It looks bacterial to me. Dont wet the leaves when you water. It looks like some are planted outside try mulching around them to prevent soil from splashing up when it rains. Mike

I truly enjoyed reading all of your posts, even though I don't qualify for the "hippie" definition (too conservative) and never could see the sense in doing the drug thing, but I sure do agree with all the discussion regarding gardening when you are "not so young" (I can't call myself "aging", I just can't do it!) I can tell you that I have a plan.... really, I do. I figure that by the time I can't plant the flowers and high maintenance things in the beds in front of my fir trees - the trees will have grown so large that I can just mulch the area underneath them! Plus, I have discovered that If I get a hosta bed truly established, and don't mess around in the soil (which would distribute and plant weed seeds), I actually have very little weeding or work necessary in that bed. So, while I lament the lack of sunshine over much of my garden area, I know that it will allow me to keep doing the work I LOVE so much, for a much longer time. I do think that with each passing season I TRY to remind myself to "simplify" - but then I see another plant.... read another post.... see another beautiful, crowded, cottage garden like I love so much and the plan to "simplify" goes right out the window! So, while I have a plan.... sticking to it will be next to impossible!!! BettyLu

Brigarif, We started out with some in the ground...but we had so much rain we decided to put them in containers so they would not get too wet....I think we are going to try to re-make a bed on the south side of the house to try and naturalize a few different types....figure out which ones are hardy enough to make it through our Texas winters. Going to try to get a greenhouse up before it actually gets really cold :) Sandra :)

Yesterday, the rain held off and I was finally able to get some outside work accomplished... I mowed a bit of grass, did some trim work... and re-potted a few plants that desperately needed it! I finally got my Plumeria cutting into a larger pot... it was doing fine in the small one it was in, but it's much happier with room to spread out! As I was re-potting some things, I realized that I have been able to successfully keep all 6 of my orchids alive, and most are putting out new growth! I still have some bulbs to re-pot, but most of those are growing well, too! The cocoa colored rose is opening another bud, the miniature roses are going nuts, and I have some green Glads getting ready to open! The Lilies are about done for the season, but there is Phlox opening, Mums are budding, and several other flowers are just blooming away... like the Gaillardia, that won't quit! Daylilies are blooming left and right in several nice colors, and I know there will be others flowers coming soon. I bumped up some climbing roses that were in small pots, and those will be planted in the garden soon... I also weeded some areas that needed it... it was a rather productive day, all in all. Today, we make the 3 1/2 hour trek north to see the doctor... just for check-ups, and to get prescriptions re-written... nothing special, but it's a trip that needs to be made every few months... I'm hoping to get home early so I can get outside and do a bit more weeding behind the garage. That bed is getting out of hand! It never ends... you get one area weeded, and another area mocks you with more weeds! Keeping large gardens is a lot of work, but I love it! I'm also in the process of collecting seed from those perennials that are giving it... I want to get some prepared and packaged to send out to some folks... I've got some for you, too, Lizalily! I'm just hoping the weather cooperates and it dries up a bit, so I can gather the seed and get it dried for shipment! Well... it's a long drive... and I still need to intake more coffee! Have a wonderful day!