Yes, toads are insect eaters. Around here, they especially like slugs and snails. If you have slugs, you'll have toads. But they like other insects too; I just happen to notice the toads around areas where slugs like to hang out. Toads are not a big problem. Your population explosion of toads is due to high levels of insects, which keeps the toads around and allows them the resources to reproduce successfully. Once the insects go away, so will the toads. Generally, though, toads are a good thing. it may be creepy to see so many, as usually you don't notice them, but it may be normal. Toads like to hide under rocks or leaf litter in shady areas during the day. In the winter they will burrow about 3 feet underground. Those holes you see are probably caused by voles or chipmunks, not toads.

Brenda, it is nice when even family members are enablers, eh? LOL!! I actually keep telling my husband "There's this garden in Western NY that someday we have to go visit!" I would love to see your beautiful garden some day. The different areas you have planted and the variety is amazing. I've been lusting for some more photos from you. Would love to see what you have on file for your veggie garden from last year if you have any time to post some. Goodness! I finally cracked open the catalog for my local nursery who I really like to support. She's a true plantswoman who I so enjoy chatting with, etc. I just sent an email over to her with my "list" (is was a long one) of plants to put aside for me for pickup when they open. It's a terrible habit I have of giving her a list each year for pickup. But my birthday is always right around when she opens, so it's a birthday present, right?!?! LOL!

Root Knot nematodes are the bane of us Southern gardeners. There is no effective chemical control for home use. Solarization can be effective It takes something like 6 weeks to clear the top 6" of soil and lasts a few months. See - http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in856 Most veggy gardeners that I know grow resistant varieties or grow in pots. The pots are sunk into the ground so that the roots access water and nutrients by growing though the drain holes. The plant is generally strong enough to survive the nematodes by the time it grows through the drain holes. New potting soil every year. Use the old potting soil to enrich surrounding soil. Nematodes prefer poor soil with little organic matter. Go hydroponic. Larry

I'm glad everyone has good memories of those aluminum glasses. I am surprised that no one else had heard or or seen the sweat bands. Our neighbor across the street, Ann, used to invite me over quite a bit in the summer, or was it she just dealt with me very nicely when I'd drop by? LOL. She had tons of antiques and taught me how to use and recognize fine china, under the guise of a little afternoon tea. She's the first one that gave me iced coffee, although I'm sure all the milk and sugar she put in it helped make me like coffee ice cream when I don't really even drink coffee at all. They didn't have kids and therefore had a bit more money to spend on interesting modern things. She had the sweat bands that went on the aluminum tumblers that lots of other people had bare nekkid. I sat for many an hour on her back porch helping clean whatever bushels of produce were currently being canned. They also had a player piano and getting invited to go over to play that was one of my favorite summer memories. They're both sorely missed. I wanted to send something for fall or winter and since that little painting showed all those empty fall fields I thought it would be good. I started to get some big winter soup/coffee mugs but the decoration on them was a bit Christmasy. Green with trees or red with snowflakes. Smiles. I had an email about the picture so here's a closeup of it. I originally painted it to use as a Thanksgiving card and have, but thought it'd be good for this. I also figured all the tan fields might be a bit like Australia in Winter. It's one of my favorite old local farms. I'll make it a thumbnail so it can just be clicked if you want a closer look. Again, I'm so happy you like everything Colleen, even the 'drop cloth'. heh...