Jmac, We were talking about soil amendment because you said, "The native soil here is hard clay and alkaline, and I have to amend it like crazy." Unless there is more to what you were trying to say or something I missed in your post, your statement seemed to contradict soil science. The physics involved doesn't change from one part of the country to the other. Variables (soil particle size, compaction, etc) may change, but the principles remain the same everywhere. Unless you are planting above ground (in a raised bed or berm), planting into the side of a hill (similar situation to planting above ground), are able to amend the soil to a depth where satisfactory drainage can occur (like down to a layer of soil with different drainage properties), or have some other way to address drainage, soil amendment is not a proper way to improve drainage. I particularly thought it might be important to address your comment because I was afraid that maybe you misunderstood what I had done. When you wrote, "...I have to amend (my soil) like crazy (or) replace native soil with an import, as you did", I was afraid that maybe you had misunderstood what I had done. I didn't replace my soil; I only added a new layer (raised bed) above grade. If you understand the principles of drainage, that's great, but I feel my comments are important because I don't want my mention of raised beds leading to misunderstandings.

Just finished the book a couple of days ago, and have been letting it "simmer" (as Hazel so accurately describes it). I found it to be a tough story to get into initially, but once I got sucked in, I really enjoyed it. It reminded me in many ways of Hemingway and how he writes for some reason. I agree that Port and Kit were both revolving in their own worlds for their own reasons - it's such a shame that Port missed her change to a woman based on feelings/senses rather than rational thought. I think he would have liked that side of her more than the side she presented up until he died. The descriptions of the desert, the color and vast size of the sky, the peoples who live there - all wonderfully done. I could feel the dust, the dryness, the sandy grains.... You could tell that Bowles had lived there and experienced some of this - they were wonderful descriptions of a hostile place in some ways. Interesting that his wife has been compared to Zelda Fitzgerald, as I also found the book to be similar to "The Great Gatsby" - disaffected aimless rich/well off young adults adrift in a world they know little about and just floating from one place/situation to another without planning anything much. I would not have read this in a million years if we hadn't mentioned it on RP, so thanks for doing it. I enjoyed it, although I am not sure I would read another one of his. Do you think that Kit, in the third part of the book when she changes so much -- is she reveling in the freedom she feels or is she retreating from having lost her bearings/lover etc? I mean, is her changing from being a very rational person to a person who uses her senses a positive change or a negative one? She seems as though she is sleepwalking in some situations - the sexual violence from the camel traders etc...

Thanks for the comments. This dieback didn't occur during winter, it occurred during last summer after the gardener planted them. During the winter, I did get a little bit of winter leaf burn, but I trimmed off the leaves, and that damage was a lot less. OK, I will try pruning the dead stems down a little further. I have no other space to put them, actually, not sure what I would do with them if I took them out. If I put the 2 damaged ones right next to eachother I could perhaps get 1 full looking holly but that probably isn't good for the plants. That is a downspout nearby, yes. It empties into the pond, so fortunately doesn't flood the sky pencils. As for the A/C unit, it's been a while since we had it on but I think the hot air coming out of the unit mostly goes upward. That is a good point, though I didn't think about air coming out of the compressor potentially affecting these shrubs. I will evaluate this summer. (Last year my worries were all about the shrubs shortening the life of our A/C unit.... my thoughts were the other way around). Sounds like I need to be patient and there may be some hope for these hollies.... may be it will bother me less once I figure out what to plant in front of them

My take on it is this is a lot of hype with some truth to it in better growing conditions, handling, etc. Root stock can make a difference. I just ran across an academic paper online the other day that was comparing the effects of different root stocks on juicing oranges, and based on their photos alone the difference in color and consistency of the juice was easily visible. Having said that, as I mentioned in another thread the other day, it is important to match root stock with local conditions, a root stock that performs well in western high calcareous soils may perform poorly in low pH sandy and sandy loam soils on the gulf coast and vice versa, this is before even considering disease resistance. As to the old line Washington Navel bit, I think it is 100% hype, Washington Navel oranges themselves are a relatively modern variety dating to the 1800's (likely a sport from about 1822 in Brazil and 1870 in the US), with some of the original US parent trees still surviving. (google Parent Washington Navel Orange) Also see http://hortsci.ashspublications.org/content/45/4/523.full