always cut off dead stuff ... after you are sure they will not bud.. so give them a little more time.. and that stake and string is useless .... get rid of it .. trees are supposed to blow in the wind .... and if they have been there 5 years.. it doesnt need it.. which brings me toooo ... have those really been there for 5 years??? because the death could be related to recent transplant shock .. improper ball and burlap, potting or planting ... there is a tree forum.. if you wish ... ken

Lady, Several important things here in your favor. You have the God given talent to put things in order and balance. You already have the new conifer design in place and by the way I am impressed. I know...a lot of hard work and time to bring this off. Things to think about: Draw a to scale plan of your existing design. 1/4-1/2 inch to the foot should work. With that in hand it will be easier to plan your conifer accusations for balance, color and height. Each island should have 1-2 focal point conifers depending upon size of the planting area. Some of the best advice I can give is to purchase any you have listed in your island design when you see them for sale. If you pass it could be years before you see that cultivar for sale again. As big as your garden is it will take years to develop with the right plants. So don't get in a hurry. Once your conifer garden is established it will become a full time job. Believe me I have arrived and sometimes I wonder if I have taken this thing to far. Finding a plant source. In your case you will have to plan for a annual trip for new plant stock. If you limit yourself to all 1.gal offerings it will take years for the garden to come around. Try to find 3.gal. offerings with an occasional 5 gal. to get this thing going. If your are ever down this way in late April I can take you to a nursery that has 100's of rare and interesting conifers. The price will be right also (:>). Got a pickup? That's not to say you should not mail order. Especially for the smaller plants. 2nd best advice: Find you a nice heavy duty 2 wheel cart. I have rambled enough. Have fun on your new adventure. Dave

That was $2.49 (or something)a LB. Manzanos. Only got about 20 lbs. so far. All ready cleaned for the smoker but it started raining,so they are in the freezer. I was going to get more yesterday and today but the Shoe Leather Express doesn't run in the rain. Planted my first dozen seeds today about 70 more to go. Cobanero , Agua Blanca , Chile Negro , Aji Amarillo , Alaka Zold , Blondie , Aji Yellow , Lemon Drop , Aji Habanero , Aleppo , Aleppo #36 , Aleppo #37. Gonna grow these or at least feed them to the mites. NOT a trade list... AGUA BLANCA , CHILE NEGRO , AJI AMARILLO , ALAKA ZOLD , BLONDIE , AJI YELLOW , AJI LEMON DROP , AJI HABANERO , ALEPPO , ALEPPO 36 , ALEPPO 37, ALMA PAPRIKA , ANCHO SAN LOUIS , BIBER DORO , BIBER SORE DEMRE , BIKER BILLY , BOTINETSKA ZUTA , BUENA MULATO , CASCABEL , CHERVENA , CHILACA , CHILHAUCLE NEGRO , CHILHAUCLE ROJO , CHIMAYO , DULCE ESPANA , ETNA , BROWN BERBERE , GIANT ACONCAGUA , PADRON , DULCE MEDITERANO , KAVALEROVA SWEET , AJI PINEAPPLE , ITALIAN GOURMETTE , JALAPENO POTATOE , BOMBERO , LONG HUNGARIAN GREEN , LONG PURPLE CAYENNE , CHOCOLATE CHERRY , MEDITERRANEAN SPICE , MINI SWEETS , MIELDER SPIRAL , MULATO ISLANO , NU MEX GARNET , ONZA AMARILLO , ONZA ROJO , ORANGE THAI , PHILIPINE LONG GREEN , PIMENT DE ESPELLETTE , PIMENTE TANGERINE , 7 POT CHAGUANAS , ROMANA , SANTAKA ASIAN , PRITAMIN PAPRIKA , RAADO JALAPINO , ALMOST SEEDLESS TURKISH PEPPER , VERY LONG SWEET , ADJALI , FEFERONI , SERRANO TAMPIQUANO , SERRANO HUASTECO , SERRANO DEL SOL , SIGARERETTE DOLCE , SOROSKI PAPRIKA , SPANISH SPICE , STAVROS SWEET , SUCETTE DE PROVINCE , SWEET CAYENNE , XZAPOTEC JALAPENO , TUNESIAN BAKLOUTI , TOLI'S ITALIAN , TEQUILA SUNRISE , SWEET YELLOW CHERRY , SZEDGY PAPRIKA , SAFI RED , ANTILIAS CARIBBEAN , RED DOMINICA , SBS RED CONGO GIANT , BONNET BELL , XIXIXI HABANERO , TFM SCOTCH BONNET , FOODORAMA SCOTCH BONNET , TRUE SCOTCH BONNET , plus a few that are left over from last season. Going for the taste vs heat this season. Rubs and powders along with fresh pods that won't burn the average persons mouth up. Still doing a few hots to super hots.But not mostly Chinense this season. Annuums might be harvested before the mites kick in. No Pubescens,mites attack them first and the plants get so big I can't kill all the mites on them. See the post on spider mites for a link to my next secret weapon. Liquid Sulfur. Cheaper than the gazillion $ I spent the last 3 seasons on other stuff that didn't work. Here is a link that might be useful: mite post

Last treatment is something to celebrate and if Dark Chocolate Amaretto cupcakes won't keep the good luck flowing nothing will! Last year the HG had to go for 2 hours daily for six weeks. The staff treated him so kindly so I in turn provided them with goodies. They were very appreciative to the point where it seemed like that didn't happen often.