So Jean, or anybody else, does this look like a slime mold to you? I did a Google image search and did indeed find pictures of slime mold that looks like small things on stalks, but none quite like this. I'm leaving the plants alone for now as I don't see any damage on the twigs.

Carolyn, anyone tell you your nuts? :) **** Actually no, no one has although I've been called several other things besides my name, which is Carolyn, not Dr. Carolyn.( wink) So to reward you with being the first to call me nuts I'd be pleased to send you two of my newest varieties not yet in circulation commercially, Anna Maria's Heart and Danko. The first is a lovely pink heart and the second is a medium red heart, both with wonderful taste, at least to my taste buds as well as the person who grew the plants for me ( and kept some at home) and the person who does my seed production for me now that I can't do that stuff anymore. Just send me your home address and the seeds are yours. ( smile) I spent some time looking at your photos and I'm beginning to think that the black dots are where the leaf hairs grow out of and if you look at the fringes of the leaves you'll see what you're calling crystals are really small white globes and they appear on the ends of the hairs that are forming. At least that's what I see. I'm not accustomed to being so up and close and personal with the enlarged leaf surface so it took some time to try and figure it out. The magnification is so large that I never would have seen such microstructure on my own with the unaided eye. Summary: I don't see a problem. Carolyn Carolyn

thanks bigdaddyj,digdirt and fffgt, the reason I am using stakes this year is because I plant my tomatos with my flowers together. This is a new home and I don't have the strength to do a flower garden and a vegetable garden for the first year, we are new to country living and we have no power tools to make things easier. I end up cleaned all the grass and dig everything myself with a pick Axe, shovel and a small garden cart; I also have to add 6 yard of new soil to my existing clay soil to improve the growing condition, not to mention also have to deal with drainage problem. I currently have 15 plants and they are looking ok so far, I might buy couple of cages to try out, after all, they will not be looking that pretty among my flowers. Also, ffgt, how can I upload pictures? I read the instructions on this site and tried many times without success, maybe I am not as smart as I thought I am. Jing

Lisa, you have so many truly gorgeous pictures of your roses, but somehow the photo I wanted to see the most, of you and your daughter (and her precious baby bump) is missing. I'd love it if you could please post it again. The purple clematis and penstemon with the pink roses is wonderful. All your clematis plants are gorgeous. They add a lot to the roses, a perfect contrast. The flowers for the baby shower are also lovely, and I'm so glad you were able to have the shower. Even if done somewhat differently it's the love that counts, always.