Buford, If the fish heads are cod, you might make a convert of your DH if the heads come with their cheeks. Cod cheeks are a delicacy that most of us have to go to Nova Scotia to enjoy (it's on my bucket list) Patricia, The boat was moved from Decatur to Florence yesterday. A long story. To a nicer marina. Towed by friends because our manifold started an untimely leak. This fall we need to have a rose ramble, even if we just get together for Birmimingham garden visit. Do you know about the winter of 1898? Back OnT Did I tell you about the vultures near the road two weeks ago on our way into Blaine? (Narrow road, vultures covered most of it.) Coming back out, I saw that they hadn't been after an armadillo carcass, but a really big ugly carp. I guess some fisherman caught it, decided to make sure it didn't get back to the water to reproduce..... I was tempted to retrieve it for some rosey recycling. It was just over the too big to handle with two hands...And the vultures had been selective for their lunch entree.

Lake Horwood is near Timmins. It's summer here in Ontario ... hot and humid. Lately the humidex readings have been well in the mid 40's celsius. We've also been having some spectacular thunder and lightening storms with some areas of cottage country having lots of damage. The evenings are starting to get cooler, down to mid 20's celsius. I would say you need a bit of everything ... shorts, tees, jeans, and sweaters for the cooler nights. ANd yes, lots of bug repellant. Don't forget you camera to sanp the wildlife. The fishing is great. Enjoy your trip.

Quite interesting they are. I seen a clump once and did some research on them. It is really a parasitic plant. It steals the sugars it needs from the roots of others since it can't produce them, why it can survive not being green :) Wish I could find more of them :) SCG

Hi It went down to 4C last night so I had to cover up the plants I have outside. Luckily we didn't get frost. It is suppose to go up to 24C Thursday. My lilacs are blooming and my irises have buds on them and I'm just waiting to see what colour they are going to be. I went to Walmart yesterday but they didn't have much in the garden center. I did see some hostas that had Hosta Virus X. I spoke to the assistant manager about this virus and that the hostas should be pulled from the shelves and destroyed but he said he'd have to talk to head office first. He was polite but I don't think he took me too seriously. Here is one of the letters I gave him, I got it from the Hosta Library. WARNING - HOSTA VIRUS X Spring 2005 Update Many plants are turning up all over the world that are infected with a virus called Hosta Virus X (HVX). The most commonly seen ones are plants of 'Gold Standard' and 'Sum and Substance', but other common varieties are also turning up in large numbers. Tests done on material from batches of these plants has shown that not only the ones showing symptoms are infected. Others from batches that included obviously symptomatic plants are also testing positive. All plants in a batch that has plants showing symptoms should be destroyed. If you are a gardener, do not buy plants from batches that show even the slightest markings on even one plant. If you have these plants from batches that show symptoms at your home, dispose of them immediately. If you are a retail grower, learn what the signs are and contact the supplier if you see them in your stock. This virus is widely spread at this time in the above plants and others and the source nurseries are still learning about the problem as of 5/05. It appears that large numbers of these infected plants are currently being sold. This virus is transmitted primarily through cutting the plants. Contact of the infected plant's sap with sap of a healthy plant will infect the new plant. This can happen whenever cuts are made and the instruments or hands are not disinfected afterwards. Dividing hostas, removing bloom scapes, removing leaves, stepping on them, even accidentally running the lawnmower over them can and will spread this virus. It survives only in living plant tissue and dies without a host. Plants in pots may be simply disposed of or burned. Plants in the ground should be dug carefully as to get as many roots as possible, and the spot should not be replanted until any remaining roots have died and rotted away. *********** Danni, I have heard that people use copper bands to stop tree roots from growing into hostas. I'm glad your ferns have come back! That is great! I haven't really tried lasagna beds. I have thrown newspapers, peatmoss, compost and dirt in the raised beds to fill them, so I guess that is sort of lasagna beds, but haven't used it to kill grass and build a bed that way. I know that people say it works well and I'm glad it is working good for you. Did u try your library to get old papers? We get newspapers from ours. Hi peatpod *waving* I know that Sudbury has acid rain, do u think that could be part of the soils problem? I would also do what Danni and Marcia suggested, doing a lasagna type of bed. I don't know if u are doing veggies or trying to fix beds around existing perennials. Is there a White Rose garden center in Sudbury? About the compost perhaps call the City of Sudbury, they might have a public compost pile that u could go and pick up wood chips or compost. I also have clay soil so most of my beds are raised beds so I can dump soil in the beds that I want. Last year I redid my rose gardens all with raised beds. Marcia, I really had forgotten it was June. *LOL* I couldn't believe it! I thought u had a ton of wave petunias and gave a lot away? Now u had to buy more? uh oh. LOL Your gardens look nice. Love those blue poppies! The colour of them is just gorgeous! Did they spread at all this year? Son is coming over tomorrow to help me with some work in the yard. I'm getting too old and my poor old back just doesn't want to bend like it use to. so I need his help. Or actually once it bends it doesn't want to straighten up and it is embarrassing to walk around the garden stuck in the bent position. Danni u think your neighbours talk about u? U should see what mine say about me. *LOL* Take care everyone Debbie :-)