Spraying plants with bug juice, or leaving a can of dead bugs on display, can't hurt, and probably helps. I had read that the JB sends a scout and then the scout releases a scent telling others it's a good spot. My experience last year goes along with that. I was in the garden, one arrived and I hadn't yet set up my can. I was working on putting my glove on, but before I could, two more came, started sexing on a leaf, and then a bunch more piled on. I ran and set up the can and started flicking them in and kept the can at hand, but also on display in case there was some kind of scent of death. The first year I had JB, I got the scout and stepped on him, then left his body on the ground. I definitely think there's something to this, although I've never been able to catch cucumber beetles quickly enough. They're tricky.

Okay, first let me say I am talking from experience, not something I read in books. I've been using grass clippings, as mulch without Ever digging them in for 34 years now. Some things I read I have to diasgree with. One was that grass clippings are mostly water, and therefore don't make a good mulch. While fresh grass clippings do have a high moisture content, grass itself contains every nutrient plants need. A little reflection would lead to that conclusion, since they are after all plants. They contain about 4% nitrogen- even more if you have clover in your lawn- and more than enough potassium, phosphorous, sulfur, calcium, and every other nutrient plants need. Again, I know from experience since I have'n spent one cent on "fertilizer" since 1972. The other thing I have to disagree with is the need to dig in the clippings, or any organic matter. To some people, I'm sure, this sounds like a Radical New Proposal. But if you stop and think, it is Tilling or Digging In organic matter that's "the new kid on the block." Nature grew plants for millions of years before we came along, without ever digging or tilling, and they did just fine. (There are actually two things that will put organic matter into soil, much deeper than you possibly could, and without you lifting a finger. The first is earthworms. The right species, the bigger ones like nightcrawlers, put organic matter as deep as six feet underground. Worms don't like cold soil touching their bodies, so they line their burrows with bits of organic matter- leaves, grass clippings, or whatever's handy. The other thing that puts organic mater into your soil, again much deeper than you could, is something that most gardeners just don't think about- the roots of the plants you grow! Things like tomatoes and corn, for instance, can grow roots up to six feet deep. No one digs up the roots after they harvest their crops! Rototilling or hand digging can't put organic matter anywhere near that deep.) Now I know that people have tried mulching, without digging, and not gotten very good results the first year or two, especially in clay soil. I've tried to figure out why, since I got fantastic results the very first year I began mulching. And I think I've finally figured out the reason: I think how you water is crucial. Clay soil absorbs water, I once read, only a little faster than Concrete? So you have to water a looong time go get water deep into the soil, to soften it up so your plants' roots can penetrate. You can either leave the water running at a very low volume, or use an osciallating sprinkler. I've read that they let each "wave" soak in before the next one comes along, reducing runoff. I know there will be people who read this and doubt it.The simplest way to find out if it works is to experiment. Do whatever you think is best on part of your garden, and on another part just cover with a good 3 inches of grass clippings. Oh, always water well Before you apply the clippings. That way they can "lock in" the moisture. Mulched soil will be damper and softer a week after you water than unmulched-un protected- soil will be a day after you do. Like the old cereal commercial with Mikey used to say, "Try it. You'll like it."

Strongly suggest the hybrid pitch x loblolly pines. I'm not one for favorties but these may take the cake. They are fairly new to many nurseries. I have planted several hundred seedlings in clay, and they have grown over six feet in just a couple yrs. They also have the cool properties of pitch pine in that they sprout from the trunk. This looks cool and it also allows the trees to continue growing after massive deer damage if it occurs. They have great form as well and are self pruning. These are not much talked about since they haven't been around for long, but I think they will become favorites in many future reforestaton projects (especially in the midwest were loblolly pines and other more southern yellow pines struggle). John

OK, Elaine, I have no choice...Lia wants to see your pins! Here is a picture from this summer at a gathering of Kitchen Table forum friends from the PA area. We are wearing heart shaped pins that Elaine made for all of us. The red just was perfect because she mixed in some bright red to help offset the nasty dulling that some colors like red are prone to after baking. They were hand-painted with the letters KT. (My pin is currently attached to the front of my computer monitor!) Miss Elaine is on the right in the Kitchen Table t-shirt and I am wearing the turquoise top. The beautiful face peeking around my shoulder is our crafty friend, Kathy_in_Delaware! ps- Elaine's DH is a real card, lol, and Kathy has the most beautiful boys you ever saw! Karen Here is a link that might be useful: KT friends wearing Elaine's pins