Brent, No rain here. They also called off the effects of the cold front we were supposed to be getting, i.e., the temps are now going to be in the upper eighties instead of very low eighties (as had been forecast all week). I'm bummed. If a mattock is the same thing as a pick-axe, then it has become the most used tool in our arsenal as well. Our tiller can't do anything except scrape the surface. (BTW: How's Otto doing?) Frankie, Because I am a plant junkie, and because I am turning DH into one as well, we will certainly be adding more and more plants in coming months and years. The immediate problem with our ground conditions has come about due to zero rainfall for the past five weeks. Normally our soil is fairly easy to work with. laag, Thanks. I understand what you mean about too much of a flattening effect. I am doing what I can to re-work what's here to lessen the effect. As much as I would like to have larger specimens to start with, I can't seem to find any. So I will have to count on time, to some extent, to add more depth to the scene. Many of the shrubs we do have will (fairly rapidly) reach 4-6 feet in height and width, which should have a favorable effect on the "depth factor". During the course of this posting, I find myself staring more and more often across the street to my neighbors front yard. His is a two story brick colonial and is masterfully grounded by medium and large shrubby trees planted across the front and at the "wings" on either side. I would be sorely tempted to copy many of his plant choices if it weren't for the fact that his front yard has a northern exposure (shade) and mine is the total opposite. I can, however, try to mimic the size and forms of his plantings. If he has managed to properly "ground" a large two story colonial, then my challenge should be child's-play in comparison. Annie, The trellis is 10 ft. tall and 4 ft. wide and the bottom two feet are buried in the dirt. Although it is technically possible to move it, it is already at least 15 inches out from the siding (for air circulation) and I think it would look odd if it were any farther away from the wall. Still, the rose is less than a year old and will probably get much bushier as it matures and is regularly pruned. That should help to achieve the effect you describe. ......Jan

Violetta, great shots. Now we just need some identifications of who is who in your people shots! I have seen on various gardening shows the use of polished glass as mulch in various gardens. Not quite sure I would go that far though but its use in the pots was interesting. Nice to see the kitties in the shots too (dedicated cat lover here)! Also liked the face on the tree. Have seen kits where you could buy the face parts but never seen the hands offered before! Great job with the pictures. Hope someone can help with the ID of the dark purple one. I know I have seen pictures of ones in the past that looked like that but can't remember the names. Sometimes the pictures change the coloration and it is always better to see them in real life!

Hello EVeryone, Mike...You are doing everything right..I responded to your thread..on what I do with mine...Like Bill suggest..I use epsom salt once I bring them outside..or into the temps greenhouse...then a few weeks later..i fertilize with reduced strenght...also use fish emulsion and seaweed extract...i also mix in some b-1 and superthrive...I actually use superthrive everytime i water....These trees have their own personality...I have seen some strange things with mine...some have produced inflos..then the new branches that have formed from the split have new inflos...it just depends on how they are in the growth phase...they will produce inflos when they decide to!! Dave..I keep my DR's in the greatroom with the other tropicals...i do not keep them tucked away like the Plumeria..but they naturally drop their leaves and just stay in a somewhar dormant phase...I do water maybe once a month..more so than the Plumeria...They just hang out with the other plants in my room..average temp in here is 69*..or when I turn it up to 70* without my hubby seeing me turn up the thermostate!! LOL..really they just are happy where they are..I don't move them at all either...I did experimnet with one of them and cut back some of the limbs a few weeks ago...now they are putting out new branches...so i will probably trim them up just a little before I put them ot for the spring...My limbs are still green and look strong...I think one of the keys is to just let them be..just like the plumeria..if we try and mother them to much they tend to act up on us...I learned this the hard way...Bill has taught me from the get go that we have to just let the do their own thing and just monitor them... Hope this helps!!! How is everything up in NoVa? Pretty cold here..two nights ago we received 5 inches of snow...go figure? To much snow.and to cold for me!! LOL.. How is your cute little K---? Take care everyone!!! Laura in VB

roper2008, i'm basing that these are lemon boys on blind faith in a coworker who gardens professionally on the side. the seeds, according to him, came from a lemon boy tomatoe that he got from another coworker. so it's kinda like the old whisper in the ear of the kid in front of the class and by the time it gets to the back it's totally something different. he gave me a cup that had five crowded seedlings, three look very much like the ones in the pictures and two others have the look of creoles. he told me he tried to plant creoles but had no germination in the cups and then planted the lemon boy seeds. anyway, it could be anything and i'll keep you informed what happens. cozy- that's how to grow tomatoes. are you going commercial or are you just an over zealous tomatoe freak. my lot here in the subdivision is right around 1/2 acres but i do have 40 acres up the road a bit in mississippi. i'm growing a lot of blueberries up there. blackberries are growing naturally and i'm introducing raspberries. i'm also doing them here at the house, but the soil here is difficult to support blueberries and raspberries. i'm doing well enough with heavy soil ammendments though. erlyberd- i have no plans on selling tomatoes myself right now. cozy looks like he/she needs to sell but then again some people are really hungry and big eaters.. haha.. i do plan on canning, making sauce, and salsa. i crabfish commercially as a side job, just started and i was planning on opening a small buisness around that with maybe branching out to selling fresh produce. i really have an interest in farming wild mushrooms. hopefully all the crabs don't die from the oil.