Small populations of Monarchs winter over in South Carolina, Georgia, MS, LA, FL, TX, AL, AZ, and CA. And in 2005 a few wintered over at Virginia Beach, VA. Monarchs have many strategies for survival. Some Monarchs lay eggs on their way south in the fall even through Mexico. Now we are told this is due to the planting of tropicals. If that was the case with tropical milkweed being native to Mexico, then why do the Monarchs bother going to the reserve in the fall and then returning to the US and Canada to breed in the spring. The Monarchs also lay from Mexico to the US and Canada during the Spring. Page 36-37 of "The Monarch Butterfly, International Traveler" by Dr. Fred Urquhart. "As a result of the monarch eggs being thus disseminated over a considerable distance from Mexico to the more northern areas, together with the time interval between the first egg laid and the last one, there occur populations of larvae across North America [North America includes Mexico, the United States and Canada] in different stages of development."

I think the worst part of the heat in the midwest is the humidity that arrives with it...not exactly just the heat....it stifles the breath right out of you when it reaches 90's. I spent two weeks in Vegas last year and the temps with 105 or more each day. That heat felt much more comfortable the the heat at home in the 90's. As long as we drank..we felt fine. My sister in law who lives in Vegas came to visit Indiana in July last year..when she left Vegas it was 103...she thought hot...but when she got here..it was 92..cooler she thought as she got her stuff ready to deboard the plane. By the time we made our way across the parking lot to the car, she was winded...and said she would take vegas 103 heat ANY day compared to this. A week later she couldn't wait to get back home to her hot dry heat where at least her chest didn't feel like someone was standing on it all day... We also have to remember that the plants in each zone are acclimated for that particular heat and so are the heat and water needs...when it reaches 90's and humid in the midwest..nothing can breathe...not plants, or people. Mid 90's is the top of its range... So it takes extra care to assure things survive..Every zone of the country has diff heat and cold highs and lows..and life, both people and plants are used to that level...and has certain needs at that level. That is why certain things grow in one place and not another.. The plants that we struggle in the midwest to keep alive in the 90's do not even survive in texas or florida heat.... the plants that need the heat from Texas or Florida can not survive here with our cool nights in the fall and spring, or our winters,....its all what is the regions normal and what kind of things we are dealing with. It is really all about what is hot in your region...and what plants and people are use to there. Not about "how" hot it is.... Just my thoughts.

Yeah Marcia, what's that old Ben Franklin quote ? " An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure " ? Smart guy that 'ol Ben. I wasn't even new to Florida as such when those new trees died, - originally moved from New York City to the Upper Keys where I lived for 13 yrs before moving here. But living in the Keys is like living in The Wizard of Oz Land as far as gardening goes. Growing mango trees was so easy there, got complacent, but woke up quickly after moving here ! ( smile ) My 2nd set of mango trees all had Christmass tee lights strung thru them Nov 1st to March 1st. Even had some old sheets to build a small tent over each if it got really bad. Lost no more fruit trees to cold nights after that ! Don't want to sound like I'm complaining tho,..far from it. Was out early ( 7:05 AM ) this morning putting my big garbage bin at the curb and had to pause and take in the scene. Only 58 degrees, - brisk, but I loved it. Sun just peeping over the eastern horizon, casting a warm looking glow to the lawn. But wait, - something different,..NO WIND for a change ! Love being a retiree in SW Florida,...those concrete canyons of NYC are just a faint memory now ! TBTG ! C'mon Mother Nature, try throwing another curve ball at me, will be ready this time ! ( smile )

Hi Lehua 13 I might have a blight. ItÂs only on one plant to any extent. I keep cutting the yellow leaves off. It makes the big tomatoes show up more. I hope they donÂt get sun burned. The Ortho disease control spray may be the reason they turned yellow. I sprayed my rose for black spot and it seems to make all the leaves that have black spot show up. I mulched my tomatoes with some oak leaves that were decomposing. I should have used the ones that were not decomposing. Now I know. I also had a couple of tomatoes planted near the spot I have my tomatoes planted now. I donÂt have space any place else. If you only have one tomato plant it looks like you will stake it or use a cage. You could wind it around a string, or wire. From your photo it looks like you have a cage. Are they planted in the ground or container? It looks like the ground. That is how I grow mine. If you plant a seed and have good tomatoes what else could you want. Your tomatoes should cost you anything but your time, and tender loving care. When I was a kid my dad had a cow, and we filled our containers to plant flowers with the sand from under the compost pile. When I came to Atlanta nothing would grow in the red clay. If you donÂt have a compost pile forget growing anything. Check out the square foot garden. They have lots of good thing to know. Karyl ==== Here is a link that might be useful: The Square Foot Gardening