repair may not be as strong as TPLO. Still, it's certainly worth discussing with the vet. You can help by doing the research to find a qualified orthopedic surgeon for them to go to - one who is willing to do whatever type of surgery your SIL can afford. You can also provide her with a list of financial assistance organizations to help cover the cost of treatment. The link below will help in that respect. Laurie Here is a link that might be useful: veterinary financial assistance