Tropical zone, seems like last night was the coolest around here. Locally, don't see anything lower than about 42 F.. We did get some rain last night (at least 1/4 inch)--though I agree it's been unusually sunny, and dry for April--most of the state actually has a red flag warning due to low humidity and breezy conditions--didn't we just have a foot of rain this past March?! I have just about everything out save for some of the more tender tropicals (some Dracaenas, Chinese evergreens, diffenbachia, etc.) I can't believe how different it all is from last year--everything greening up fast--even have leaves on the Crape Myrtles and I don't think they greened up till June last year!! JimHardy, watch those bananas. I had no damage on my sikkimensis, Chinese or Japanese Basjoo but moved my dwarfs in as I did see a bit of discoloration from last night. Happy gardening!

Thanks usmarine! Im glad my yard looks warmer than a zone 7, I wish it was! Hunter, I have lots of different plumerias. Some dont have names. The ones that do have names are my Plumeria Obtusa, Plumeria Pudica, Plumeria "Maya", Plumeria "Califronia sunset", Plumeria "Scott Pratt", and Plumeria "Divine". I have 2 with no name. One of them makes gigantic white flowers and the other makes smaller red flowers. All of them have a great fragrance, except for Pudica which has no scent, but blooms more vigorously than all the others. Jacklord, I overwinter all my palms with christmas lights, a frost cloth, and a garbage bin. My Med fan palm just had christmas lights and a garbage bin and my frostproof gardenia just had christmas lights and a frostcloth. One of my Trachycarpus just had a garbage bin. All my plants survived with no problems with this protection, except my Sabal Domingensis. S. Donmingensis is definitely a soild zone 9 plant, and it did look good right up until March so I give it credit for that! Thanks for looking! The deck is just about finished. I just have to move the plants and then some more pics will be up! -Alex

Not enough information. Do you have weeds you need to take care of? What type of grass do you have? Is your yard bumpy because of the earthworms or the moles? Moles primary food source is earthworms. I had them bad a few years back. I tried every product, including grubex, to no avail. Then I found the Trapline mole traps and cleared my yard of them completely. Do you have raised tunnel like areas in your yard? If you do tamp them down and check them again the next day. If they're back up you probably have a mole or moles. I consider earthworms a sign of a healthy yard. Although I can't actually see mine :) I would take care of the rodent problem before I started too much of a yard plan. However, since you asked.... 1. Pre emergent around when the forsythia bloom. You can use the gddtracker to help time this. Dimension and Prodiamine are popular and relatively affordable. I sprayed Prodiamine this year at the max rate for full coverage into late fall. Granular form is easier but was mostly efficient for me. 2. Spot spray weeds when they are actively growing in the spring or fall. 3. Fertilize for the first time around Memorial Day. Then again around Labor Day. I would strongly urge the use of Milorganite if it's in your area. 4. Finally, after your grass has stopped growing, you know when you mow and there are no clippings, apply a winterizer; urea is good (46-0-0) . 5. Deep, infrequent watering is crucial as well as is mowing high. These are very basic instructions and not exact for anyone but could be used as a start. I do things a bit differently than this myself but you would have a nice lawn with minimal effort this way. Good luck! Please ask more questions as I'm just bouncing general ideas around here!

I'm wearing a light almost "spring" jacket that's poly filled. My daughter bought it for me from The Bay years ago. It's one from their official Olympics line. I would love to own a Canada Goose coat, but the price is too much for me to go and get one. Besides, with our crazy weather, it can be -30 in the morning when you would need a Canada Goose coat, but by mid afternoon it can go over 0 and you look ridiculous in such a warm coat.