I agree that it looks like your lawn might have some significant die off. Again, looking at where it is green, by the beds with the sprinklers, it sure looks like the rest of the lawn is not getting enough water. You say sprinklings 3X a week. How long is a sprinkling? The general rule of thumb is an inch a week, usually in one long shot, or two half inches in a week. An inch of water takes a good deal of time, but it depends on your water system. A core aeration would be a good idea, it will definitely help get some water to the roots, and a layer of compost afterward would really help your soil. If you don't see any green up this year, I would recommend an overseed after a core aeration and a power raking. In regards to sharpening your blade once a year, that is way too infrequent. Do you do it yourself? A freshly sharpened blade goes dull pretty fast. I am pretty anal about it, I do it once every two weeks, and after two weeks (2-3 mowings) it looks pretty banged up, and I am pretty careful about avoiding sticks.

Did I see that Dawiff? Did you say you are starting over with a new garden and it's totally fenced? hoping you won't have to deal with the 4 legged things? Dream on girl, dream on. If the groundhog finds his delights in your garden, no fence in the world will keep him/her out. Remember they dig under ground, live under ground, make miles and miles of tunnels under ground. No obstacle is to big, to high, to low or dug down to deep to prevent them from filling their stomachs. And just to make life more miserable for us folks, they will climb a fence if they have to, to get their favorites. I just that "Chuck" would decide to climb my chain link fence and get him/herself empalled (however you spell it) on all the sharp spokes on the top of it. I know, not nice, but after the destruction I have had, the tree that came down next door today in the wind and soaking rains, and get told that it was a healthy tree with barely any roots to hold it cause the ground hog chewed up all the roots; well it's hard to feel compassion for them. So how late can you plant perennials in your "new found warm zone'? Thinking that if it's long enough and late enough, I might be able to get those daylilies you have wanted from my yard, and I don't want, dug out and shipped priority mail to you in the fall. If not this fall, then you will be stuck with them next spring. Sooner, don't think that a groundhog can't get into really small places, trust me they can flatten their fat bodies and squish through all kinds of places that you think it coudn't fit through. Valiche, I've been looking forward to the blooms on my vesuvius for a long time, just hope no one decides that the buds will taste better than looking at the flowers. Poor "Miss Lupin" had another tough day. Even in the rain, the groundhog was sticking it's body right behind her and waiting to attack. Twice I screamed through the door to scare him/her off and hopefully their are 2 flowers left. Fran

I'm going to have to start some Everglades tomatoes. I've had dismal tomato luck for the last few years, here and on the Cape.... Hi Carol, I grew yellow currant tomatoes this fall and they have been just as prolific and tasty as the Everglades...if you want I'll send you some seeds for them, more color for your salads ;-) Darn it...late to the cucumber party again! Not really SPF, now's the time for us here in Zone 10 to start cukes for our traditional spring season. I'm just realizing that it may be possible for me to grow cukes here year around since these are hanging on so long and I've actually experienced that with okra. ...I've got my spring ones just sprouted and have high hopes for this coming season.... Wishing you the best of luck Liz, keep us posted. What is the name of those pretty little things, and where did you get the seeds ? Hi Sally, they're Corentine. I have plenty of seeds but you're so close to the water that even spraying weekly you'd lose the battle quickly to pickle worm since you have no screened area with filtered sunlight. :-( ....The sweet baby girls are growing nicely, btw, thank you so much for the seed! Hi Tina, let me know how they do for you. I honestly think this one is going to replace Sweet Chelsea and Husky Cherry Red as my work-horse cherry tomato. Tom

I grew these this year, mostly as a novelty and they turned out to be one of my best varieties. They are somewhat susceptible to drought but otherwise and excellent choice. Very productive plants with delicious, meaty fruits. Like a paste tomato except much better flavor.