I don't have a alrge scuffle hoe because I am usually a sit down and weed kind of gal. But I do have a short handled version of a scuffle hoe and I love it! The blade is only about 3.5 inches wide so it is narrow enough to go between plants, but I like it more for paths and larger areas. In fact when I garden at the elementary school that is the favorite tool of my 2nd and 3rd graders. They have affectionately named it the "pooper scooper". Of course to me it seems totally unrelated, but it must be a good tool to have survived the abuse they can dish out. (before I show them how to use it, most try chopping with it!)

Hi Rhonda,..I had no idea that Englewood was your childhood vacation spot. I love all of Florida but think this area is one of Florida's best kept secrets. but realize I am prejudiced ! ( smile ).I felt the same when I first experienced living here as a skinny young sailor back in 1956 when I was transferred to Pensacola for 2 1/2 yrs. Then in 1992 when I went from married life to single life, promptly drove down to the Keys, roamed around the lower Keys for 1 1/2 yrs, then bought a gas station & waterfront home in the Upper Keys ( Islamorada ) where I lived till 2000. All were special places, but when i moved here 16 yrs ago, I knew my roaming days were over. By the way, my offer of a dozen mangos also extends to Deb. The least I can do,..have 4 trees ( discovered more panicles on the Glenn this morning ), and am only one person,..so no compensation wanted. . The least I can do for all the knowledge youse two dispense on this site for 1st graders like me ! ( smile ) PS : Who is Chris Kattan ? Hi Nancy : nice to hear from you again. Have always admired your tenacity in growing mango's up where you live. Yes I agree,..in fact we are all at the mercy of Mother Nature ! Will never forget my 2nd winter here in Englewood,..the 2009/2010 one,...where I lost 4 of the five new, young, robust mango trees I purchased in Ray's Nursery in Homestead, - hauled 'em all up here and planted them in March 2009. Install strings of Xmass lights & wrap the trunks w/towels in early December when the dangers were broadcast ?? Naw, hey, this is zone 9b/10a right ?,..will be fine ! A big lesson learned then,..thought I was still in the Keys where no fruit trees freeze ! Anyway, the 4 trees I now have are old & tough enough to survive our rare short-lived dips down to 43 - 48 degrees,..don't want to think of lower temps ! But realize you do,..every year ! I hope 2017 is a banner year for us both !

Flowers, I've had Russian sage in back in crucial spots, but I usually combine it with boxwood and lavender, along with butterfly bush and four o'clocks, slightly toxic like morning glories, to deer. None of this is much deterrence, though I think deer hate boxwood the most of all. It smells like cat pee. The deer here (mule deer) seem to be only interested in roses and occasionally tomatoes. They go for the blooms, buds, and growing tips of the rose. For some reason, they went beyond this typical damage when it came to Eglantyne, and they reduced her size a bit, and left a half dozen leaves on the poor rose. Any other flowering plant or shrub they don't seem to care about with two exceptions: a certain dianthus (Raspberry Surprise) that they wouldn't leave alone, and pumpkins, which they tried to bite. Mainly they just marked up the pumpkins with their teeth. I suppose if I had a lot of hosta and tulips they would destroy those. Thanks for your nice comments on Eglantyne. I'm not doing right by her, leaving her out in back to the deer. Noseo, your Russian sage is quite gorgeous. And you have the perfect home style for it and lavender. I just don't have any room anymore for R sage or lavender, so they end up down the slope. This helps with soil erosion, plus the deer, but it's a rip roaring mess out there on the slope. When I see what you have done with your sage and lavender, I am so jealous. I do have some roses blooming, but nothing like a flush, except for Julia Child, perhaps. It warmed up several days ago, and voila new buds and a few new roses. This will all end on Nov 6--the last day for photosynthesis here. After that, the sun will not be shining long or strong enough to promote new growth. Flowers is even farther north than I am, so her last day is a little earlier. You are south of us, so you have more good days left. Now I am jealous of you! Thanks, Sheila and Jim. Sheila, I'll bet you still have some wonderful R sage and lavender growing. Diane

Nice pic titian1! It snowed a bit here last night...windy and cold today...Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrr Nanadoll, I hope your doing ok... Please let us know when you get the chance... The Bloomstrucks have been crushed with snow & ice...