MORE rain, I can't believe 3 weeks later and it's just been more of the same! Had over 1" the other night, probably have that today since it is pouring (though not overflowing the gutters since DH cleaned them out after water started pooling under the porch and coming into the basement). Planted a couple dozen pepper plants on Friday, still haven't put out tomatoes and the rest of the peppers (put them back in garage this AM, we've been going in and out so much I don't know if they know they're hardened off LOL). Tomato trellis is all up and I started digging for squash bed but yesterday the tomato trenches were wet on the lower end (a couple really wet) and the squash bed looked like a hog wallow. I did add some pebbles to the bottom of 1 trench, dug out farther for drainage, and added some partially-composted wood chips and more top soil to all the trenches. We'll see how it looks Monday when the rain stops. I don't know if I'm even going to plant squash this year - though I finally started 6 cukes inside the other day. I bought 2 rain barrels - didn't hook them up, but just left the tops off this AM - we'll see how much they collect in 48 hrs! Need to get the sauerkraut washed out of them. I'm just hoping I can plant out 60 tomatoes and about 30 peppers b/t Monday and Thurs - then the rains come again! With the drought and the floods in the South, and all this rain in the Northeast, is anybody going to be able to grow any crops this year? CA doing OK? How's FL? Are we all going to have to live off canned goods for the next year?

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!

When I read Veggie Chica's original Q I thought of some ideas we got at a veggie conference on selling herbs, perrenial and annual. We grow many herbs to sell as cut bunches and Basil always tops the list in our area, whether it is sweet or one of the lemons,limes,cinnimon,licorice,opal,red...well you get the picture. But pesto recipes are a great sales booster for basil and I always situate the basil (and cilantro) next to our tomato display because people need to be reminded of the association of the two. But when it comes to the other herbs, we had moderate sales of potted herbs until we took it to a new level in offering mixed herb "SIX PACKS". Six different basils= "PESTO PACK". Combine other herbs to make the "SEASONING PACK", "FRAGRANCE PACK", "MEDICINAL PACK", FLAVOR PACK", "TEA PACK", etc. Start your herbs separately and at different times to allow the packs to all look uniform when you combine them to create the six packs. For instance, dill and cilantro grow much faster than ..... Rosemary, Lavender and Thyme are slow growers. You will be amazed at the increased sales, especially in areas where people associate six packs with beverages.

why thanks pixie!! but i'm definately not that good a host!! i just talk alot!! LOL i can definately keep ya'll talking!! that's for sure!! LOL i only been here one year in feb i think. although it don't seem like it!! it seems like much longer sometimes, but then when i'm getting into something its like only a week or so. LOL like when mom and i went shopping for plants, i knew about all the plants we were looking at, but do you know, i could not tell her about 1 of them, if they were perennials or annuals, of course west lake didn't have them marked and they wer'ent there to hlep out. it was a weird weekend for me, i was brain dead for me, LOL she talked to the doc and got me test strips, i did remember to ask for a new monistor, LOL its amazing some days that i can walk and talk!! LOL so when we went to lowes and i got some plant parts free, that was cool, only cuz she was like, medo, ask if you can have it. LOL my mom thinking for me!!! LOL now the next time she comes in, i will be more clear!! LOL that will be so cool!! it was the epilepsy thing, once a month for a week or so it does that, so i couldn't hold lucy that long, wich really sucked!! i wanted to for a long time, but ya know, i didn't want to drop her, errrrrrrrrr!!! LOL see with my plants i don't have to worry about that!@! LOL well, with most of them!! LOL its storming, and it wasnt supposed to. but that's cool as long as its nice tomarrow so i can hang up the clothes!! :')) hugs Medo