I have a 40 year old weeping cherry tree that has some unusual behavior this year. The tree was a little late blooming (as most trees in the East this year) but there are very few leaves. There are many weeping limbs that are bare. I know it is not much to go on. I can post pics if that will help. Any idea what could be causing this issue? I am a little concerned as I had to cut a 30 year old dog wood last year. It bloomed but the leaves and flowers were the size of a dime. As I cut it down, I found an infection running down the middle of the trunk.

Nina, personally I do NOT think you are crazy, and know that Janie IS, but I have never witnessed this behavior in a fledgling either. Sounds to me like she is extremely fond of those mealies and doesn't plan to share! Hope all is well--by the way, I put grape jelly in my new oriole feeder and, though I haven't actually seen them come TO the feeder, I have spotted a couple in the trees at the edge of our property. Hopefully I can get them to the deck where I can actually get a good look! Kathy P.S. The 2009 NABS convention is being held in Gettysburg, PA (don't recall the exact date) which is only about an hour or so from here. Keep that in mind, okay?

water. I repotted my cactus one about 5 months ago using a soil formulized for cacti. I would tell you the name of the brand but I ran out. All I know is that its from Lowes. I actually think its a little too late to save it now. I might have to compost it soon.

Cherries are supposed to be grown in zones 4-6. While the trees may not die in zones 7-10, they are not ideal. My father tried to grow cherries in Texas but was unsuccessful in getting any fruit. My Fuji apple tree puts out blooms at odd times and never completely loses all of its leaves, and lately I've not been getting any good apples, although squirrels help to make sure of that. The apple tree was planted by previous owners, and some of them also planted plum trees, which I promptly removed and replaced with banana. I do get good crops of citrus and cherimoya, and those can be expensive in the store, whereas apples and plums (in season) are cheap enough to buy. Cherries are a different story, as the sour cherries required for the best cherry pies will only produce in places like Michigan.