Thanks Desertdance,Bruce and Olga! Desert, good luck with your new little PG plants! Bruce, thanks for the encouragements, I really hope your right about the warmth factor. I will be honest, last year I didn't water as much as I should have. We are still in a drought(last year this time also), Last year, I remember the leaves on my trees literally drooping at times from lack of water. I should have watered more, looking back on it. I am definitely taking care of it a lot better this year...I have been watering it more often and fertilized it in March. This year has a lot more buds than last year, so apparently it appreciated the regular watering during the dry spells and rewarding me with more buds. Actually, I would grow these just for their beautiful leaves and flowers...the fruit is delicious...but it is just a bonus! Bruce, that poor Mango tree suffered a lot during the freeze in Jan. It is recovering quite well, considering how bad it looked...I thought the freeze killed it! Most of the leaves "fried"... I have one that was really damaged...and I only have a few growths on it now...very slow recovery, but at least its alive. I also have a couple of Lychee trees that was damaged by the freeze, but not nearly as bad as the Mangoes...these are bouncing back a lot faster and growing. I even have a few(very small) fruits developing for the first time! Brewster Lychee...you can see some of the bare branches where the freeze damage was.

Cacaos do love humidity! Mine like to be hosed down all over when I water them. I have 1 in the ground, and 1 in a large pot. The one in the ground survived the freeze that killed my Nonis, Jackfruits, Mamey Sapotes and many Mangos. The potted one produced a small fruit last year that petrified-did not ripen. It is currently about 10' tall. Once Cacaos get to be 5' or so, they can take quite a bit of sun. When young, they like shade. The *prettiest* ones I have seen locally are grown under light shadecloth, are in huge pots, and flower/fruit prolifically. They are in Loxahatchee. Those grown outside tend to have tattered leaves with brown edges. Fairchild has one that is outdoors, but in filtered shade from other trees. It is very good-looking and had countless tiny fruits when I saw it last July! Cacao is fun to grow. Much less difficult than Avocados to me(G). Lisa

Thanks, terriolsen! I'm going to have to ask my PB what colors were used on the deck......I know it was a 2 color powder release with some sort of skins stamp, not sure the exact pattern......I'm VERY anxious to seal it after seeing hwade's gorgeous pool and deck: http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/pools/msg010104021225.html?63 I REALLY like the stamped concrete and have been pleased with it! Let me get with the PB for more details hopefully!

Oh, Marie, I just can't imagine what you all are going through. I'm so sorry. I hope everyone can get the help they need....mainly from Mother nature....enough all ready! Keeping you all in my Prayers.