hman, I don't have significant intermixed plantings. I could have nematodes but I have never seen them on trees I have dug up. In the majority of cases I would say there is an obvious disease or pest or light issue; one problem I had a few years ago for example was peach scale, that stunted several trees. My O'Henry for example had bad peach scale. The problem is even though you fix a problem the tree can be in a self-fulfilling path of low growth which it can't just pop out of. There is only one tree that I really don't know why its not growing more, its my Black Boy peach. I think the original cause is it got horrible brown rot two years ago, the kind that is so bad that it kills the small shoots as well, and it is very slowly recovering from that. This year it did much better than last year, no big vigorous shoots but at least some 2' ones. So it may have just been from the rot and its taking its time recovering. If you read all of the old fruit books they refer to the "yellows" on peaches quite frequently, something they thought was a disease of some sort. Today it is not considered a legitimate diagnosis. My view is this "yellows" is just this tendency for peaches to runt out under certain conditions. It often results in leaves that are more yellow. Scott

Julia--this has happened to me as well on occasion (Jewel in a Crown and The Goldilocks Effect are the usual miscreants). I just watch the pod carefully for when the visible seeds turn black and the pod starts to shrivel. I also get a weird variation on this theme: either grasshoppers or snails bore holes into the pods so that the maturing seeds are visible--I use the same wait and see on those. Seed set was difficult this year in Fredericksburg, VA--we started getting 90-100+ degree days early in June right as bloom go going and we've been pretty much rain-free that whole time (still are). But, what did set is just beginning to mature--about 10 pods so far with plenty to keep me busy through August. Horrible, horrible summer, but Substantial Evidence finally(!) set a pod.

Moni-What a fun bike! I've also never seen a bicycle built for 3 (and 5 if you count the kids!) We are at my in-laws house in Maryland. Luckily they didn't lose power from last weeks storm. About 80,000 still without in the VA/MA/DC area. We lost power for just a day, so was a minor inconveince. Anyway, my sister-in-law and family are also here from Alabama, so we have been having fun just spending time together. Gone on a few walks around the block to burn off some of the goodies we've been eating! Tuesday we went to Ford's Theatre in DC for a free tour and lunch. Pretty interesting and makes me want to read up on Lincoln and John Wilkes Booth. Took the kids for a swim to cool off yesterday and may hit the movies today (same reason!) Didn't feel like dragging everyone in the heat so we just set off some little fireworks in the front yard. Neighbors came by with some bigger ones. The older kids are travelling to Gettysburg to get some more history. Tomorrow we are hitting the Amish market-I've never been so I am curious!

I'm having a wonderful day because I don't have to get out in the heat. We broke the record yesterday with a high of 97. Supposed to be 95 today. That's the actual heat, not heat index. So I'm cleaning house, which has been neglected lately. Took the sheets off the bed and they're in the dryer now. Cleaning the Florida room but my back started hurting so I'm taking a break. Sounds like you had a fun morning, Sue. Baby Alyssa must be a really good baby to be able to take her like you do.