Tea Time for the Traditionally Built....Alexander McCall Smith

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy - Douglas Adams

We had German and Austrian friends who said that Hillerman’s novels, and others set in the SW, are very popular so German-speakers really like to visit. Lars, I like your recollection that OKC could seem so exotic. Of course, I also read the Little House books, and rather than visit a place, I wanted to visit that time. Still do. To soar over the virgin prairie, or journey through it, to watch life in the Big Woods, to peer in the windows of The Long Winter. Another is Pillars of the Earth. I want to time-travel as an observer of medieval Europe.

" In summary, it appears that lower pH and presence of sufficient Aluminum are both necessary and neither alone would be sufficient for getting blue hydrangeas. " For hydrangeas planted in the ground, this is true. For hydrangeas planted in a container, both are NOT necessary and in fact rarely occur in combination. Container or potting soils are soil-less mixes so no actual dirt (garden soil) involved. And they are all buffered to be pH neutral or very close to it. At best, they are only mildly acidic. As previously stated, it is the Al in the soil that causes the blue flowers - the low pH only allows the Al to be available or readily accessed by the plants. In a container, supplementing with Al in the form of aluminum sulfate will omit the requirement for a low pH. " One outstanding question - how quickly does changing conditions, lowering pH or adding aluminum sulfate make for blue "flowers?" Would it affect existing buds or flowers or not? " Probably not enough to make a difference this season. It takes about 6 weeks......