Since this thread was recently resurrected, I thought I'd add an addendum to my above post. The latest issue of Facts for Fancy Fruit (Purdue) had this to say. "As many experienced growers know, natural fruit drop occurs in two waves The first wave is where unfertilized flowers drop, and this has already happened. The second wave happens a little later and is caused by a shortfall in available carbohydrates. Leaf area is still developing so the supply of carbohydrates from photosynthesis is limited At the same time, many developing fruit require carbohy- drates to grow, so demand exceeds supply. This shortfall in carbohydrates is responsible for this second wave of fruit drop Conditions that extend this shortfall tend to increase fruit drop.For example, an extended period of cloudy weather means less photosynthesis, less carbohydrate and more fruit drop. For many of us in the state, we saw more cloudy weather than normal during early fruit development. The combined effect of reduced bee movement and limited pollination, slow pollen tube growth so less fertilization, and reduced photosynthesis all resulted in above average fruit drop. (Hirst)" Although the above comment is related to poor apple fruit set (a common topic on this forum) I think it may also have application to stone fruits.

Gandle, I am profoundly sorry for the loss of those buds. I know how important the lilac blossoms in particular are to you and Leonne, and I envy you your proximity to such a collection, even if it is an off year. I was actually thinking of you this morning on my garden walk with Izzy (pictured below). Your postings have forever linked you in my mind with lilacs, and my little dwarfs are just beginning to open up. It was raining ever so lightly, and the lilacs were opening in the background while my tree peonies were opening in the foreground. The smell was amazing. (It was strong and pleasant enough to even mask the scent of "Eau de Wet Dog.") There are three different tree peonies in this picture: The one in the background has purple-y foliage, the one in the foreground has green foliage and identical flowers, and there is one lone bud snaking up on the left... this is the plant that Izzy chewed to the ground when she was a little bitty puppy, and after nearly three years, it is finally blooming for the first time ever... I have no idea what color it will be. I am sorry I do not know the html coding to post Scratch 'n Sniff photos, or I would. I envy you your rhubarb success. I got some clumps from my sister a couple years ago from plants that have been in my family for generations. I shared them with a neighbor, who planted them in a pile of compost and now has an amazing crop, and planted mine and forgot to water them. They're still (barely) alive, but won't be harvest-worthy for at least another year. Again, I am very sorry about the frost damage. Those of us who experience winter to the fullest extent should be entitled to every aspect of spring too. The promise of impending seasonal euphoria is the one thing that keeps me going during the dark months. Perhaps this is nature's gentle way of making you rest your hands? Heaven knows you'd be picking fruit and flowers if they were there. Take it easy, and rest up for fall canning season! The cold may have zapped the apples and such, but you'll still have tomatoes, peppers, and all that lot to look forward to!

Lynn, Cynthia and Luxrosa, I so appreciate your encouraging and also practically informative posts. The support I've received has been so heartwarming, and with all your encouragement, how could I possibly give up? Lynn, I've been really happy with how well my crape myrtles have handled the heat. They look good all the time and the bright green leaves make the garden at least look cooler. Luxrosa, I have the feeling that even though you may not be getting much rain the fogs carry so much moisture that your environment is actually quite different from mine. If I watered my roses in the summer only twice a week many would not survive. I know that's difficult to believe but the strength of the sun here on the side of a hill with so much open area on which nothing is planted is tremendous. My skin begins to hurt and burn in five minutes. Sometimes I'm amazed that the roses can survive at all. Cynthia, I have no plans to ever leave here, especially since I now believe that, for at least the foreseeable future, I'll have at least some roses. Roses are not all created equal, and I'm finding that some are amazingly resilient while others are weak sisters. It's going to be my job to research which are best and to find the most advantageous places to place them. I'm going to move Souvenir du President Carnot to a shadier position tomorrow. Last year it bloomed beautifully and did well in the heat and this year it's had two blooms and is mildewed, in spite of lots of water and mulch. If that doesn't help it will be gone. It's all going to be a learning process, and I'm happy that I won't have to do it alone. Ingrid

I think mine is doning the same thing. I planted it in my yard last year.. it was blossoming at the time, fully opened flowers, but this year, the flowers get to a stage just before opening, then fall off. I fertilized it as well. could the wrong fertilizer cause the flowers to not open fully. and NO the answer is not that it is a variety that doesnt open fully.