Calliope and Wisconsitom, those of us in CA can't grow grass, at least not without an enormous amount of effort (and water). Many of us don't have a blade of grass no matter the size of our gardens, and many municipalities offer cash bounties for lawn removal, due to the water usage. Thus, we have to come up with some substance to cover the bare earth to prevent erosion, retain moisture, reduce weeds, etc. Mulch is often the answer, especially when the plants are young. In climates where large expanses of grass are possible, the aesthetic has generally evolved to favor the landscapes that flora describes. That aesthetic traveled with the settlers from England to the US and is the dominant aesthetic in much of the Eastern US. It's lovely, just not possible here in CA with our dry summers and Mediterranean climate. Markces, your decision about whether to mulch your tree or not is largely aesthetic as long as you don't even consider the harmful practice of piling the mulch up the tree trunk. Do whatever you think looks best. One could make the argument that the mulch surrounding the tree is more beneficial to the tree than grass, for the reasons laid out above by Wisconsitom, but grass will not hurt the tree. As many have noted, the choices that one makes in one's own garden are largely - if not completely! - matters of personal taste. That's part of what makes it rewarding!

Actually the soil pH can be changed quickly and easily if it is sandy. For example, if you're growing rhododendrons and azaleas, you can lower the pH easily by a couple applications of Miracid and watering it in well. Heavy soils are more difficult to work with. Rhododendrons, hollies, mountain laurel, dogwoods,ferns (most), and wildflowers are excellent companion plants for your hosta garden. All I'm saying is don't mix lime into your compost pile if you plan to use it around these plants. As far as removing the mulch that you have on during the winter, my suggestion is to wait at least until you are fairly sure the last freeze, and any hard frosts, are done. You'll have to make that call, as each zone and particular situation is different. Don

I had a midge in one of my feeders yesterday when I replenished the nectar in it. I think one of the reasons they do well here on the coast is that we DO have various insects in midwinter, many of which like the midge I found, are winter hatching aquatic insects. This would be a good reason to ditch the koi in your pond and go for a more natural type of pond, lol... I suspect smaller mayflies and cadis are also fairly important for them. In the garden though, a good compost pile will still produce fungus gnats and fruit flies and similar little bitty insects that the hummers prefer all winter long. The conifers tend to produce a nice hatching of mealybug and other kinds of little aphid type bugs this time of year too, and I do see the hummers chasing after them during one of their mating flights, or whatever it is when they decide to start flying all over. But there are quite a few winter flowers the hummers rely on, and they will defend them aggressively this time of year. Just come over to my house and watch for a while. The males especially are getting into their full formal breeding garb now, since they will be starting the breeding season soon, in the next month or so. The feeders are important too, and definitely defended by the more dominant birds, but I think the natural shrubs allow the sub-dominant and more vagrant birds who don't have a fixed territory here to sneak in more easily and get a little nectar when the bully birds are otherwise occupied. Still, chases are common here, sometimes right around your head if you dare to go out in their territory! My quince is I believe the old hybrid C. x superba, but an old "standard" variety, easily topping out at 10-12 feet tall now, and a little broader than that. Mind you, its around 50 years old at this point, planted when my parents moved into the house years ago. It was a house warming gift when they moved in here, and likely one of those "pass along" plants that had lost its name generations before my parents received it. Beautiful coral pink flowers, and no spines. I am still surprised each time I get pricked by a thorn on the more "normal" ones, since this is the one I grew up with, so I never think of them as being thorny, lol. The flowers are beautiful, and bees and other insects like them, I just don't see the hummer's do more than poke them curiously. Not like the red flowering currant, that gets constant and dedicated attention to every flower open. Mine isn't blooming yet either, but usually starts in "late winter", in maybe another month and a half or so? I'd have to check my records, but it's generally pretty early. Hellebores, sadly, are among the winter flowers I have never seen the hummers pay the slightest attention to. Their colors usually aren't even bright enough to get a curious probe or two, and ditto, rarely see bees on them either, so there is little to attract the hummers to them. Mine are late this year, I only have one even starting to show buds yet. One I keep meaning to watch a little closer is the winter box- Sarcacocca. They should be starting to bloom soon, and flower heavily enough to attract some attention if there is any nectar there. Mine just got moved however, and is sulking. No sign of flowers this year.

I enjoy jasmine nudiflorum (winter Jasmine). It looks like a vining forsythia, but it is not fragrant. Usually it starts blooming right around this time of the year, but this year it started in November. There are still buds for future flowers on many of the branches. Schizostylis has been blooming throuhout the year, but it peaks now. Some rudbeckias, pansy and dianthus have been blooming all winter. Yesterday, I was having a 4-H sewing group in my kitchen and the kids spotted a hummingbird. I normally do not feed them except to provide a lot of flowering plants. This is the best time of year for me - the chickens are laying eggs again, the seed catalogs are here, friends are calling to come for the promised scion wood or free plants, the water barrels are overflowing....so much to be grateful.