They used to fly the balloons on the east side of Tucson. About 10 years ago or so the moved out here in the valley NW of Tucson. I was laying in bed one winter morning waiting for the sun to clear the mountains and warm things up when I heard a strange sound. The 2nd time I heard it my first thought really was, "Here there be dragons." It's what I think every time I hear them. I hope that clears things up a little. Calamity, My wife was a nurse in a psych ward at a Veteran's Hospital till it drove her crazy and I'm a crazy veteran that wears a tinfoil hat, not sure what kind of couple that makes us. And NO!! that's not how we met.

Bangalore has no cool season. You may be able to get away with strawberries, but the other plants are NOT going to do well. I suggest you look for cultivars that have been bred for zero chilling (in India or any other tropical country). I know they developed a peach like that in India. You won't have much luck trying to grow a European/North American cultivar in a tropical climate. Even California and Florida have cooler winters than Banglore.

I'm growing habs for the first time this year. Made a roasted pineapple sauce out of the first batch of peppers and was surprised it was a little on the mild side. So with the next weeks pickings I made a peach sauce and doubled up on the habs. Big mistake! I had to make a double batch of the sauce without more habs to get the heat down and it's still a bit hotter than I prefer. So don't be surprised if the heat's not all there on the first few. Surely it will be soon. ;)

Quality is relative...as is expense. I used FPE Eurolux Matte paint in my bathroom, after torture-sampling it at work, I was sold. I ordered it online from FPE...$40 for the 33oz/980ml "Quart", + $7 shipping. As you've probably read, I've babbled about their glosses, etc. It's NOT normal paint. I haven't tried any of their Eurothanes yet, but I will be ordering some to recoat some window-casing trim at home, and other wood projects. MY bottom-line here... If you elect to spend the money, you won't regret it! Faron