You might want to review the attached link. There is a great deal of mythology associated with foliar fertilizing. Generally I recommend against it - not a reliable or very efficient method for plants to obtain necessary nutrients and will often lead to increased disease issues.......like most other overhead or foliar water will do. As far as the quality of the product is concerned, fish/kelp/seaweed emulsion is one of the very few soluble or liquid organic fertilizers. And is therefore a great organic product to use with containers, as granular or powdered organics are not very effective under those conditions. Also fine for any inground plants as well. And the stuff has a fair amount of micronutrients, which is also above average for most other organic fertilizers. So all in all, a pretty decent product to use, just not ideal if used solely as a foliar application. Here is a link that might be useful: the myth of foliar feeding

Very interesting discussion. I think someone said it best earlier on, but the world of Hybrids is just too big and too confusing to someone who only has the space for a few dozen orchids. Also agreed about the ease of culture...not that species are easier to grow, but rather that there is far more easily obtainable information on the culture of specific species (ie: Baker cuture sheets). My collection is about 80%/20% species/hybrids. When wading into the (for me) uncharted waters of a new genra I generally pick up a couple inexpensive (~$10) hybrids to see if they'll grow/flower in my conditions. If that works out I'll move on to the species. I think I myself would be more interested in the hybrids if I was also interested in hybridizing. I'm just not at that stage in the hobby yet, and certainly don't have enough room to raise the potentially hundreds of seedlings that could result. Tyler

I am working with two landscaping companies getting prices, not too late to plant but getting later. I wonder now that I have really researched the ginko if they really know if its male. They don't fruit for quite some time, I do not want a female for sure. And by the time it might fruit, it would be too late to go back on the company. He said its male but they don't seem to sell well, they have several as well as the other place too? Beautiful tree though. I might get a Sweet Gum, they get big but my neighbor across the street has one and its so beautiful this year, I loved all the colors. I think thats the tree for me right now. I still love October Glory and have for years, my love of that tree has not wavered. I did look at serveral others including service berry, need shade not sure how much shade they provide. I have a small young 4yrs mimosa I was going to get ride of but they say let it go a few more years that it just might be not ready to flower. Its not yet. thanks for all the help

I have a 2 1/2 year-old son and we also struggle with working in the yard at times. IT is better this year here are some things I have done... Let them water your containers or play with water. Drexler now tells me the flowers are crying because they are thirsty. I then give him the hose and let him have at it...last night he was right. One of my pansies was thirsty! Get excited about things. Right now EVERY DAY when I get home from work my son asks to go pick the strawberries. We go out and usually a new one is ripe (can't wait a few more weeks). He is still working on not picking the green ones, but he'll learn. Teach them what is yummy. Last year we planted carrots in a container and he would go out and pick a carrot out, wipe it off and eat it. Clean soil, no chemicals and hey he was eating carrots. Teach them to love flowers. How does it smell? How does it taste. Have them help you pick out what ones to pick. Drexler and I will do this together, go into the house and put them in vases and then talk about how pretty they are. I have a small vase by my bed that he empties out every day and replaces the water in...and then the flowers. A bit of a pain, but he is learning to appreciate my yard. Don't freak when they step on a plant, but do teach them to be nice to your plants. I have a large yard and Drex has hurt some of my plants, but we talk about how to treat them. Teach them to watch for bugs and to be interested in them. Ants can keep a kid busy for at least fifteen minutes. Tell yourself you will most likely not get a lot accomplished with your helpers so when you do accomplish something it feels good. Make them an area that is all theirs.