LOL, "wonderful" is not how I'd describe it, although I will say that the neighbors like it. But then in a landscape of lawns and tightly clipped unhappy yews, anything else looks exotic and fascinating. I mostly garden in front because major traffic behind my house makes it as loud as the Indy 500. The front is only as loud as an average highway, so that's some improvement! ;) In front I have large beds on either side of the lawn where I grow only things that can survive in the vicinity of Norway maples. Everyone on my street has one, they are street trees that you can't cut down. Horrible things. My neighborhood of small cottagy houses was built in the 1930s and the houses are very close together so nothing I could do would ever hide the streetscape--cars, clipped yews, asphalt, concrete, driveways, the neighbors' kids toys, etc. And my neighbor is the town junkman, so his whole yard is basically a junkheap complete with 2 dead cars. But he's a nice guy, we'd never do anything to hurt him. Anyway, despite these constraints, I have after 10 years got lush summer and fall garden of tough-as-nails plants and containers, and I am happy to have a full-sun southside bed where I can grow tomatoes. To give the tiny front yard some structure, I made a semicircle of brick edging that sweeps across the yard in a big slightly assymmetrical arc, to push the eye toward my more attractive southside garden beds and built a little assymmetric brick path to those beds. When money allows I will put up a picket fence, first on the sides and then maybe across the front. My garden would win no design awards, partly because my plantings are constrained by the Norway maple and partly because it's in an unattractive setting. This is my beef with garden mags and books, they always depict gardens at houses whose yards and surroundings would look nice even if no gardening was done. And I sure do envy your wide open sunny spaces, and the more attractive, non-urban cityscape that you have! What I long for is privacy and quiet, the two things you can't get in an urban setting like this. But I do have a nice little front porch that I fill up with plants and wicker chairs in the summer, and I have tomatoes right at the doorstep, and I have bees and flowers so hey, it's OK.

Safaribabe, There's nothing wrong with wanting some quick advice. I've been on forums before where I just wanted some quick answers without investing a lot of time. We all have busy lives and different hobbies. I'm not from CA, and have no desire to go there (even to see the Safari babes) but I'll do my best to offer a few recommendations. Obviously, I'll defer to recommendations from a fruit growers who have actually lived there. For sweet apples, I recommend Fuji and Mutsu. I like Pink Lady as a sweet/tart. The above ripen later in the year. They are all susc. to the major apple diseases, but I doubt you have too much problem with that in CA. For Apricots, a lot of CA growers rave about Royal Blenheim. It probably blooms pretty early though. For a later blooming cot, try Harglow. Tomcot is also praised as an apricot that gives a more reliable crop, due to a long bloom period. Peaches. Most any should do well for you. Some that have ranked high in Dave Wilson taste tests include: O'Henry, Indian Free, Harken, Loring. Harken ripens midseason, around Redhaven. Loring a couple weeks later. O'Henry and Indian Free are very late season peaches. Fruitnut is really the one who needs to give you specific advice. He's lived out there and does a lot of container growing. He should be able to help you with varieties as well as good rootstocks for containers. If you want some good west coast mail order nurseries, I've ordered from Bay Laurel Nursery (CA), VanWell Nursery (WA), Burnt Ridge Nursery (WA), and Raintree Nursery (WA). I've also ordered from C & O Nursery (WA) but was a little disappointed that they tacked on a "packing charge" on the order. I've received good stock from all the above, and they all have Websites.

Tom, your plants still look great. Mine have lost a lot of foliage. Not disease, just yellowing and dropping. Maybe the cold? Too old? Not enough sun? Still some left to ripen, but nothing like before, and nothing like yours look now. My best this season: Beefmaster Black Cherry Sungold Manitoba Bonny Best- did better in spring, but did pretty well. Not great: Legend Empire Bloody Butcher Has anyone tried Black from Tula, Rutgers, costoluto genovese and arkansas traveler? How did they do and what about the taste? I've been thinking about trying a few in ground in spring. Which are the nematode resistant ones that might have a chance? Anyone have any luck? Is fall a better time to try that? Anna

How I Loooooove these cat stories!! I couldn't help getting a few tears in my eyes but so many more laughs!!! At 73, I can't say I ever remember a time I didn't have at least one weaving in and out of my legs, tail up, meowing either for attention or food. A few even tried to use me as a scratching post !lol My bff in IL takes in rescues, and at the moment has 21 or 22. The 100 yo historic home she bought 9 years ago came with 2 separate garages, one housing the majority of the kitties, the other is used for storage, but she always keeps the big door open a foot at the bottom, and knows *other* critters take part in the 'vittles' also. Sthe has either 4 or 5 in the house, one being a mama cat w/7 kittens, the very start of her rescue 'mission'. She gave away 2 of those kittens(after neutering!),and never stopped regretting it. They have all found a forever home with her. Her vet/food costs are insane, and when I visited in the summer we found worms in one of the litter pans, and in a two day period, took every cat into the vet to be dewormed. That was $400. It's neverending work! Whenever I call she's scooping, feeding, or rocking one of them in the old rocking chair that was moved out to the garage. She also donates to almost every animal organization known to man, even if it's only $5. She's a one-woman rescue shelter, and I wish I were closer to help. We always say we like animals more than people because animals can't help their situatuon, but people usually can.