The answer -- they can't. Unless something breaks in this pattern, don't expect a good pollination cycle or a lot of fruit to set. Here in the Detroit area, the only thing blooming yet is apricot, with Japanese Plum and Serviceberry showing color but not out. I keep hoping for better weather, but every day is cold, wet, colder, and wetter. Right now, not raining, but only 53 degrees at 2:00 in the afternoon. My poor bees have hardly gotten in any decent flight time. Most days are so cold that only a few are out at any one time. I have given them sugar syrup and pollen substitute patties in the hives just to help make sure they don't starve at this crucial time of the year when they should be bringing in tons of pollen and nectar and building up the population. One of the worst springs I can remember, a handful of decent hours of weather here and there. Our fourth wettest April on record in the Detroit area. Don't know how the numbers will play out for cold for the spring period, but both March and April were way below normal, and May certainly doesn't hold out much promise for even attaining normal temps, at least in the first half of the month.

I'm in the York region as well. This is the first time I heard of the ban and so i guess I have to follow the advise. However, I always water minimally but my place still looks lush. Now that i know about this I shall try to find ways to keep watering a minimum. I too have large containers which can be filled with water. It only takes a few minutes of watering to keep the plants happy. My front yard requires far less watering. In fact, I've left it for a week and it still looks vibrant. It's filled with plants that do not require as much watering - like shasta daisies, lavenders, yarrow, day lilies, thyme, etc. I don't understand people who leave a sprinkler on their lawns for hours at a time. Watering lawns should only take a few minutes. Many times, when my neighbors ask me to check their dried up lawns, the problem is not in the watering, but in the soil - or lack of it. Almost always, there's no topsoil left to help retain moisture and sustain grass growth. Because of the occasional waterban, I've taken steps over the years to help my back garden survive and remain green despite minimal watering. In my area, it's quite clayish so I took care to top dress my lawn each spring with triple mixes and course sand. It helped in creating a thicker layer of top soil for the grass and the clay layer beneath helped with water retention. It helps grass grow and periodical holes made with a pitchfork provides much needed oxygen to the roots. I leave the grass clippings ungathered. That too helps with minimizing evaporation. A form of mulching if you will. I've also created enough shade conditions which helps a lot. As for containered plants - I have several and I group this close together creating a humid condition and watering less. Each planter has a catch plate to keep excess water. Small wall planters are filled with succulents like hens and chicks and under sedums. They hardly need any watering. I also filled the borders with plants that have large foliage. It creates shade and shade hinders rapid evaporation. One large leaf plant is enough to sustain the surrounding plants. For instance hosta, coral bells, heucheras.

This is great! Thanks for the info! I've grown quite fond of that walnut over these past couple of years. I call it my retirement tree -- if it's still around in 30 years and I need some $$, I'll call in a lumberjack. Until then ... I was going to transplant some Rudbeckia "Herbstsonne" under the tree's canopy and just see what happens. Now I'll move ahead with a bit more confidence in the outcome... I'm also planning to put in some Aruncus... and it's time to wrassle me up a Clerodendron bungei! The flowers may clash with the black-eyed Susans but there's joy in that too. Aw Nuts! I think I'm too cold for the Mexican orange blossom. (Clanking and whirling noises as I look up the Pollia japonica and the Elaeagnus pungens.) I'm back ... hmm, they look lovely in pictures. Some sources say Elaeagnus is hardy to zone 6, others say just to 7. Some say it has yellow-centered leaves but photos on the Web show green leaves. What's the deal with this guy? Anyway, when the wind dies down and the rain stops, I 'll, er, paddle across my small yard (I think I need to regrade -- quick tip: don't buy real estate during a drought!), grab a shovel and glory in that eternal connection with Mother Earth with renewed hope. Again, many thanks for the suggestions, you've brightened a stormy day. Amy P.S. Were you really out in this downpour transplanting?

Hi Karen, It is raining! My pots are outside right now up against the garage wall. The overhang (roof) from the garage gives them a bit of protection. Yesterday, I put out two brugmansia pots to get some sun -- I forgot to bring them in and hope the rain didn't knock down the buds and blooms on them :-( There is always something! Going to see The Wicked today at 1 PM; hope the rain doesn't create a problem with us getting there.