The soil test in that area revealed nothing out of balance. I tend to think it was the heat that stalled germination. I watered that area frequently, even 5-6 times when I was home on an 89-degree day...but I guess the heat may still have gotten to the seed even with all that moisture. I have never seeded this early before (last week of August), so there were a couple of unexpected challanges. Mowing isn't even going to touch the spurge (if that's what it turns out to be), tiemco...

sweet cherry pollinator that won't get huge? I have in my yard what I believe is a sweet cherry tree (not sure of the variety, though if important I may be able to figure it out). However, it has no pollinator; I thought perhaps it was partly self-fertile, since my mom planted it and I can't figure out why else she wouldn't have given it a pollinator, too. However, it flowered like mad this past spring and no fruits set. If any one has a tree available that is likely to work to pollinate mine, I would be thrilled! Thanks.

Stephanie, Do you have a cat? When we moved here in 1999 we had a LOT of gophers AND moles and my cats took care of that problem in about one month! And, after they killed the moles and gophers, they brought each one to me so I could praise the kitties for their great hunting ability. If the moles and gophers weren't so destructive, I would have put bells on the cats and tried to peacefully coexist with the little rodents. There are some organic controls (other than felines) that are said to work on repelling the gophers and moles. I think some of them feature castor oil, maybe? Also, some people use gopher traps and others use products like Whole Control, which isn't supposed to wash off when it rains. I don't know how effective those products are. The cats were 100% effective though. (Grin.) And, if you can't rid yourself of the beasts, you can line your raised beds or surround selected plants with hardware cloth like Sami does with her roses. It is a lot of work, though, and can get expensive. The hardware cloth prevents the burrowing beasts from entering the beds and destroying the plants. AND, if you can't rid yourself of the beasts, at least they do provide you with a service as their tunneling aerates the soil. Dawn (who needs to clarify that the cats only wiped out the moles and gophers in the acre or two nearest the house and gardens....the little critters are still thriving elsewhere on the acreage, which is fine with me)

Hi Everyone, I am so glad I've found this forum. I am in WNY Z6 and I would love to participate in plant exchange! My apologies for being late to post. Garden_frog, could you please add me to the invite list for Annual WNY plant swap next year (adrijanar@yahoo.com)? I have for sharing: ( Garden and house plants) : Garden: Shasta Daisies,( Lots) Lilly of the Valley ( Lots) Day Lilly ( red and yellow) Hostas - These will be dug up and divided next spring ready for the annual plant exchange Greek oregano Milk weed (Asclepias Incarnata) - seeds and plants Lavander - few small plants Echinacea purpurea - coneflower Ajuga Reptans Vinca Minor ( Dwarf Periwinkle) Hens and chicks two varieties. House Plants: different types of African VIolets ( White multi petal, red, purple, Bob Serbin, Mini pink with purple specks, Please ask for pics as they're all in bloom is you want me to root some for you. ) Spider plant - verigated Pothos ( verigated, green) Jade ( small and large leaf variety) Wants: Bergenia (Lily - the picture of your bergenia is beautiful, Do you have any more to spare? I am willing to wait!) Bee balm Japanese Painted fern Ostrich Fern, ( any fern will do) Annual WNY plant swap Sedum spectablie ( any sedum is welcome) Centaurea Cyanus (Corn flower) Salvias ( any) Liatris Spicata - praire gayfeathers ( white, purple, pink - I'll take any) Dephinium - Blue, purple, white Heuchera Hostas ( looking for any variable color ones, light green, multicolored, white, anything out of the ordinary and blue ones.) Bleeding heart Oxalis ( purple, red, versicolor, any will do!) Thank you! Adrijana